Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on October 30, 2026
Average rent in
Santa Cruz, CA
Average rent in
Last updated on October 30, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
Santa Cruz, CA rent is essentially flat year over year, with a current median of $3,275/month and a modest $25 decrease from last year.
Vs. national rents
Santa Cruz rent is 72.4% more expensive than the $1,900/month national median. This places Santa Cruz among pricier coastal metros with a limited total rental inventory of 74 units.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios rent for $2,350/month, 1-bedrooms for $2,495/month, and 2-bedrooms for $3,502/month. Larger units include 3-bedrooms at $4,645/month and 4+ bedrooms at $7,590/month. Studios are the most affordable bedroom tier.
Neighborhood spotlight
Beach Hill saw a 26.1% year-over-year rent increase, and Downtown Santa Cruz rose 21.6%, both above the citywide trend. These neighborhoods are driving local rent growth despite the overall flat market.
Median rent
Median rent in Santa Cruz
$3,275/mo
1%vs previous year
The average rent in Santa Cruz is $3,275 per month as of October 2026. This is 72% above the national average rent, or $1,375 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Santa Cruz
74
for rent on Zumper.com as of October 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Santa Cruz rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Santa Cruz, CA
Average rent prices in Santa Cruz have decreased by 2% over the last month and have decreased 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
Santa Cruz, CA
Rent prices in Santa Cruz vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Santa Cruz is $2,839, whereas a house costs $4,200. 1-bedroom apartments in Santa Cruz run $2,500 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $3,200.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,350 | 14% |  25% | |
1 bedroom | $2,495 | 2% | 3% | |
2 bedroom | $3,502 | 3% | No Change | |
3 bedroom | $4,645 | 3% | 2% | |
4 bedroom | $7,590 | 18% | 8% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Beach Hill | $2,822 | |
Downtown Santa Cruz | $3,100 | |
Eastside | $3,025 | |
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | $3,325 | |
Westside | $3,659 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $2,839 | 3% | No Change | |
Condos | $3,000 | 9% | 2% | |
Houses | $4,200 | No Change | 3% |
Studio
Average rent
$2,350
Last 30 days
14%
Last year
25%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,495
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
3%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$3,502
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
No Change
3 bedroom
Average rent
$4,645
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
2%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$7,590
Last 30 days
18%
Last year
8%
Westside
Average rent
$3,659
Downtown Santa Cruz
Average rent
$3,100
Eastside
Average rent
$3,025
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Average rent
$3,325
Beach Hill
Average rent
$2,822
Apartments
Average rent
$2,839
Last 30 days
3%
Condos
Average rent
$3,000
Last 30 days
9%
Last year
2%
Houses
Average rent
$4,200
Last year
3%
The table above reflects average rent prices in Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz, CA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in Santa Cruz and Aptos by all bedroom counts and property types.
Santa Cruz
72%higher than the national median
109%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Santa Cruz, CA is 18% lower than the median rent in Aptos, CA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$3,975
7%$3,200
5%$3,275
16%$3,200
12%$3,672
3%$3,359
10%$3,782
12%$3,567
13%$3,400
15%$2,600
23%$3,810
12%$3,395
3%Discover rentals in Santa Cruz, CA
2d ago
514 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
1 bed
1–2 baths
$1,095–$1,495
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
House for rent in Santa Cruz
1744 Foster Ct, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
5 beds
2.5 baths
$1,200
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
Available Jul 1
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$2,695
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 24
4d ago
1630 Merrill St, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,895–$5,519
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.Apartment for rent
Available Oct 30
7h ago
Verified
444 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,275–$7,500
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.Apartment for rent
3d ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
3 baths
$6,800
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
18h ago
1411 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
2 beds
2 baths
$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.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
1228 Broadway #NA, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
2 beds
2 baths
$4,800
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.House for rent
Available Oct 24
2h ago
Verified
143 Chestnut St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,677–$3,769
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
2d ago
Verified
200 Button St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,000–$3,210
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.Apartment for rent
20h ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
Studio
1 bath
$2,100
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 30
21h ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,395
Price dropped $100Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.Apartment for rent
Available Sep 5
2d ago
Verified
200 Button St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,000–$3,210
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.Apartment for rent
2h ago
Verified
143 Chestnut St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,677–$3,769
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
1203 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
2 beds
2 baths
$4,000
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
3d ago
101 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
1 bed
1 bath
$3,100–$3,700
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
7h ago
Verified
444 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,275–$7,500
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
200 Button St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
2 beds
1 bath
Call for price
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$4,495
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
19h ago
231 Blackburn St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
1 bed
1 bath
$2,195
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
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Frequently asked questions for Santa Cruz, CA
Quick answers to common questions about the Santa Cruz rental market.
How much is rent in Santa Cruz?
The average rent in Santa Cruz is $3,275 per month as of October 24, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Santa Cruz?
Average rent prices in Santa Cruz have decreased by 2% over the last month and have decreased by 1% since last year.
How does Santa Cruz rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Santa Cruz is 72% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,375 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Santa Cruz?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Cruz are Beach Hill ($2,822/mo), Eastside ($3,025/mo), and Downtown Santa Cruz ($3,100/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Santa Cruz?
To comfortably afford rent in Santa Cruz, you'd need to earn approximately $131,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Santa Cruz?
December offers the best rental deals in Santa Cruz, with rents running 17% lower than April's peak prices. November also provides good opportunities with the least competitive market conditions compared to the high-demand spring months of March and May.
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).