Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on October 21, 2026
Average rent in
San Marcos, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on October 21, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
San Marcos, CA rent slipped 1.0% year over year, with a current median of $3,212/month. Renters today are paying $140 less per month on average than last year, with a month-over-month decline of 6.3%.
Vs. national rents
San Marcos rents are 69.0% more expensive than the $1,900/month national median, placing it among pricier California metros for renters. The market offers 58 total rentals, a relatively small inventory.
Price ranges
Studio rents in San Marcos sit around $2,472/month, with 1-bedrooms at $2,150/month and 2-bedrooms at $2,975/month. Larger units include 3-bedrooms at $3,862/month and 4+ bedrooms at $4,950/month. This range reflects the variety of options available to renters by bedroom count.
Neighborhood spotlight
San Marcos, CA's San Elijo Hills rents fell 62.4% year over year to $3,650/month across 23 rentals, contrasting with the citywide 1.0% decline. University Commons saw rents rise 11.6% to $3,795/month.
Median rent
Median rent in San Marcos
$3,212/mo
1%vs previous year
The average rent in San Marcos is $3,212 per month as of October 2026. This is 69% above the national average rent, or $1,312 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Marcos
58
for rent on Zumper.com as of October 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of San Marcos rentals at each price point
Rent trends in San Marcos, CA
Average rent prices in San Marcos have decreased by 6% over the last month and have decreased 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
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 $2,950, whereas a house costs $3,795. 1-bedroom apartments in San Marcos run $2,455 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $3,100.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,471 | 6% |  37% | |
1 bedroom | $2,150 | 3% | 15% | |
2 bedroom | $2,975 | 1% | 2% | |
3 bedroom | $3,862 | 18% | 28% | |
4 bedroom | $4,950 | 1% | 8% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
San Elijo Hills | $3,650 | |
University Commons | $3,795 | |
Village O | $2,610 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,950 | 18% | 8% | |
Condos | $3,095 | 8% | 14% | |
Houses | $3,795 | 1% | 11% |
Studio
Average rent
$2,471
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
37%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,150
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
15%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$2,975
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
2%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$3,862
Last 30 days
18%
Last year
28%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$4,950
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
8%
University Commons
Average rent
$3,795
Village O
Average rent
$2,610
San Elijo Hills
Average rent
$3,650
Apartments
Average rent
$2,950
Last 30 days
18%
Last year
8%
Condos
Average rent
$3,095
Last 30 days
8%
Last year
14%
Houses
Average rent
$3,795
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
11%
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
69%higher than the national median
105%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.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$3,895
1%$6,000
18%$5,000
$2,540
1%$2,225
8%$2,095
4%$2,795
5%$3,124
16%$2,897
8%$5,695
35%$2,500
34%$2,693
5%Discover rentals in San Marcos, CA
19h ago
251 Autumn Dr, San Marcos, CA 92069
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$930–$2,400
Apartment for rent
2d ago
1607 Grandon Ave, San Marcos, CA 92078
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,557–$2,241
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
250 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, CA 92069
2 beds
1 bath
$2,095
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$2,282
Apartment for rent
Available Oct 1
5d+ ago
University Commons house for rent in San Marcos
2820 Dove Tail Dr, San Marcos, CA 92078
5 beds
4 baths
$11,500
House for rent
Available Oct 15
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in San Marcos
3 beds
3 baths
$9,350
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in San Marcos
3 beds
2 baths
$5,500
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.House for rent
Available Jan 8
1d ago
Verified
823 Nordahl Rd #1204A, San Marcos, CA 92069
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$3,330–$4,460
Price droppedApartment for rent
16h ago
Apartment for rent in San Marcos
580 Los Vallecitos Blvd, San Marcos, CA 92069
2 beds
2 baths
$2,600
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2010 W San Marcos Blvd #NA, San Marcos, CA 92078
2 beds
2 baths
$3,300
Price dropped $200Additional 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.House for rent
Available Oct 1
15m ago
Verified
823 Nordahl Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,555–$3,120
Price droppedAdditional 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
823 Nordahl Rd #1204A, San Marcos, CA 92069
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$3,330–$4,460
Price droppedApartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2010 W San Marcos Blvd #NA, San Marcos, CA 92078
2 beds
2 baths
$3,300
Price dropped $200Additional 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.House for rent
Available Oct 1
1d ago
Verified
823 Nordahl Rd #1204A, San Marcos, CA 92069
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$3,330–$4,460
Price droppedApartment for rent
15m ago
Verified
823 Nordahl Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,555–$3,120
Price droppedAdditional 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
5d+ ago
House for rent in San Marcos
4 beds
2 baths
$3,995
Price dropped $355House for rent
16h ago
Apartment for rent in San Marcos
580 Los Vallecitos Blvd, San Marcos, CA 92069
2 beds
2 baths
$2,600
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in San Marcos
4 beds
2 baths
$3,995
Price dropped $355House for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2010 W San Marcos Blvd #NA, San Marcos, CA 92078
2 beds
2 baths
$3,300
Price dropped $200Additional 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.House for rent
Available Oct 1
15m ago
Verified
823 Nordahl Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,555–$3,120
Price droppedAdditional 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
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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 $3,212 per month as of October 17, 2026.
Is rent up or down in San Marcos?
Average rent prices in San Marcos have decreased by 6% over the last month and have decreased by 1% since last year.
How does San Marcos rent compare to the national average?
Rent in San Marcos is 69% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,312 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Marcos?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Marcos are Village O ($2,610/mo), San Elijo Hills ($3,650/mo), and University Commons ($3,795/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 $128,000/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?
April offers the lowest rents in San Marcos, running roughly 18% below July's peak pricing. Winter months generally provide better deals compared to the competitive summer season when demand outpaces 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).