Last updated on June 7, 2026

Average rent in
San Marcos, CA

Median rent

Median rent in San Marcos

$3,075/mo

increased by4%

vs previous year

The average rent in San Marcos is $3,075 per month as of June 2026. This is 58% above the national average rent, or $1,125 more per month.

$2.63

average price per square foot

Total rentals

Available rentals in San Marcos

44

for rent on Zumper.com as of June 2026

Rent price distribution

Share of San Marcos rentals at each price point

45%34%23%11%0%
$0 - $1,500
$1,501 - $3,000
$3,001 - $4,500
$4,501 - $6,000
$6,001 - $50,000

Rent trends in San Marcos, CA

Average rent prices in San Marcos have increased by 3% 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 San Marcos, CA

Rent prices in San Marcos vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in San Marcos is $2,650, whereas a house costs $3,650. 1-bedroom apartments in San Marcos run $2,516 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $3,025.

Listings

Studio

$2,500

3%

70%

1 bedroom

$2,513

2%

12%

2 bedroom

$2,978

1%

2%

3 bedroom

$3,650

No Change

3%

4 bedroom

$5,447

6%

No Change

Studio

Average rent

$2,500

Last 30 days

3%

Last year

70%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$2,513

Last 30 days

2%

Last year

12%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$2,978

Last 30 days

1%

Last year

2%

3 bedroom

Average rent

$3,650

Last 30 days

No Change

Last year

3%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$5,447

Last 30 days

6%

Last year

No Change

The table above reflects average rent prices in San Marcos, 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 Marcos, CA compare to other cities?

Compare median rent prices in San Marcos and Carlsbad by all bedroom counts and property types.

San Marcos

Median rent price$3,075
increased by58%

higher than the national median

Median rent price$3,750
increased by92%

higher than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in San Marcos, CA is 18% lower than the median rent in Carlsbad, CA.

Discover rentals in San Marcos, CA

10 Borden Cir - Photo 1 of 1

3d ago

House for rent in San Marcos

Quiet, Safe Room for Rent in Large San Marcos Home

10 Borden Cir, San Marcos, CA 92069

1 bed

1 bath

$895

House for rent

Available Jul 8

5d+ ago

7.7

Very good

Grandon Village

1607 Grandon Ave, San Marcos, CA 92078

1–2 beds

1 bath

$1,557–$2,241

Apartment for rent

Olive Tree Manor - Photo 1 of 1
3D tour

2d ago

8.6

Very good

Olive Tree Manor

250 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, CA 92069

2 beds

1 bath

$2,095

Apartment for rent

208 Woodland Pkwy - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Condo for rent in San Marcos

Condo for rent

Stay up to date with rental market insights

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Frequently asked questions for San Marcos, CA

Quick answers to common questions about the San Marcos rental market.

How much is rent in San Marcos?

The average rent in San Marcos is $3,075 per month as of June 6, 2026.

Is rent up or down in San Marcos?

Average rent prices in San Marcos have increased by 3% over the last month and have increased by 4% since last year.

How does San Marcos rent compare to the national average?

Rent in San Marcos is 58% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,125 more per month.

Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Marcos?

The most affordable neighborhoods in San Marcos are Village O ($3,472/mo), San Elijo Hills ($3,595/mo), and University Commons ($6,500/mo).

What salary do I need to afford rent in San Marcos?

To comfortably afford rent in San Marcos, you'd need to earn approximately $123,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.

When is the best time of year to rent in San Marcos?

San Marcos 1-bedroom apartments averaged around $2,400 per month in 2025, while 2-bedroom units averaged around $2,900 monthly. These figures reflect the current rental market across the city's available inventory.

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).

Apartments for rent in Carlsbad