Bedroom count

Property type

Last updated on December 17, 2025

Average rent in
Santa Cruz, CA

Last updated on December 17, 2025

Last updated on December 17, 2025

Bedroom count

Property type

As of December 2025, the median rent for all bedroom counts and property types in Santa Cruz, CA is $3,397. This is +79%, or $1,497, higher than the national average.

$3.63

average price per square foot

Median rent

$3,397

increased by6%
over the previous yearvs previous year

Total rentals

78

for rent on Zumper.com

As of December 2025, the median rent for all bedroom counts and property types in Santa Cruz, CA is $3,397. This is +79%, or $1,497, higher than the national average.

$3.63

average price per square foot

Rent ranges

1%
42%
44%
10%
4%
$0-$1,500$0 - $1,500
$1,501-$3,000$1,501 - $3,000
$3,001-$4,500$3,001 - $4,500
$4,501-$6,000$4,501 - $6,000
$6,001-$50,000$6,001 - $50,000

Households

54%
46%
Renter-occupied
Owner-occupied

Median rent and rent ranges are based on Zumper inventory in the last 30 days. Household data are provided by the US Census Bureau.

Rent price trends in
Santa Cruz, CA

Rent price trends

Rent prices for all bedroom counts and property types in Santa Cruz, CA have decreased by 3% in the last month and have increased by 6% in the last year.

Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.

Rent comparables in
Santa Cruz, CA

The monthly rent for an apartment in Santa Cruz, CA is $2,995. A 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz, CA costs about $2,350 on average, while a 2-bedroom apartment is $3,595. Houses for rent in Santa Cruz, CA are more expensive, with an average monthly cost of $4,000.

Comparables

1 bedroom

$2,447

1%

4%

2 bedroom

$3,600

1%

2%

3 bedroom

$4,247

1%

5%

4 bedroom

$7,500

8%

23%

Studio

$1,850

2%

2%

Studio

Average rent

$1,850

Last 30 days

2%

Last year

2%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$2,447

Last 30 days

1%

Last year

4%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$3,600

Last 30 days

1%

Last year

2%

3 bedroom

Average rent

$4,247

Last 30 days

1%

Last year

5%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$7,500

Last 30 days

8%

Last year

23%

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.

Compare rent prices in Santa Cruz, CA to other cities

Median rent prices in Santa Cruz, CA for all bedroom counts and property types compared to Aptos, CA.

Santa Cruz

Median rent price$3,397
increased by79%

higher than the national median

Median rent price$3,775
increased by99%

higher than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in Santa Cruz, CA is 10% lower than the median rent in Aptos, CA.

More data insights and reports

View the National Rent Report

National Rent Report

View the Canadian Rent Report

Canadian Rent Report

View the Annual Rent Report

Annual Rent Report

Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.

Average rent in
Nearby cities

Explore rent trends in other markets

Aptos

$3,775

decreased by11%

Last year

Capitola

$3,225

increased by6%

Last year

Felton

$2,850

decreased by17%

Last year

Fremont

$2,750

decreased by3%

Last year

Los Gatos

$3,795

increased by11%

Last year

San Jose

$3,029

increased by1%

Last year

San Mateo

$3,212

increased by9%

Last year

Santa Clara

$3,080

increased by9%

Last year

Scotts Valley

$3,895

increased by40%

Last year

Soquel

$3,250

increased by4%

Last year

Sunnyvale

$3,259

increased by2%

Last year

Watsonville

$3,125

decreased by13%

Last year

Apartments for rent in Belmont

Discover rentals in Santa Cruz, CA

Garden Lane MHP - Photo 1 of 1

4h ago

8.6

Very good

Garden Lane MHP

692 38th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

1–2 beds

1–2 baths

$2,350–$3,200

Apartment for rent

320 - 328 California Street - Photo 1 of 1

1d ago

8.6

Very good

320 - 328 California Street

328 California Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1–4 beds

1–2 baths

$2,400–$4,200

Apartment for rent

617 Water St #B - Photo 1 of 1

7h ago

Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz

3 beds

1 bath

$2,895

$2,695

Price drop

Apartment for rent

Available Oct 30

708 Riverside Ave #A - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Apartment for rent

Available Nov 15

708 Riverside Avenue #Apt A - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz

Apartment for rent

Available Nov 15

2314 Felt Street #A - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz

Apartment for rent

132 Harbor Oaks Circle - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Condo for rent in Santa Cruz

3 beds

1 bath

$3,200

$3,000

Price drop

Condo for rent

617 Water St #A - Photo 1 of 1

7h ago

Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz

3 beds

1 bath

$3,300

$3,100

Price drop

Apartment for rent

Available Oct 23