Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on November 2, 2026
Average rent in
La Mesa, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on November 2, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
La Mesa, CA rent slipped 2.1% year over year, with a current median of $2,395/month. Renters today are paying $53 less per month on average than last year, with month-to-month rent essentially flat at this time.
Compared to national trends
La Mesa runs 26.1% more expensive than the $1,900/month national median, positioning it as a pricier coastal metro with a total of 113 total rentals available.
Price ranges
Studios in La Mesa rent around $1,710/month, 1-bedrooms around $1,995/month, and 2-bedrooms around $2,578/month, with 4+ bedrooms reaching $6,700/month. This range reflects the variety of bedroom sizes available to renters.
Neighborhood spotlight
The 4+ bedroom segment in La Mesa climbed 38.2% year over year, contrasting with the overall citywide rent decline. This segment's increase shows a distinct trend within the local rental market.
Median rent
Median rent in La Mesa
$2,395/mo
2%vs previous year
The average rent in La Mesa is $2,395 per month as of October 2026. This is 26% above the national average rent, or $495 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in La Mesa
113
for rent on Zumper.com as of October 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 remained the same over the last month and have decreased 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
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 $2,250, whereas a house costs $3,272. 1-bedroom apartments in La Mesa run $1,995 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,500.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,710 | 2% |  1% | |
1 bedroom | $1,995 | 4% | No Change | |
2 bedroom | $2,577 | No Change | 1% | |
3 bedroom | $3,300 | 2% | 3% | |
4 bedroom | $6,700 | No Change | 38% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
La Mesa | $2,395 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,250 | 2% | 4% | |
Condos | $1,995 | 7% | 17% | |
Houses | $3,272 | 4% | 2% | |
Rooms | $1,200 | No Change | - |
Studio
Average rent
$1,710
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
1%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,995
Last 30 days
4%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$2,577
Last year
1%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$3,300
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
3%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$6,700
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
38%
La Mesa
Average rent
$2,395
Apartments
Average rent
$2,250
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
4%
Condos
Average rent
$1,995
Last 30 days
7%
Last year
17%
Houses
Average rent
$3,272
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
2%
Rooms
Average rent
$1,200
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
26%higher than the national median
49%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in La Mesa, CA is 15% 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%$2,125
2%$5,697
10%$2,895
16%$2,295
6%$2,295
3%$2,872
3%$2,851
$3,100
14%$2,347
6%Discover rentals in La Mesa, CA
2d ago
7576 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,895–$2,245
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
4d ago
9071 Dallas St, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,995–$2,895
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
5d+ ago
Condo for rent in La Mesa
2 beds
1 bath
$2,050
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.Condo for rent
Available Nov 9
1d ago
Verified
5711 Water St, La Mesa, CA 91942
2–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,150–$3,290
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 La Mesa
4260 Eastridge Dr, La Mesa, CA 91941
5 beds
4 baths
$11,900
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 La Mesa
7865 Quince St #3, La Mesa, CA 91941
2 beds
1 bath
$4,500
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 Sep 28
3d ago
House for rent in La Mesa
4349 Oxford St, La Mesa, CA 91942
1 bed
1 bath
$4,450
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 Nov 8
5d+ ago
House for rent in La Mesa
7570 Ohio Pl, La Mesa, CA 91942
1 bed
1 bath
$4,000
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 Nov 1
1d ago
Verified
7400 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,560–$3,655
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
1h ago
5333 Baltimore Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,225–$2,595
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
1d ago
5151 Dailey Ct, La Mesa, CA 91942
1 bed
1 bath
$1,795–$2,075
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
7080 7080 & 7138 Saranac Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
1 bed
1 bath
$1,995
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
1d ago
Verified
7400 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,560–$3,655
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
1d ago
Verified
5711 Water St, La Mesa, CA 91942
2–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,150–$3,290
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
4d ago
9071 Dallas St, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,995–$2,895
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
3d ago
Verified
5679 Amaya Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,210–$2,750
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.Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
5711 Water St, La Mesa, CA 91942
2–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,150–$3,290
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
2h ago
8633 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942
Studio
1 bath
$1,725
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
1d ago
5151 Dailey Ct, La Mesa, CA 91942
1 bed
1 bath
$1,795–$2,075
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
4d ago
9071 Dallas St, La Mesa, CA 91942
2–3 beds
2 baths
$2,495–$2,895
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
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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 $2,395 per month as of October 31, 2026.
Is rent up or down in La Mesa?
Average rent prices in La Mesa have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 2% since last year.
How does La Mesa rent compare to the national average?
Rent in La Mesa is 26% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $495 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 $96,000/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?
Late fall and winter months offer the best rental deals in La Mesa, with November seeing the lowest rents and December being the least competitive month. July has the highest rents with roughly an 8% difference between peak summer and off-peak winter pricing.
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).