Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on June 17, 2026
Average rent in
National City, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on June 17, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
National City, CA rent rose 4.1% year over year, with a current median of $2,395/month. Renters are paying $65 more per month on average than last year, since the trough in April 2025.
Compared to national trends
National City is 22.8% more expensive than the $1,950/month national median. The city has a total rental inventory of 75 units, indicating a relatively small market size for renters.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios in National City rent for $1,675/month, 1-bedrooms for $1,795/month, 2-bedrooms for $2,572/month, 3-bedrooms for $3,275/month, and 4+ bedrooms for $6,218/month. This range shows how rent varies by unit size.
Neighborhood spotlight
The 3-bedroom segment in National City slipped 6.3% year over year, diverging from the citywide rise of 4.1%. This indicates a unique trend within this bedroom tier compared to the overall market.
Median rent
Median rent in National City
$2,395/mo
4%vs previous year
The average rent in National City is $2,395 per month as of June 2026. This is 23% above the national average rent, or $445 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in National City
75
for rent on Zumper.com as of June 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of National City rentals at each price point
Rent trends in National City, CA
Average rent prices in National City have increased by 1% over the last month and have increased by 4% 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
National City, CA
Rent prices in National City vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in National City is $2,372, whereas a house costs $2,495. 1-bedroom apartments in National City run $1,795 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,695.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,675 | No Change | No Change | |
1 bedroom | $1,795 |  2% | 6% | |
2 bedroom | $2,572 | 1% | 4% | |
3 bedroom | $3,275 | 6% | 6% | |
4 bedroom | $6,218 | 6% | 81% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
National City | $2,395 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,372 | 4% | No Change | |
Condos | $3,250 | 4% | 86% | |
Houses | $2,495 | No Change | No Change | |
Rooms | $900 | No Change | - |
Studio
Average rent
$1,675
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
No Change
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,795
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
6%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$2,572
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
4%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$3,275
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
6%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$6,218
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
81%
National City
Average rent
$2,395
Apartments
Average rent
$2,372
Last 30 days
4%
Condos
Average rent
$3,250
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
86%
Houses
Average rent
$2,495
Last 30 days
No Change
Rooms
Average rent
$900
The table above reflects average rent prices in National City, 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 National City, CA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in National City and Bonita by all bedroom counts and property types.
National City
23%higher than the national median
33%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in National City, CA is 8% lower than the median rent in Bonita, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$2,600
$2,500
21%$3,000
5%$6,500
6%$7,172
25%$2,095
2%$2,895
3%$2,347
1%$2,595
23%$2,795
2%$2,695
5%$2,599
24%Discover rentals in National City, CA
5d+ ago
House for rent in National City
1420 Coolidge Ave #A, National City, CA 91950
Studio
0 baths
$225
House for rent
Available Feb 7
5d+ ago
House for rent in National City
2 beds
1 bath
$1,895
$1,795
Price drop
House for rent
2d ago
3004 E 18th St, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
1 bath
$2,095
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in National City
2 beds
1 bath
$2,095
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Condo for rent in National City
2 beds
2 baths
$4,000
Condo for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in National City
2 beds
2 baths
$3,590
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
2542 Ridgeway Dr, National City, CA 91950
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,295–$2,995
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
122 E Plaza Blvd, National City, CA 91950
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,100–$2,475
Price drop
Apartment for rent
20h ago
1525 G Ave, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
1 bath
$2,750
Apartment for rent
1d ago
840 Palm Ave, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
2 baths
$2,645
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
310 Palm Ave, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
2 baths
$2,995
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
341 E 30th St, National City, CA 91950
3 beds
2 baths
$3,495–$3,795
Apartment for rent
7h ago
Verified
4 beds
2 baths
$7,211
$5,976
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
4212 Avenida Arroyo #NA, National City, CA 91950
3 beds
2.5 baths
$4,400
House for rent
Available Jul 1
1d ago
1627 E 9th St, National City, CA 91950
1–3 beds
1 bath
$2,050–$2,750
Apartment for rent
20h ago
NC18 Apartments, 1224-34 East 18th Street, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
1 bath
$2,395
Apartment for rent
7h ago
Verified
4 beds
2 baths
$7,211
$5,976
Price drop
Apartment for rent
2d ago
608 E 24th St, National City, CA 91950
1 bed
1 bath
$1,695–$1,725
Apartment for rent
11h ago
House for rent in National City
4 beds
2.5 baths
$4,200
$3,895
Price drop
House for rent
Available May 18
16h ago
1414 Roosevelt Ave, National City, CA 91950
Studio
1 bath
$1,450–$1,595
Apartment for rent
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Frequently asked questions for National City, CA
Quick answers to common questions about the National City rental market.
How much is rent in National City?
The average rent in National City is $2,395 per month as of June 13, 2026.
Is rent up or down in National City?
Average rent prices in National City have increased by 1% over the last month and have increased by 4% since last year.
How does National City rent compare to the national average?
Rent in National City is 23% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $445 more per month.
What salary do I need to afford rent in National City?
To comfortably afford rent in National City, 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 National City?
National City's 2025 rental market shows one-bedroom apartments averaging around $1,900 per month, while two-bedroom units average around $2,700 monthly. These figures reflect the current market conditions in this San Diego County community.
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).