Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on August 5, 2026
Average rent in
El Cajon, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on August 5, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where El, CA rent stands today
El, CA rent is essentially flat year over year, with a current median of $2,095/month. Renters are paying $34 less per month on average than last year.
Compared to national trends
El, CA rent runs 8.0% more expensive than the $1,940/month national median, positioning it as a pricier metro with a smaller inventory of 151 total rentals.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios and 1-bedrooms in El, CA are around $1,795/month and $1,794/month respectively, while 2-bedrooms sit at $2,150/month. Larger units range up to 4+ bedrooms at $4,600/month.
Median rent
Median rent in El
$2,095/mo
1%vs previous year
The average rent in El is $2,095 per month as of August 2026. This is 8% above the national average rent, or $155 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in El
151
for rent on Zumper.com as of August 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 1% 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 $1,995, whereas a house costs $3,647. 1-bedroom apartments in El run $1,795 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,150.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,795 |  1% | 1% | |
1 bedroom | $1,794 | 3% | 8% | |
2 bedroom | $2,150 | 1% | 4% | |
3 bedroom | $2,950 | 3% | 2% | |
4 bedroom | $4,600 | 9% | 31% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
El Cajon | $2,095 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $1,995 | 2% | No Change | |
Condos | $2,195 | 6% | No Change | |
Houses | $3,647 | 24% | No Change | |
Rooms | $995 | 34% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$1,795
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
1%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,794
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
8%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$2,150
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
4%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$2,950
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
2%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$4,600
Last 30 days
9%
Last year
31%
El Cajon
Average rent
$2,095
Apartments
Average rent
$1,995
Last 30 days
2%
Condos
Average rent
$2,195
Last 30 days
6%
Houses
Average rent
$3,647
Last 30 days
24%
Rooms
Average rent
$995
Last 30 days
34%
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
8%higher than the national median
47%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in El, CA is 26% lower than the median rent in Bonita, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$2,850
22%$3,100
2%$6,897
25%$4,747
1%$2,895
1%$2,295
10%$2,595
7%$2,395
5%$3,750
17%$2,757
$2,795
3%$2,395
11%Discover rentals in El Cajon, CA
1d ago
545 N Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021
2 beds
1 bath
$1,800–$1,850
Apartment for rent
2d ago
1040 E Washington Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
2 beds
1 bath
$1,875–$1,925
Apartment for rent
3h ago
421 S Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
2 beds
1–2 baths
$1,900–$2,050
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in El Cajon
563 Broadway #70, El Cajon, CA 92021
2 beds
1 bath
$1,900
Apartment for rent
Available Sep 3
14h ago
Verified
4 beds
2 baths
$9,351
$8,825
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in El Cajon
1922 Fernbrook Ct #NA, El Cajon, CA 92019
5 beds
3 baths
$7,999
House for rent
Available Aug 1
4d ago
House for rent in El Cajon
4 beds
3 baths
$6,700
House for rent
14h ago
Verified
4 beds
2 baths
$7,071
$6,043
Price drop
Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1110 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,816–$2,300
Apartment for rent
14h ago
Verified
2950 Fletcher Pkwy, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,212–$3,037
Apartment for rent
15h ago
Verified
1240 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,994–$2,991
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
1360 E Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,810–$2,595
Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1110 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,816–$2,300
Apartment for rent
15h ago
Verified
1240 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,994–$2,991
Apartment for rent
3h ago
Verified
800 E Lexington Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
2–3 beds
2 baths
$2,400–$3,350
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
1360 E Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,810–$2,595
Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1110 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,816–$2,300
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
1240 Petree St, El Cajon, CA 92020
3 beds
1 bath
Call for price
Apartment for rent
6h ago
1072 E Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021
1 bed
1 bath
$1,895
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
633 S Johnson Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
2 beds
1 bath
$2,340–$2,400
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 $2,095 per month as of August 1, 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 1% since last year.
How does El rent compare to the national average?
Rent in El is 8% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $155 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 $84,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in El?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in El Cajon average around $1,760/month and two-bedrooms approximately $2,210/month.
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).