Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on June 15, 2026
Average rent in
San Rafael, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on June 15, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where San Rafael rent stands today
San Rafael, CA rent rose 0.5% year over year to a current median of $2,972/month. Renters are paying $142 more per month on average than last year, with month-to-month rent essentially unchanged.
Vs. national rents
San Rafael runs roughly 1.5× the $1,950/month national median, placing it in the higher tier of California metros despite a total rental inventory of just 71 units.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios in San Rafael rent for about $2,195/month, 1-bedrooms for $2,450/month, and 2-bedrooms for $3,042/month, with 3-bedrooms at $3,890/month and 4+ bedrooms reaching $12,750/month.
Neighborhood spotlight
Peacock Gap rents fell 73.6% year over year to $3,295/month across 19 rentals. Rafael Meadows Los Ranchitos also cooled with a 45.2% decline, while Civic Center rents climbed 23.8%.
Median rent
Median rent in San Rafael
$2,972/mo
1%vs previous year
The average rent in San Rafael is $2,972 per month as of June 2026. This is 52% above the national average rent, or $1,022 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Rafael
71
for rent on Zumper.com as of June 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of San Rafael rentals at each price point
Rent trends in San Rafael, CA
Average rent prices in San Rafael have remained the same over the last month and have increased 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 Rafael, CA
Rent prices in San Rafael vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in San Rafael is $2,850, whereas a house costs $5,600. 1-bedroom apartments in San Rafael run $2,450 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,995.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,195 |  2% | 13% | |
1 bedroom | $2,450 | No Change | 15% | |
2 bedroom | $3,042 | 1% | 1% | |
3 bedroom | $3,889 | 6% | 5% | |
4 bedroom | $12,750 | 2% | 71% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Canal | $3,295 | |
Civic Center | $2,841 | |
Gerstle Park | $3,350 | |
Lincoln San Rafael Hill | $3,016 | |
Mont Marin San Rafael Park | $2,850 | |
Montecito Happy Valley | $3,350 | |
North San Rafael Commercial Center | $3,395 | |
Smith Ranch | $3,217 | |
Terra Linda | $2,850 | |
West End | $4,288 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,850 | 3% | No Change | |
Condos | $3,900 | 3% | No Change | |
Houses | $5,600 | 21% | No Change | |
Rooms | $1,850 | 2% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$2,195
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
13%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,450
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
15%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$3,042
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
1%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$3,889
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
5%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$12,750
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
71%
Mont Marin San Rafael Park
Average rent
$2,850
Smith Ranch
Average rent
$3,217
North San Rafael Commercial Center
Average rent
$3,395
Gerstle Park
Average rent
$3,350
Civic Center
Average rent
$2,841
West End
Average rent
$4,288
Lincoln San Rafael Hill
Average rent
$3,016
Canal
Average rent
$3,295
Montecito Happy Valley
Average rent
$3,350
Terra Linda
Average rent
$2,850
Apartments
Average rent
$2,850
Last 30 days
3%
Condos
Average rent
$3,900
Last 30 days
3%
Houses
Average rent
$5,600
Last 30 days
21%
Rooms
Average rent
$1,850
Last 30 days
2%
The table above reflects average rent prices in San Rafael, 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 Rafael, CA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in San Rafael and Belvedere Tiburon by all bedroom counts and property types.
San Rafael
52%higher than the national median
54%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in San Rafael, CA is 1% lower than the median rent in Belvedere Tiburon, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$3,000
69%$2,450
8%$3,315
12%$3,635
10%$2,625
7%$2,295
50%$3,097
15%$2,347
3%$4,034
18%$1,989
6%$4,350
49%$2,100
11%Discover rentals in San Rafael, CA
5d+ ago
Mont Marin - San Rafael Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$2,500
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Gerstle Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$2,750
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Mont Marin - San Rafael Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$2,750
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Mont Marin - San Rafael Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$2,750
Apartment for rent
4d ago
West End condo for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
2 baths
$5,450
$4,695
Price drop
Condo for rent
Available Jun 11
5d+ ago
West End condo for rent in San Rafael
1 bed
1 bath
$4,150
Condo for rent
Available Jun 11
1d ago
Montecito - Happy Valley apartment for rent in San Rafael
40 40 & 42 Leafwood Circle, San Rafael, CA 94901
2 beds
2 baths
$3,850
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Smith Ranch apartment for rent in San Rafael
1 bed
1 bath
$2,950
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Verified
2500 Deer Valley Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,937–$4,267
Price drop
Apartment for rent
23h ago
Mont Marin - San Rafael Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
Studio
1 bath
$2,175
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Mont Marin - San Rafael Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
1 bed
1 bath
$2,860
$2,595
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
North San Rafael Commercial Center condo for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1.5 baths
$3,475
$3,325
Price drop
Condo for rent
Available May 21
1d ago
Verified
2500 Deer Valley Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,937–$4,267
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
124 Merrydale Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,450–$2,800
Apartment for rent
Available Jun 15
4d ago
79 Woodland Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901
Studio
1 bath
$1,795
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Civic Center apartment for rent in San Rafael
19 Merrydale Rd #14, San Rafael, CA 94903
1 bed
1 bath
$2,495
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2500 Deer Valley Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
3 beds
2 baths
$3,877–$4,267
Price drop
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Mont Marin - San Rafael Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
1 bed
1 bath
$2,860
$2,595
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
North San Rafael Commercial Center condo for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1.5 baths
$3,475
$3,325
Price drop
Condo for rent
Available May 21
4d ago
West End condo for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
2 baths
$5,450
$4,695
Price drop
Condo for rent
Available Jun 11
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Frequently asked questions for San Rafael, CA
Quick answers to common questions about the San Rafael rental market.
How much is rent in San Rafael?
The average rent in San Rafael is $2,972 per month as of June 13, 2026.
Is rent up or down in San Rafael?
Average rent prices in San Rafael have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 1% since last year.
How does San Rafael rent compare to the national average?
Rent in San Rafael is 52% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,022 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Rafael?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Rafael are Civic Center ($2,841/mo), Mont Marin San Rafael Park ($2,850/mo), and Terra Linda ($2,850/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in San Rafael?
To comfortably afford rent in San Rafael, you'd need to earn approximately $119,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in San Rafael?
San Rafael's 2025 rental market shows 1-bedroom apartments averaging around $2,400 per month, while 2-bedroom units average around $3,200 per month. These figures reflect the current pricing in this Marin County community, with 1-bedrooms and 2-bedrooms each representing 35% of the available rental 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).