Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on May 23, 2026
Average rent in
Carlsbad, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on May 23, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
Carlsbad, CA rent rose 11.4% year over year, with a current median of $3,900/month. Renters today are paying $763 more per month on average than last year, continuing a climb after a dip in early 2025.
Vs. national rents
Carlsbad rents run roughly 2× the $1,950/month national median, placing it among pricier coastal metros. The market is small with 119 total rentals, reflecting a specialized inventory.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios in Carlsbad rent for $2,250/month, 1-bedrooms for $2,495/month, and 2-bedrooms for $3,325/month. Larger units climb to $5,048/month for 3-bedrooms and $6,600/month for 4+ bedrooms, with houses averaging $5,200/month and apartments $3,064/month.
Neighborhood spotlight
Calavera Hills Village saw rents rise 35.1% year over year to $3,721/month across 15 rentals, and La Costa Oaks North increased 30.3% to $4,320/month. These gains outpace the citywide 11.4% rise, showing strong local demand in these neighborhoods.
Median rent
Median rent in Carlsbad
$3,900/mo
11%vs previous year
The average rent in Carlsbad is $3,900 per month as of May 2026. This is 100% above the national average rent, or $1,951 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Carlsbad
119
for rent on Zumper.com as of May 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Carlsbad rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Carlsbad, CA
Average rent prices in Carlsbad have increased by 1% over the last month and have increased by 11% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
Carlsbad, CA
Rent prices in Carlsbad vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Carlsbad is $3,064, whereas a house costs $5,200. 1-bedroom apartments in Carlsbad run $2,495 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $3,149.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,250 | 3% |  3% | |
1 bedroom | $2,495 | No Change | 12% | |
2 bedroom | $3,325 | 2% | 14% | |
3 bedroom | $5,047 | 12% | 5% | |
4 bedroom | $6,600 | 1% | 24% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Calavera Hills Village | $3,030 | |
La Costa Oaks North | $5,195 | |
La Costa Oaks South | $4,422 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $3,064 | 3% | No Change | |
Condos | $3,805 | 5% | No Change | |
Houses | $5,200 | 1% | No Change | |
Rooms | $2,200 | 8% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$2,250
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
3%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,495
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
12%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$3,325
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
14%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$5,047
Last 30 days
12%
Last year
5%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$6,600
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
24%
La Costa Oaks North
Average rent
$5,195
Calavera Hills Village
Average rent
$3,030
La Costa Oaks South
Average rent
$4,422
Apartments
Average rent
$3,064
Last 30 days
3%
Condos
Average rent
$3,805
Last 30 days
5%
Houses
Average rent
$5,200
Last 30 days
1%
Rooms
Average rent
$2,200
Last 30 days
8%
The table above reflects average rent prices in Carlsbad, CA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in Carlsbad, CA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in Carlsbad and Del Mar by all bedroom counts and property types.
Carlsbad
100%higher than the national median
269%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Carlsbad, CA is 46% lower than the median rent in Del Mar, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$7,197
62%$5,997
14%$2,440
3%$2,600
5%$2,135
1%$2,997
10%$2,797
4%$3,070
1%$2,722
1%$8,875
17%$1,995
40%$2,650
1%Discover rentals in Carlsbad, CA
5d+ ago
Townhouse for rent in Carlsbad
3114 Dilla Pl, Carlsbad, CA 92010
3 beds
2.5 baths
$1,900
House for rent
Available Jun 1
20h ago
2262 Avenida Magnifica, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,217–$3,435
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Carlsbad
2 beds
1 bath
$2,395
Apartment for rent
Available Apr 10
2d ago
Verified
3402 Calle Odessa, Carlsbad, CA 92009
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,558–$3,715
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Carlsbad
3000 Azahar St #1, Carlsbad, CA 92009
4 beds
2.5 baths
$14,500
House for rent
Available Feb 1
5d+ ago
House for rent in Carlsbad
3810 Adair Way, Carlsbad, CA 92008
3 beds
2 baths
$14,250
House for rent
Available Jul 1
5d+ ago
La Costa Oaks South house for rent in Carlsbad
7337 Corte Tomillo #1, Carlsbad, CA 92009
5 beds
5 baths
$13,000
House for rent
Available May 1
5d+ ago
House for rent in Carlsbad
2904 Levante St, Carlsbad, CA 92009
4 beds
3 baths
$12,500
House for rent
23h ago
Verified
357 Chestnut Ave, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,475–$3,750
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
3402 Calle Odessa, Carlsbad, CA 92009
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,558–$3,715
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
6790 Embarcadero Ln, Carlsbad, CA 92011
1–2 beds
2 baths
$3,750–$5,750
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
1935 Northstar Way, Carlsbad, CA 92078
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,689–$3,149
Apartment for rent
23h ago
Verified
357 Chestnut Ave, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,475–$3,750
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
3402 Calle Odessa, Carlsbad, CA 92009
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,558–$3,715
Price drop
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
2848 Jefferson St, Carlsbad, CA 92008
1 bed
1 bath
$2,175–$2,195
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
1935 Northstar Way, Carlsbad, CA 92078
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,689–$3,149
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
3402 Calle Odessa, Carlsbad, CA 92009
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,558–$3,715
Price drop
Apartment for rent
2d ago
2825 Hope Ave, Carlsbad, CA 92008
1 bed
1 bath
$2,280
Apartment for rent
3d ago
2600 Kremeyer Cir, Carlsbad, CA 92008
2 beds
2 baths
$2,995–$3,495
Apartment for rent
22h ago
Verified
3090 Jefferson St, Carlsbad, CA 92008
1 bed
1 bath
$2,145
Apartment for rent
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Frequently asked questions for Carlsbad, CA
Quick answers to common questions about the Carlsbad rental market.
How much is rent in Carlsbad?
The average rent in Carlsbad is $3,900 per month as of May 23, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Carlsbad?
Average rent prices in Carlsbad have increased by 1% over the last month and have increased by 11% since last year.
How does Carlsbad rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Carlsbad is 100% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,951 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Carlsbad?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Carlsbad are Calavera Hills Village ($3,030/mo), La Costa Oaks South ($4,422/mo), and La Costa Oaks North ($5,195/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Carlsbad?
To comfortably afford rent in Carlsbad, you'd need to earn approximately $156,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Carlsbad?
Carlsbad's 2025 rental market shows one-bedroom apartments averaging around $2,500 per month, while two-bedroom units rent for around $3,400 monthly. These figures reflect the current market conditions across the city's diverse rental inventory.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).