Average Rent in Costa Mesa, CA
What is the average rent in Costa Mesa, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in Costa Mesa, CA is $3,073 per month, as of November 8, 2026. This sample includes 53 priced apartments in 15 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
We use published total monthly rent when known and base rent otherwise. Unknown fees remain unknown. Included building observations run from November 4, 2026 through November 8, 2026. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.
15 apartment buildings, 53 units. Recorded asking prices and price history where available.
Browse apartments in Costa Mesa, CAAvg Rent
$3,073/mo
median $3,040
market average
Cheapest
$2,222/mo
Pacific Villas
Properties
15
tracked daily
Units
53
available now
Costa Mesa, CA Resident Access
City Club members share insider gate codes, parking links, and amenity tips.
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 15 properties in Costa Mesa, CA.
Average rent trend, last month
All bedroom types, citywide. Choose a window above to scope the view.
Average Rent by Property
Starting Price vs Average
Rent by Bedroom Count
Price per Square Foot
Costa Mesa, CA Rent Prices
All 15 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Pacific Villas
533 W Wilson St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
Pacifica Apartments
710 W 18th St # 1, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
Park Center Place Apartment Homes
575 W 19th St # J, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
The Parsons
2000 Parsons St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
The Monrovia Apartment Homes
1819 Monrovia Ave #5, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
Westside Apartments
1959 Maple Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
Westlake Village Apartments
955 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacific Villas 533 W Wilson St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA | $2,222 | $2,750 | $3.55/ft² | 2.9 (15) | 4 |
| 2 | Pacifica Apartments 710 W 18th St # 1, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA | $2,250 | $2,250 | $2.96/ft² | 3.7 (13) | 1 |
| 3 | Park Center Place Apartment Homes 575 W 19th St # J, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA | $2,275 as of Oct 22 | $2,275 | $3.25/ft² | 4.3 (16) | 1 |
| 4 | The Parsons 2000 Parsons St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA | $2,350 | $2,350 | $5.22/ft² | 4.4 (31) | 1 |
| 5 | The Monrovia Apartment Homes 1819 Monrovia Ave #5, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA | $2,370 | $2,550 | $3.11/ft² | 3.7 (3) | 4 |
| 6 | Westside Apartments 1959 Maple Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA | $2,495 | $2,615 | $3.74/ft² | 5 (7) | 2 |
| 7 | Westlake Village Apartments 955 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA | $2,690 | $2,690 | $2.99/ft² | 4.3 (16) | 1 |
Rent & Price History by Building
Compare apartment listings by price, bedrooms, and neighborhood.
Pacific Villas
2.9 (15)533 W Wilson St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
Pacifica Apartments
3.7 (13)710 W 18th St # 1, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
Park Center Place Apartment Homes
4.3 (16)575 W 19th St # J, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
The Parsons
4.4 (31)2000 Parsons St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
The Monrovia Apartment Homes
3.7 (3)1819 Monrovia Ave #5, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
Westside Apartments
5 (7)1959 Maple Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
By Area
Costa Mesa, CA neighborhoods
Tracked buildings across 2 named neighborhoods. Pick one to see its apartments.
Costa Mesa, CA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average listed rent in Costa Mesa, CA is $3,073 per month, based on 53 units across 15 apartment communities. Prices range from $2,222 at Pacific Villas to $5,086 at Baker Block.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,016/mo | $2,350/mo | 5 |
| 1 Bed | $2,796/mo | $2,222/mo | 21 |
| 2 Bed | $3,230/mo | $2,690/mo | 26 |
| 3 Bed | $5,086/mo | $5,086/mo | 1 |
We schedule daily price checks. The included observations can have different dates. Request an area we do not cover so we can review it for coverage.
Building Economics
How much do Costa Mesa, CA apartments earn?
The 5 buildings we can estimate generate about $938K in rental revenue per month ($11M a year). Estimated from each building's unit-level listing and leasing activity.
| Building | Est. Monthly Revenue | Asking / Leased | Est. Occupancy | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Blue Sol Apartments | $339K/mo | $3,199 / $3,612 | 94% | 113 |
| 2.Pacific Villas | $220K/mo | 95% | 84 | |
| 3.Sea Breeze | $179K/mo | 98% | 60 | |
| 4.Pacifica Apartments | $115K/mo | 98% | 52 | |
| 5.The Monrovia Apartment Homes | $84K/mo | 89% | 37 |
Research estimates from listing activity, not operator financials. Asking is the average listed rent; leased is the average rent at which units left the market. Click any building for the full revenue breakdown and methodology.
Market Context
Who rents in Costa Mesa, CA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in Costa Mesa, CA averages $2,796/mo , with two-bedroom units averaging $3,230/mo. At the local median household income of $110,073, that works out to 34% of gross income, above the 30 percent affordability ceiling, a stretched-budget market.
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2023 release pegged median gross rent in Costa Mesa, CA at $2,395/mo. The current tracked market average runs 28% higher than that benchmark, reflecting both two to three years of rent growth and the fact that the Census figure covers all renter-occupied housing in Costa Mesa, CA while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Costa Mesa, CA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$123,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $3,073/mo.
Comfortable income
$148,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,222/mo), you need to earn at least $89,000/year.
Median household income in Costa Mesa, CA is $110,073 , about 25% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Costa Mesa, CA
Overall prices in Costa Mesa, CA runs above the national average by about 15% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 114.7, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Costa Mesa, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $3,073 |
| Utilities | $744 |
| Groceries | $578 |
| Transportation | $1,773 |
| Healthcare | $865 |
| Other goods and services | $1,384 |
| Estimated total | $8,417/mo |
Population
110,538
Median household income
$110,073
Census median rent
$2,395/mo
Census rent burden
31.2%
Median age
36.5
Mean commute
22 min
Methodology
Rent data
We use listed asking rents and schedule daily data updates. Individual buildings can have different verification dates. Check the building or unit page for its latest price and availability.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
We estimate annual income by dividing annual rent by 30 percent for the affordability figure and 25 percent for the comfortable-income figure. These estimates are a guide, not a guarantee of rental approval.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Compare
Nearby cities in California
How Costa Mesa, CA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs Costa Mesa, CA | 30-Day Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $3,104 | +1% | -5% | 50 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,370 | +10% | -5.5% | 36 |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,881 | -6% | +1.8% | 34 |
| EL Cajon, CA | $2,261 | -26% | -8.8% | 33 |
| Hayward, CA | $2,730 | -11% | -5.6% | 32 |
| San Francisco, CA | $5,205 | +69% | +7.5% | 32 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Costa Mesa, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in Costa Mesa, CA is $3,073 per month, as of November 8, 2026. This sample includes 53 priced apartments in 15 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
What is the median rent in Costa Mesa, CA?
The median asking rent in Costa Mesa, CA is $3,040 per month, computed from 53 priced listings; check the observation dates shown on this page. The average is $3,073/mo; the median resists skew from luxury listings.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in Costa Mesa, CA?
The lowest available rent in Costa Mesa, CA starts at $2,222 per month. Confirm current availability, fees, and lease terms with the selected listing.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Costa Mesa, CA?
1-bedroom apartments in Costa Mesa, CA average $2,796/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $2,222/mo across 21 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Costa Mesa, CA?
2-bedroom apartments in Costa Mesa, CA average $3,230/mo. Units start from $2,690/mo across 26 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in Costa Mesa, CA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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