Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on July 31, 2026
Average rent in
San Rafael, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on July 31, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
San Rafael, CA rent fell 12.8% year over year, with a current median of $2,795/month. Renters today are paying $794 less per month on average than last year, while month-to-month rent is essentially unchanged.
Compared to national trends
San Rafael runs roughly 1.4× the $1,930/month national median, placing it among pricier coastal metros with limited total rentals at 69 across the city.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios rent for $2,000/month, 1-bedrooms for $2,495/month, and 2-bedrooms for $3,050/month. Larger units include 3-bedrooms at $5,398/month and 4+ bedrooms at $14,500/month. The 1-bed and 2-bed units make up over 66% of total rentals.
Neighborhood spotlight
Peacock Gap saw rents fall 80.0% year over year to $3,000/month, and Fairhills declined 54.6% to $2,950/month. These declines contrast with the citywide 12.8% drop, showing localized market softness in San Rafael, CA.
Median rent
Median rent in San Rafael
$2,795/mo
13%vs previous year
The average rent in San Rafael is $2,795 per month as of July 2026. This is 45% above the national average rent, or $865 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Rafael
69
for rent on Zumper.com as of July 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 decreased by 13% 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 $2,722, whereas a house costs $7,750. 1-bedroom apartments in San Rafael run $2,495 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,972.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,000 | 1% |  16% | |
1 bedroom | $2,495 | 2% | 9% | |
2 bedroom | $3,050 | 1% | 2% | |
3 bedroom | $5,397 | 6% | 59% | |
4 bedroom | $14,500 | 7% | 80% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Canal | $4,375 | |
Civic Center | $3,050 | |
Downtown San Rafael | $3,250 | |
Fairhills | $2,950 | |
Gerstle Park | $2,750 | |
Lincoln San Rafael Hill | $2,995 | |
Mont Marin San Rafael Park | $2,850 | |
North San Rafael Commercial Center | $3,000 | |
Smith Ranch | $2,999 | |
Terra Linda | $3,224 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,722 | 2% | No Change | |
Condos | $3,200 | 10% | No Change | |
Houses | $7,750 | 20% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$2,000
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
16%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,495
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
9%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$3,050
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
2%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$5,397
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
59%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$14,500
Last 30 days
7%
Last year
80%
Mont Marin San Rafael Park
Average rent
$2,850
Civic Center
Average rent
$3,050
Smith Ranch
Average rent
$2,999
Canal
Average rent
$4,375
Lincoln San Rafael Hill
Average rent
$2,995
Terra Linda
Average rent
$3,224
Gerstle Park
Average rent
$2,750
North San Rafael Commercial Center
Average rent
$3,000
Fairhills
Average rent
$2,950
Downtown San Rafael
Average rent
$3,250
Apartments
Average rent
$2,722
Last 30 days
2%
Condos
Average rent
$3,200
Last 30 days
10%
Houses
Average rent
$7,750
Last 30 days
20%
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
45%higher than the national median
107%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in San Rafael, CA is 30% lower than the median rent in Belvedere Tiburon, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$4,000
3%$2,400
3%$3,415
10%$3,275
6%$2,800
2%$2,442
32%$2,600
11%$2,567
4%$4,256
20%$2,125
3%$4,775
23%$1,996
3%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
2d ago
1356 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901
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
2 baths
$2,795
Apartment for rent
19h ago
Country Club apartment for rent in San Rafael
4 beds
3 baths
$10,995
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
5d+ ago
Downtown San Rafael apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1.5 baths
$4,500
Apartment for rent
3d ago
West End condo for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
2 baths
$4,495
Condo for rent
Available Jul 1
2d ago
West End condo for rent in San Rafael
1 bed
1 bath
$3,595
Condo for rent
Available Jul 1
20h ago
Verified
2500 Deer Valley Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,927–$4,249
Price drop
Apartment for rent
17h ago
Mont Marin - San Rafael Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$3,355
Apartment for rent
17h ago
Mont Marin - San Rafael Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$3,130
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Bert Harte house for rent in San Rafael
327 Irwin St, San Rafael, CA 94901
4 beds
3 baths
$5,500
House for rent
Available Aug 15
20h ago
Verified
2500 Deer Valley Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,927–$4,249
Price drop
Apartment for rent
2d ago
124 Merrydale Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,450–$2,800
Apartment for rent
Available Jun 30
5d+ ago
Terra Linda apartment for rent in San Rafael
225 Nova Albion Way #28, San Rafael, CA 94903
1 bed
1 bath
$2,495
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Lincoln - San Rafael Hill apartment for rent in San Rafael
1821 Lincoln Ave #312, San Rafael, CA 94901
2 beds
1 bath
$3,195
Apartment for rent
20h ago
Verified
2500 Deer Valley Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,927–$3,767
Price drop
Apartment for rent
19h ago
Country Club apartment for rent in San Rafael
4 beds
3 baths
$10,995
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
1d ago
Gerstle Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
1 bed
1 bath
$2,525
$2,425
Price drop
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Downtown San Rafael condo for rent in San Rafael
Studio
1 bath
$1,795
Condo for rent
Available Oct 12
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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 $2,795 per month as of July 25, 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 decreased by 13% since last year.
How does San Rafael rent compare to the national average?
Rent in San Rafael is 45% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $865 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Rafael?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Rafael are Gerstle Park ($2,750/mo), Mont Marin San Rafael Park ($2,850/mo), and Fairhills ($2,950/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 $112,000/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?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in San Rafael average around $2,450/month and two-bedrooms approximately $3,180/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).