Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on August 10, 2026
Average rent in
San Diego, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on August 10, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
San Diego, CA rent is essentially flat year over year, with a current median of $2,750/month. Renters are paying $35 less per month on average than last year, with month-to-month rent unchanged recently.
Compared to national trends
San Diego runs roughly 1.4× the $1,925/month national median, placing it among pricier coastal metros with 2,331 total rentals available across the city.
Price ranges
Studios in San Diego rent for $1,850/month, 1-bedrooms for $2,195/month, and 2-bedrooms for $2,995/month, with 3-bedrooms at $4,195/month and 4+ bedrooms at $5,200/month. Apartments make up 51.3% of total rentals, renting at a median of $2,395/month, while houses rent for $4,250/month.
Neighborhood spotlight
In San Diego, CA, Jamacha Lomita rents fell 50.1% year over year to $1,895/month, and Muirlands rents dropped 82.1% year over year to $4,575/month. These declines contrast with the citywide market, which is essentially flat year over year.
Median rent
Median rent in San Diego
$2,750/mo
2%vs previous year
The average rent in San Diego is $2,750 per month as of August 2026. This is 43% above the national average rent, or $825 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Diego
2,331
for rent on Zumper.com as of August 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of San Diego rentals at each price point
Rent trends in San Diego, CA
Average rent prices in San Diego 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
San Diego, CA
Rent prices in San Diego vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in San Diego is $2,395, whereas a house costs $4,250. 1-bedroom apartments in San Diego run $2,195 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,795.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,850 | No Change | 3% | |
1 bedroom | $2,195 | No Change | 4% | |
2 bedroom | $2,995 | No Change | 3% | |
3 bedroom | $4,195 |  1% | 1% | |
4 bedroom | $5,200 | 2% | 2% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
College East | $3,472 | |
East Village | $2,654 | |
Golden Hill | $2,385 | |
Hillcrest | $2,398 | |
Linda Vista | $2,825 | |
North Park | $2,395 | |
Pacific Beach | $3,195 | |
Park West | $2,550 | |
University City | $3,200 | |
University Heights | $2,400 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,395 | No Change | No Change | |
Condos | $2,900 | 1% | No Change | |
Houses | $4,250 | No Change | No Change | |
Rooms | $1,240 | 3% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$1,850
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
3%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,195
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
4%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$2,995
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
3%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$4,195
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
1%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$5,200
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
2%
North Park
Average rent
$2,395
Park West
Average rent
$2,550
Pacific Beach
Average rent
$3,195
University City
Average rent
$3,200
College East
Average rent
$3,472
Hillcrest
Average rent
$2,398
Golden Hill
Average rent
$2,385
East Village
Average rent
$2,654
Linda Vista
Average rent
$2,825
University Heights
Average rent
$2,400
Apartments
Average rent
$2,395
Last 30 days
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$2,900
Last 30 days
1%
Houses
Average rent
$4,250
Last 30 days
No Change
Rooms
Average rent
$1,240
Last 30 days
3%
The table above reflects average rent prices in San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in San Diego and Bonita by all bedroom counts and property types.
San Diego
43%higher than the national median
48%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in San Diego, CA is 4% lower than the median rent in Bonita, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$2,857
27%$3,095
2%$6,500
21%$2,095
$4,975
1%$2,895
1%$2,345
9%$2,550
4%$2,395
1%$3,750
8%$2,695
3%$2,375
9%Cost of living in San Diego, CA
Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.
