Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on August 4, 2026
Average rent in
La Mesa, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on August 4, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where La Mesa rent stands today
La Mesa, CA rent slipped 8.0% year over year, with a current median of $2,295/month. Renters today are paying $286 less per month on average than last year, continuing a decline since the peak of $2,495 in September 2025.
Compared to national trends
La Mesa runs 18.3% more expensive than the $1,940/month national median, placing it in the pricier tier of Southern California markets despite a limited total rental inventory of 99 units.
Price ranges
Studios in La Mesa rent for $1,800/month, 1-bedrooms for $1,995/month, and 2-bedrooms for $2,598/month, with larger units reaching $4,500/month for 4+ bedrooms. The range reflects the variety of bedroom sizes available to renters.
Median rent
Median rent in La Mesa
$2,295/mo
8%vs previous year
The average rent in La Mesa is $2,295 per month as of August 2026. This is 18% above the national average rent, or $355 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in La Mesa
99
for rent on Zumper.com as of August 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of La Mesa rentals at each price point
Rent trends in La Mesa, CA
Average rent prices in La Mesa have decreased by 2% over the last month and have decreased by 8% 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
La Mesa, CA
Rent prices in La Mesa vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in La Mesa is $2,200, whereas a house costs $3,095. 1-bedroom apartments in La Mesa run $1,972 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,495.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,800 | 1% |  4% | |
1 bedroom | $1,995 | 4% | 1% | |
2 bedroom | $2,598 | 2% | 2% | |
3 bedroom | $3,295 | 4% | 12% | |
4 bedroom | $4,500 | 12% | 11% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
La Mesa | $2,295 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,200 | 1% | No Change | |
Condos | $2,600 | No Change | No Change | |
Houses | $3,095 | 7% | No Change | |
Rooms | $1,175 | 12% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$1,800
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
4%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,995
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
1%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$2,598
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
2%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$3,295
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
12%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$4,500
Last 30 days
12%
Last year
11%
La Mesa
Average rent
$2,295
Apartments
Average rent
$2,200
Last 30 days
1%
Condos
Average rent
$2,600
Last 30 days
No Change
Houses
Average rent
$3,095
Last 30 days
7%
Rooms
Average rent
$1,175
Last 30 days
12%
The table above reflects average rent prices in La Mesa, 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 La Mesa, CA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in La Mesa and Bonita by all bedroom counts and property types.
La Mesa
18%higher than the national median
47%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in La Mesa, CA is 19% 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%$2,095
2%$4,747
1%$2,895
1%$2,595
7%$2,395
5%$3,750
17%$2,757
$2,795
3%$2,395
11%Discover rentals in La Mesa, CA
2d ago
7614 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$1,795–$2,195
Apartment for rent
3d ago
4415 Rosebud Ln, La Mesa, CA 91941
2 beds
1 bath
$2,090
Apartment for rent
2d ago
7576 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
2 beds
1 bath
$2,095 –$2,245
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in La Mesa
7724 University Ave #D, La Mesa, CA 91942
2 beds
1 bath
$2,100
Apartment for rent
Available Jun 22
5d+ ago
House for rent in La Mesa
4260 Eastridge Dr, La Mesa, CA 91941
5 beds
4 baths
$11,900
House for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
1 bed
1 bath
$4,176
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
1 bed
1 bath
$3,994
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
5565 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942
2 beds
2 baths
$3,600
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
7400 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,024–$3,272
Apartment for rent
7h ago
4818 Palm Ave, La Mesa, CA 91942
Studio
1 bath
$1,850
Apartment for rent
7h ago
5151 Dailey Ct, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,995–$2,395
Apartment for rent
8h ago
7080 7080 & 7138 Saranac Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
1 bed
1 bath
$1,995
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
7400 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,024–$3,272
Apartment for rent
4h ago
Verified
5711 Water St, La Mesa, CA 91942
2–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,690–$3,290
Apartment for rent
23h ago
Verified
4 beds
3 baths
$6,843
$5,325
Price drop
Apartment for rent
4d ago
4241 Lowell St, La Mesa, CA 91941
3 beds
2 baths
$2,950
Apartment for rent
4d ago
4241 Lowell St, La Mesa, CA 91941
3 beds
2 baths
$2,950
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
8561 Mellmanor Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1 bed
1 bath
$1,850–$1,950
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
4325 Lowell St, La Mesa, CA 91941
1 bed
1 bath
$1,895
Apartment for rent
2h ago
Verified
5679 Amaya Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,455–$2,965
Price drop
Apartment for rent
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Frequently asked questions for La Mesa, CA
Quick answers to common questions about the La Mesa rental market.
How much is rent in La Mesa?
The average rent in La Mesa is $2,295 per month as of August 1, 2026.
Is rent up or down in La Mesa?
Average rent prices in La Mesa have decreased by 2% over the last month and have decreased by 8% since last year.
How does La Mesa rent compare to the national average?
Rent in La Mesa is 18% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $355 more per month.
What salary do I need to afford rent in La Mesa?
To comfortably afford rent in La Mesa, you'd need to earn approximately $92,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in La Mesa?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in La Mesa average around $2,000/month and two-bedrooms approximately $2,570/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).