Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on September 16, 2026
Average rent in
National City, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on September 16, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where National City rent stands today
National City, CA rent is essentially flat year over year, with a current median of $2,450/month. Renters are paying $37 less per month on average than last year, with month-to-month rent also essentially unchanged.
Compared to national trends
National City runs 28.9% more expensive than the $1,900/month national median, placing it among pricier coastal metros with limited total rentals, as the market currently offers 76 total rentals.
Price ranges
Studios in National City rent for $1,850/month, 1-bedrooms for $1,970/month, and 2-bedrooms for $2,538/month, with 3-bedrooms at $2,995/month and 4+ bedrooms reaching $5,400/month. The inventory is weighted toward 1- and 2-bedroom units, which make up over 70% of total rentals.
Neighborhood spotlight
The 4+ bedroom segment in National City has climbed 28.7% year over year, contrasting with the citywide trend of rents holding essentially flat. This segment's rise shows a distinct dynamic within the broader market.
Median rent
Median rent in National City
$2,450/mo
1%vs previous year
The average rent in National City is $2,450 per month as of September 2026. This is 29% above the national average rent, or $550 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in National City
76
for rent on Zumper.com as of September 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 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
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 $2,380, whereas a house costs $2,972. 1-bedroom apartments in National City run $1,995 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,500.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,850 |  19% | 14% | |
1 bedroom | $1,970 | 3% | 7% | |
2 bedroom | $2,537 | 1% | 2% | |
3 bedroom | $2,995 | 4% | 6% | |
4 bedroom | $5,400 | 4% | 101% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
National City | $2,450 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,380 | No Change | No Change | |
Condos | $3,800 | 1% | No Change | |
Houses | $2,972 | 1% | No Change | |
Rooms | $900 | No Change | - |
Studio
Average rent
$1,850
Last 30 days
19%
Last year
14%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,970
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
7%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$2,537
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
2%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$2,995
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
6%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$5,400
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
101%
National City
Average rent
$2,450
Apartments
Average rent
$2,380
Last 30 days
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$3,800
Last 30 days
1%
Houses
Average rent
$2,972
Last 30 days
1%
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
29%higher than the national median
32%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in National City, CA is 2% lower than the median rent in Bonita, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$2,500
12%$2,347
17%$2,995
1%$6,500
23%$6,800
18%$2,095
3%$2,945
5%$2,395
2%$2,550
10%$2,784
1%$2,695
1%$2,395
4%Discover rentals in National City, CA
5d+ ago
625 E 3rd St, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
1 bath
$1,995
Apartment for rent
2d ago
104 104 - 126 Laurel Ave, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
1 bath
$2,025
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in National City
2 beds
1 bath
$2,325
$2,025
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 28
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in National City
2 beds
1 bath
$2,045
Apartment for rent
26m ago
Verified
3 beds
3 baths
$6,268
$4,763
Price drop
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
$3,399
Apartment for rent
2d ago
611 Highland Ave, National City, CA 91950
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,295–$2,995
Apartment for rent
6h ago
142 E 31st St, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
2 baths
$2,795
Apartment for rent
1d ago
840 Palm Ave, National City, CA 91950
2 beds
2 baths
$2,695–$2,745
Apartment for rent
2d ago
2114 E 7th St, National City, CA 91950
1 bed
1 bath
$2,445
Apartment for rent
2d ago
611 Highland Ave, National City, CA 91950
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,295–$2,995
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
4 beds
2 baths
$4,538
$4,149
Price drop
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1627 E 9th St, National City, CA 91950
1–3 beds
1 bath
$2,050–$2,750
Apartment for rent
8h ago
203 Laurel Ave, National City, CA 91950
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,087–$6,203
Price drop
Apartment for rent
17h ago
608 E 24th St, National City, CA 91950
1 bed
1 bath
$1,725
Apartment for rent
17h ago
608 E 24th St, National City, CA 91950
1 bed
1 bath
$1,725
Apartment for rent
26m ago
Verified
3 beds
3 baths
$6,268
$4,763
Price drop
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
4 beds
2 baths
$4,538
$4,149
Price drop
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1627 E 9th St, National City, CA 91950
3 beds
1 bath
$2,750
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 $2,450 per month as of September 12, 2026.
Is rent up or down in National City?
Average rent prices in National City have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 1% since last year.
How does National City rent compare to the national average?
Rent in National City is 29% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $550 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 $98,000/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?
May offers the best rental deals in National City, with rents running about 9% lower than February, which sees the highest prices of the year. November is also a good time to search since it's the least competitive month with lower overall 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).