Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on July 28, 2026
Average rent in
San Mateo, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on July 28, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where San Mateo rent stands today
San Mateo, CA rent rose 6.1% year over year, with a current median of $3,545/month. Renters today are paying $300 more per month on average than last year despite a 2.6% month-over-month decline from the recent peak in June 2026.
Vs. national rents
San Mateo is 83.7% more expensive than the $1,930/month national median. The city offers 59 total rentals, a smaller inventory compared to larger metros.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios in San Mateo rent for $2,573/month, 1-bedrooms for $2,850/month, 2-bedrooms for $4,050/month, 3-bedrooms for $5,500/month, and 4+ bedrooms for $9,450/month. Apartments make up 64.2% of rentals.
Price ranges
Houses rent for a median of $5,800/month, considerably above the apartment median of $3,654/month. Apartments constitute 64.2% of total rentals, while houses account for 20.8%.
Median rent
Median rent in San Mateo
$3,545/mo
6%vs previous year
The average rent in San Mateo is $3,545 per month as of July 2026. This is 84% above the national average rent, or $1,615 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Mateo
59
for rent on Zumper.com as of July 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 decreased by 3% 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 $3,654, whereas a house costs $5,800. 1-bedroom apartments in San Mateo run $3,262 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $4,292.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,573 | 9% | 17% | |
1 bedroom | $2,850 |  4% | 4% | |
2 bedroom | $4,050 | No Change | 10% | |
3 bedroom | $5,500 | 12% | No Change | |
4 bedroom | $9,450 | 3% | 39% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Beresford Park | $4,285 | |
Downtown San Mateo | $4,292 | |
Hayward Park | $4,028 | |
Hillsdale | $4,044 | |
Marina Lagoon | $3,722 | |
North Central | $3,882 | |
Northwest Heights | $4,163 | |
Shoreview | $3,876 | |
Sugarloaf | $4,470 | |
Western Hills | $4,000 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $3,654 | 2% | No Change | |
Condos | $2,802 | 7% | No Change | |
Houses | $5,800 | 12% | 49% | |
Rooms | $1,557 | 5% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$2,573
Last 30 days
9%
Last year
17%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,850
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
4%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$4,050
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
10%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$5,500
Last 30 days
12%
Last year
No Change
4 bedroom
Average rent
$9,450
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
39%
Hillsdale
Average rent
$4,044
Hayward Park
Average rent
$4,028
Shoreview
Average rent
$3,876
Northwest Heights
Average rent
$4,163
Marina Lagoon
Average rent
$3,722
Downtown San Mateo
Average rent
$4,292
North Central
Average rent
$3,882
Sugarloaf
Average rent
$4,470
Beresford Park
Average rent
$4,285
Western Hills
Average rent
$4,000
Apartments
Average rent
$3,654
Last 30 days
2%
Condos
Average rent
$2,802
Last 30 days
7%
Houses
Average rent
$5,800
Last 30 days
12%
Last year
49%
Rooms
Average rent
$1,557
Last 30 days
5%
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
84%higher than the national median
34%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in San Mateo, CA is 37% higher than the median rent in Alameda, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$2,595
4%$2,500
3%$3,097
15%$2,475
2%$4,147
3%$2,275
5%$4,480
17%$3,457
3%$4,256
20%$2,395
4%$3,789
10%$3,074
15%Discover rentals in San Mateo, CA
5d+ ago
2000 S Delaware St, San Mateo, CA 94403
2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,050–$3,350
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Northwest Heights condo for rent in San Mateo
337 Grand Blvd #4, San Mateo, CA 94401
2 beds
1 bath
$3,100
Condo for rent
Available Aug 10
5d+ ago
Shoreview condo for rent in San Mateo
1411 E 3rd Ave #6, San Mateo, CA 94401
2 beds
1 bath
$3,285
Condo for rent
Available Jul 19
5d+ ago
Shoreview condo for rent in San Mateo
2 beds
1 bath
$3,285
Condo for rent
Available Jul 19
17h ago
Verified
1101 Park Pl, San Mateo, CA 94403
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$4,168–$6,673
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
2 baths
$6,070
Apartment for rent
9h ago
Verified
2 beds
2 baths
$6,110
$6,000
Price drop
Apartment for rent
8h ago
Verified
430 Station Park Cir, San Mateo, CA 94402
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,697–$5,957
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402
2 beds
2 baths
$5,174–$5,532
Price drop
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Verified
460 N Humboldt St, San Mateo, CA 94401
3 beds
1 bath
$4,102–$7,123
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Verified
460 N Humboldt St, San Mateo, CA 94401
3 beds
1 bath
$4,102–$7,123
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402
2 beds
2 baths
$5,174–$5,532
Price drop
Apartment for rent
23h ago
Verified
2201 Bridgepointe Pkwy #713, San Mateo, CA 94404
2 beds
2 baths
$4,470
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
2.5 baths
$5,540
House for rent
3d ago
Verified
55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402
2 beds
2 baths
$5,174–$5,532
Price drop
Apartment for rent
8h ago
Verified
430 Station Park Cir, San Mateo, CA 94402
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,769–$5,707
Price drop
Apartment for rent
8h ago
Verified
2717 S Norfolk St, San Mateo, CA 94403
2 beds
2 baths
$4,297–$4,429
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 $3,545 per month as of July 25, 2026.
Is rent up or down in San Mateo?
Average rent prices in San Mateo have decreased by 3% 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 84% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,615 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Mateo?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Mateo are Marina Lagoon ($3,722/mo), Shoreview ($3,876/mo), and North Central ($3,882/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 $142,000/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?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in San Mateo average around $3,070/month and two-bedrooms approximately $4,060/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).