Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on November 3, 2026
Average rent in
El Cajon, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on November 3, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where El, CA rent stands today
El, CA rent rose 2.1% year over year, with a current median of $2,125/month. Renters today are paying $43 more per month on average than last year, with month-to-month rent essentially flat.
Compared to national trends
El, CA sits 11.8% more expensive than the $1,900/month national median, placing it in the pricier tier among metros with 175 total rentals available.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios in El, CA rent for about $1,595/month, 1-bedrooms around $1,746/month, and 2-bedrooms near $2,198/month. Larger units range from 3-bedrooms at $3,200/month to 4+ bedrooms at $4,200/month.
Median rent
Median rent in El
$2,125/mo
2%vs previous year
The average rent in El is $2,125 per month as of October 2026. This is 12% above the national average rent, or $225 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in El
175
for rent on Zumper.com as of October 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of El rentals at each price point
Rent trends in El Cajon, CA
Average rent prices in El have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 2% 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
El Cajon, CA
Rent prices in El vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in El is $1,997, whereas a house costs $3,900. 1-bedroom apartments in El run $1,745 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,195.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,595 | No Change | 4% | |
1 bedroom | $1,745 | No Change | 1% | |
2 bedroom | $2,197 | 2% | No Change | |
3 bedroom | $3,200 |  3% | 5% | |
4 bedroom | $4,200 | No Change | 7% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
El Cajon | $2,100 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $1,997 | No Change | No Change | |
Condos | $2,350 | 4% | 2% | |
Houses | $3,900 | 3% | 15% |
Studio
Average rent
$1,595
Last year
4%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,745
Last year
1%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$2,197
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
No Change
3 bedroom
Average rent
$3,200
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
5%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$4,200
Last year
7%
El Cajon
Average rent
$2,100
Apartments
Average rent
$1,997
Last year
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$2,350
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
2%
Houses
Average rent
$3,900
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
15%
The table above reflects average rent prices in El Cajon, 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 El, CA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in El and Bonita by all bedroom counts and property types.
El
12%higher than the national median
49%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in El, CA is 25% lower than the median rent in Bonita, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$2,833
2%$2,995
2%$6,397
8%$5,697
10%$2,895
16%$2,395
2%$2,295
6%$2,295
3%$2,872
3%$2,851
$3,100
14%$2,347
6%Discover rentals in El Cajon, CA
1d ago
643 Avocado Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
1 bed
1 bath
$995–$1,395
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
23h ago
1037 E Lexington Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,700–$2,150
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
1040 E Washington Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
2 beds
1 bath
$1,825
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in El Cajon
2 beds
1 bath
$1,850
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in El Cajon
4 beds
3 baths
$5,600
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in El Cajon
4 beds
3 baths
$5,200
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in El Cajon
3 beds
2 baths
$5,200
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in El Cajon
661 W Chase Ave #1, El Cajon, CA 92020
3 beds
2 baths
$4,950
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
Available Oct 16
19h ago
Verified
1110 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1 bed
1 bath
$1,815–$1,997
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1240 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,939–$2,832
Total Monthly Price. The price shown includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
2950 Fletcher Pkwy, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,383–$3,322
Total Monthly Price. The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.Apartment for rent
19h ago
Verified
1360 E Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,015–$2,430
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1240 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,939–$2,832
Total Monthly Price. The price shown includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
572 Durham St #NA, El Cajon, CA 92019
2 beds
1 bath
$2,590
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.House for rent
Available Nov 2
19h ago
Verified
1110 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1 bed
1 bath
$1,815–$1,997
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
3h ago
Verified
800 E Lexington Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
2–3 beds
2 baths
$2,390–$3,295
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
19h ago
Verified
1110 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1 bed
1 bath
$1,815–$1,997
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1240 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,939–$2,832
Total Monthly Price. The price shown includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.Apartment for rent
2h ago
802 Franklin Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,595–$1,895
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
19h ago
588 S Anza St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1 bed
1 bath
$1,695
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
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Frequently asked questions for El Cajon, CA
Quick answers to common questions about the El rental market.
How much is rent in El?
The average rent in El is $2,125 per month as of October 31, 2026.
Is rent up or down in El?
Average rent prices in El have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 2% since last year.
How does El rent compare to the national average?
Rent in El is 12% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $225 more per month.
What salary do I need to afford rent in El?
To comfortably afford rent in El, you'd need to earn approximately $85,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in El?
Winter months offer the best rental deals in El Cajon, with January seeing the lowest rents of the year. November and December also experience less demand, while July and August are the most competitive months with higher demand.
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).