Expenses accrued by most renters | Average cost compared to national average |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services | 15% higher |
| Groceries | 13% higher |
| Health | 3% higher |
| Housing | 108% higher |
| Transportation | 43% higher |
| Utilities | 51% higher |
Discover rentals in San Diego, CA
1d ago
720 4th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
1 bed
1 bath
$595
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
North Clairemont apartment for rent in San Diego
1 bed
0 baths
$925
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
3d ago
College East apartment for rent in San Diego
6406 Shane Pl #6406, San Diego, CA 92115
4 beds
2 baths
$3,895
$995
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 22
3d ago
6404 Shane Pl, San Diego, CA 92115
4 beds
2 baths
$995
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Bird Rock house for rent in San Diego
5204 Chelsea St, San Diego, CA 92037
5 beds
7.5 baths
$69,000
House for rent
5d+ ago
Hidden Valley house for rent in San Diego
7256 Rue Michael, San Diego, CA 92037
5 beds
5 baths
$65,000
House for rent
5d+ ago
Bird Rock house for rent in San Diego
5342 Chelsea Ave, San Diego, CA 92037
4 beds
4.5 baths
$59,000
House for rent
5d+ ago
La Playa house for rent in San Diego
741 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106
4 beds
3.5 baths
$40,000
House for rent
4h ago
Verified
12435 Heatherton Ct, San Diego, CA 92128
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,573–$2,902
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
3187 Cowley Way, San Diego, CA 92117
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,576–$3,294
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
13138 Kellam Ct, San Diego, CA 92130
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,178–$3,769
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Verified
12629 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,372–$4,035
Apartment for rent
4h ago
Verified
10776 Scripps Ranch Blvd, San Diego, CA 92131
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,917–$3,537
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
3187 Cowley Way, San Diego, CA 92117
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,576–$3,294
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3h ago
Verified
7707 Mission Gorge Rd, San Diego, CA 92120
2 beds
1 bath
$2,372–$2,610
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Stay up to date with rental market insights
Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.
Frequently asked questions for San Diego, CA
Quick answers to common questions about the San Diego rental market.
How much is rent in San Diego?
The average rent in San Diego is $2,750 per month as of August 8, 2026.
Is rent up or down in San Diego?
Average rent prices in San Diego have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 2% since last year.
How does San Diego rent compare to the national average?
Rent in San Diego is 43% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $825 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Diego?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego are Golden Hill ($2,385/mo), North Park ($2,395/mo), and Hillcrest ($2,398/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in San Diego?
To comfortably afford rent in San Diego, you'd need to earn approximately $110,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in San Diego?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in San Diego average around $2,300/month and two-bedrooms approximately $3,020/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).
For additional insights into rental trends, including month-over-month changes and historical comparisons, see Zumper's Monthly Metro Report.
San Diego Metro Report
The Zumper San Diego Metro Report analyzed active listings last month across metro cities to provide insights into rental trends, highlighting the most and least expensive cities and those with the fastest growing rents. The California one-bedroom median rent was $2,057 last month.
The Most Expensive
- Coronado ranked as the most expensive city with one-bedrooms priced at $3,960.
- Encinitas was the second priciest city with rent at $2,780.
- Carlsbad placed third with rent at $2,500.
The Least Expensive
- National City was the most affordable city, with one-bedroom rent priced at $1,790.
- El Cajon ranked as second with rent at $1,800.
- Escondido placed third with rent at $1,910.
The Largest Decline (Y/Y%)
- Coronado had the largest annual rent price decline, falling 12%.
- Chula Vista saw rent drop 4.4%, making it second.
- Encinitas placed third with rent decreasing 4%.
The Largest Decline (M/M%)
- Coronado had the largest monthly rent price decline, falling 4.1%.
- La Mesa saw rent decrease 2% last month, making it second.
- National City placed third with rent dipping 1.6%.
About
The Zumper San Diego Metro Area Report analyzed active listings that hit the market last month. Listings are aggregated by city to calculate median asking rents.
Words by
Crystal ChenCrystal Chen is a seasoned real estate and housing market expert with more than a decade of experience analyzing rental trends, housing affordability, and urban living. At Zumper, she leads data storytelling as well as press and media relations, where she translates complex housing research into easily digestible insights for renters, industry professionals, and journalists. Her reports can be seen cited in national outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. She is passionate about helping renters navigate today’s evolving housing landscape with clarity and confidence. Living in New York City herself, she knows firsthand the chaos and challenges of navigating a competitive rental market.