Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on September 11, 2026
Average rent in
San Mateo, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on September 11, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where San Mateo rent stands today
San Mateo, CA rent rose 5.6% year over year, with a current median of $3,608/month. Renters today are paying $130 more per month on average than last year, with rents at the peak level of $3,987/month in September 2026.
Vs. national rents
San Mateo rent is 89.9% more expensive than the $1,900/month national median. This positions San Mateo among the pricier coastal metros in the country for renters.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios in San Mateo rent for $2,573/month, 1-bedrooms for $3,000/month, and 2-bedrooms for $3,944/month, with 3-bedrooms at $5,195/month and 4+ bedrooms reaching $11,500/month. The 4+ bedroom segment rents at $11,500/month, reflecting the high end of the market.
Median rent
Median rent in San Mateo
$3,608/mo
6%vs previous year
The average rent in San Mateo is $3,608 per month as of September 2026. This is 90% above the national average rent, or $1,708 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Mateo
54
for rent on Zumper.com as of September 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of San Mateo rentals at each price point
Rent trends in San Mateo, CA
Average rent prices in San Mateo have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 6% 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 Mateo, CA
Rent prices in San Mateo vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in San Mateo is $3,652, whereas a house costs $5,499. 1-bedroom apartments in San Mateo run $3,335 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $3,939.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,573 | No Change | 3% | |
1 bedroom | $3,000 | 5% | 15% | |
2 bedroom | $3,944 | 1% | 5% | |
3 bedroom | $5,195 | No Change |  8% | |
4 bedroom | $11,500 | 6% | 65% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Beresford Park | $3,745 | |
Downtown San Mateo | $3,314 | |
Hayward Park | $4,375 | |
Hillsdale | $4,393 | |
Marina Lagoon | $3,939 | |
North Central | $3,504 | |
Northwest Heights | $3,366 | |
Shoreview | $3,673 | |
Sugarloaf | $3,800 | |
Western Hills | $3,987 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $3,652 | No Change | No Change | |
Condos | $3,285 | 17% | No Change | |
Houses | $5,499 | 7% | No Change | |
Rooms | $1,550 | No Change | - |
Studio
Average rent
$2,573
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
3%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$3,000
Last 30 days
5%
Last year
15%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$3,944
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
5%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$5,195
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
8%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$11,500
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
65%
Hillsdale
Average rent
$4,393
Hayward Park
Average rent
$4,375
Marina Lagoon
Average rent
$3,939
Northwest Heights
Average rent
$3,366
Downtown San Mateo
Average rent
$3,314
North Central
Average rent
$3,504
Shoreview
Average rent
$3,673
Beresford Park
Average rent
$3,745
Sugarloaf
Average rent
$3,800
Western Hills
Average rent
$3,987
Apartments
Average rent
$3,652
Last 30 days
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$3,285
Last 30 days
17%
Houses
Average rent
$5,499
Last 30 days
7%
Rooms
Average rent
$1,550
The table above reflects average rent prices in San Mateo, 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 Mateo, CA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in San Mateo and Alameda by all bedroom counts and property types.
San Mateo
90%higher than the national median
45%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in San Mateo, CA is 31% higher than the median rent in Alameda, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$2,749
3%$2,445
3%$3,139
7%$2,500
4%$4,168
4%$2,295
2%$4,400
1%$3,650
5%$4,495
23%$2,300
2%$3,775
8%$2,957
8%Discover rentals in San Mateo, CA
21h ago
Hillsdale condo for rent in San Mateo
3098 Kyne St W, San Mateo, CA 94403
1 bed
1 bath
$1,800
Condo for rent
Available Oct 1
21h ago
Beresford Park condo for rent in San Mateo
1919 Alameda De Las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA 94403
1 bed
1 bath
$1,850
Condo for rent
Available Sep 30
21h ago
Marina Lagoon condo for rent in San Mateo
3001 Los Prados St, San Mateo, CA 94403
1 bed
1 bath
$1,900
Condo for rent
Available Sep 30
1d ago
1730 S Grant St, San Mateo, CA 94402
2 beds
1 bath
$2,850
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
1101 Park Pl, San Mateo, CA 94403
1–3 beds
1–3 baths
$4,253–$7,672
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
2 baths
$6,690
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
North Central house for rent in San Mateo
869 Woodside Way, San Mateo, CA 94401
2 beds
2 baths
$6,500
House for rent
4h ago
Verified
430 Station Park Cir, San Mateo, CA 94402
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,717–$6,029
Apartment for rent
13h ago
Verified
55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402
1 bed
1 bath
$4,128
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
460 N Humboldt St, San Mateo, CA 94401
2–3 beds
1 bath
$3,381–$7,500
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
460 N Humboldt St, San Mateo, CA 94401
2–3 beds
1 bath
$3,381–$7,500
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Verified
2 beds
2.5 baths
$4,270
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Verified
4 beds
2 baths
$5,410
$5,310
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
460 N Humboldt St, San Mateo, CA 94401
2 beds
1 bath
$3,381–$5,443
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
1101 Park Pl, San Mateo, CA 94403
1–3 beds
1–3 baths
$4,253–$7,672
Price drop
Apartment for rent
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Frequently asked questions for San Mateo, CA
Quick answers to common questions about the San Mateo rental market.
How much is rent in San Mateo?
The average rent in San Mateo is $3,608 per month as of September 5, 2026.
Is rent up or down in San Mateo?
Average rent prices in San Mateo have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 6% since last year.
How does San Mateo rent compare to the national average?
Rent in San Mateo is 90% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,708 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Mateo?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Mateo are Downtown San Mateo ($3,314/mo), Northwest Heights ($3,366/mo), and North Central ($3,504/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in San Mateo?
To comfortably afford rent in San Mateo, you'd need to earn approximately $144,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in San Mateo?
December offers the best rental deals in San Mateo with the lowest seasonal pricing and reduced competition, while August sees the highest rents with an 11% difference between peak and off-peak months.
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).