Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on October 30, 2026
Average rent in
San Rafael, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on October 30, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
San Rafael, CA rent slipped modestly year over year, with a current median of $2,950/month. Renters are paying about $50 less per month than last year, while month-to-month rent is unchanged, showing a slight cooling in the market.
Vs. national rents
San Rafael is 55.3% more expensive than the national median rent of $1,900/month. The city has a total of 69 rentals, offering limited but varied options for renters.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios in San Rafael rent for about $2,272/month, 1-bedrooms around $2,495/month, 2-bedrooms near $3,050/month, 3-bedrooms at $5,745/month, and 4+ bedrooms at $8,500/month. This range reflects the diversity of unit sizes available to renters.
Neighborhood spotlight
Peacock Gap rents fell 65.6% year over year to $3,097/month across 20 rentals. Country Club and Bert Harte also saw declines over 59%. These steep local drops contrast with the modest citywide decline, showing significant neighborhood variation.
Median rent
Median rent in San Rafael
$2,950/mo
2%vs previous year
The average rent in San Rafael is $2,950 per month as of October 2026. This is 55% above the national average rent, or $1,050 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Rafael
69
for rent on Zumper.com as of October 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 2% 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 $2,750, whereas a house costs $5,750. 1-bedroom apartments in San Rafael run $2,495 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $3,050.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,272 | 1% |  14% | |
1 bedroom | $2,495 | 2% | 4% | |
2 bedroom | $3,050 | 2% | 5% | |
3 bedroom | $5,745 | 3% | 22% | |
4 bedroom | $8,500 | 9% | 17% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Canal | $4,170 | |
Civic Center | $2,997 | |
Downtown San Rafael | $2,795 | |
Gerstle Park | $2,850 | |
Glenwood | $2,650 | |
Lincoln San Rafael Hill | $2,852 | |
Montecito Happy Valley | $3,300 | |
North San Rafael Commercial Center | $2,850 | |
Smith Ranch | $3,033 | |
Terra Linda | $3,030 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,750 | No Change | 2% | |
Condos | $3,450 | No Change | 15% | |
Houses | $5,750 | 5% | 17% |
Studio
Average rent
$2,272
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
14%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,495
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
4%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$3,050
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
5%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$5,745
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
22%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$8,500
Last 30 days
9%
Last year
17%
North San Rafael Commercial Center
Average rent
$2,850
Gerstle Park
Average rent
$2,850
Smith Ranch
Average rent
$3,033
Terra Linda
Average rent
$3,030
Civic Center
Average rent
$2,997
Downtown San Rafael
Average rent
$2,795
Canal
Average rent
$4,170
Lincoln San Rafael Hill
Average rent
$2,852
Montecito Happy Valley
Average rent
$3,300
Glenwood
Average rent
$2,650
Apartments
Average rent
$2,750
Last year
2%
Condos
Average rent
$3,450
Last year
15%
Houses
Average rent
$5,750
Last 30 days
5%
Last year
17%
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
55%higher than the national median
189%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in San Rafael, CA is 46% lower than the median rent in Belvedere Tiburon, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$5,500
35%$2,695
4%$3,510
24%$3,195
2%$3,133
24%$2,575
59%$2,450
38%$2,600
14%$4,560
27%$2,187
10%$5,647
48%$2,050
2%Discover rentals in San Rafael, CA
5d+ ago
North San Rafael Commercial Center apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$2,500
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
1356 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901
2 beds
1 bath
$2,700
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
North San Rafael Commercial Center apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$2,750
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Gerstle Park apartment for rent in San Rafael
2 beds
1 bath
$2,750
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Loch Lomond house for rent in San Rafael
4 beds
6 baths
$10,995
Price dropped $3,000Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
2d ago
Picnic Valley house for rent in San Rafael
40 Twain Harte Ln, San Rafael, CA 94901
4 beds
3.5 baths
$8,950
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
Available Nov 7
5d+ ago
Glenwood house for rent in San Rafael
128 Fernwood Dr, San Rafael, CA 94901
4 beds
2.5 baths
$8,950
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
Available Oct 10
3d ago
Sun Valley house for rent in San Rafael
3 beds
1.5 baths
$6,250
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
Available Nov 7
12h ago
Verified
2500 Deer Valley Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,877–$4,317
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Civic Center apartment for rent in San Rafael
19 Merrydale Rd #14A, San Rafael, CA 94903
1 bed
1 bath
$2,295
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Jul 13
2d ago
Picnic Valley house for rent in San Rafael
40 Twain Harte Ln, San Rafael, CA 94901
4 beds
3.5 baths
$8,950
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
Available Nov 7
3d ago
North San Rafael Commercial Center apartment for rent in San Rafael
1 bed
1 bath
$2,555
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
2500 Deer Valley Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,877–$4,317
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
Domincan - Black Canyon house for rent in San Rafael
5 beds
3 baths
$7,500
Price dropped $450Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
3d ago
Downtown San Rafael apartment for rent in San Rafael
1011 2nd St #1, San Rafael, CA 94901
Studio
1 bath
$2,300
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Oct 26
5d+ ago
West End house for rent in San Rafael
107 West St, San Rafael, CA 94901
3 beds
1 bath
$5,200
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
1d ago
Domincan - Black Canyon house for rent in San Rafael
5 beds
3 baths
$7,500
Price dropped $450Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
3d ago
Downtown San Rafael apartment for rent in San Rafael
1011 2nd St #1, San Rafael, CA 94901
Studio
1 bath
$2,300
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Oct 26
5d+ ago
1200-1212 1200-1212 4th Street/1009 B Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
Studio
1 bath
$1,950
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Loch Lomond house for rent in San Rafael
4 beds
6 baths
$10,995
Price dropped $3,000Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
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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 $2,950 per month as of October 24, 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 2% since last year.
How does San Rafael rent compare to the national average?
Rent in San Rafael is 55% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,050 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Rafael?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Rafael are Glenwood ($2,650/mo), Downtown San Rafael ($2,795/mo), and North San Rafael Commercial Center ($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 $118,000/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?
December offers the best rental deals in San Rafael, with rents running about 10% lower than peak July prices and reduced competition from other renters.
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).