Average Rent in El Cajon, CA
What is the average rent in El Cajon, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in El Cajon, CA is $2,576 per month, as of October 20, 2026. This sample includes 205 priced apartments in 33 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 October 17, 2026 through October 20, 2026. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.
33 apartment buildings, 205 units. Recorded asking prices and price history where available.
Browse apartments in El Cajon, CACheapest
$1,300/mo
lowest unit
Properties
33
tracked daily
Units
205
available now
El Cajon, CA Resident Access
City Club members share insider gate codes, parking links, and amenity tips.
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 33 properties in El Cajon, CA.
Average rent trend, last 3 months
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
El Cajon, CA Rent Prices
All 33 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Sun Valley Gardens in El Cajon
588 S Anza St, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Casa Miguel Apartments
570 S Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Majestic Apartments-El Cajon
505 W Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Village Green
151 Ballantyne St, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Terre at 1037 Peach Apartments
1037 Peach Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021, USA
The Arches Apartments
301 Shady Ln, El Cajon, CA 92021, USA
Terre at E Park Apartments
437 E Park Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun Valley Gardens in El Cajon 588 S Anza St, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA | $1,695 | $2,049 | $2.39/ft² | 3 (4) | 4 |
| 2 | Casa Miguel Apartments 570 S Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA | $1,700 | $1,933 | -- | 3.8 (10) | 3 |
| 3 | Majestic Apartments-El Cajon 505 W Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA | $1,725 | $1,948 | $3.44/ft² | 3.5 (29) | 3 |
| 4 | Village Green 151 Ballantyne St, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA | $1,725 | $1,725 | -- | 4.3 (6) | 1 |
| 5 | Terre at 1037 Peach Apartments 1037 Peach Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021, USA | $1,741 | $2,946 | $5.26/ft² | 4.3 (6) | 2 |
| 6 | The Arches Apartments 301 Shady Ln, El Cajon, CA 92021, USA | $1,750 | $2,129 | $2.69/ft² | 4.7 (62) | 13 |
| 7 | Terre at E Park Apartments 437 E Park Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA | $1,780 | $2,930 | $5.23/ft² | 3.5 (16) | 2 |
Rent & Price History by Building
Compare apartment listings by price, bedrooms, and neighborhood.
Sun Valley Gardens in El Cajon
3 (4)588 S Anza St, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Casa Miguel Apartments
3.8 (10)570 S Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Majestic Apartments-El Cajon
3.5 (29)505 W Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Village Green
4.3 (6)151 Ballantyne St, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Terre at 1037 Peach Apartments
4.3 (6)1037 Peach Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021, USA
The Arches Apartments
4.7 (62)301 Shady Ln, El Cajon, CA 92021, USA
By Area
El Cajon, CA neighborhoods
Tracked buildings across 3 named neighborhoods. Pick one to see its apartments.
El Cajon, CA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average listed rent in El Cajon, CA is $2,576 per month, based on 205 units across 33 apartment communities.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bed | $2,302/mo | $1,300/mo | 84 |
| 2 Bed | $2,725/mo | $1,995/mo | 112 |
| 3 Bed | $3,292/mo | $2,596/mo | 9 |
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 El Cajon, CA apartments earn?
The 6 buildings we can estimate generate about $986K in rental revenue per month ($12M a year). Estimated from each building's unit-level listing and leasing activity.
| Building | Est. Monthly Revenue | Asking / Leased | Est. Occupancy | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Parkwood Gardens | $283K/mo | $1,995 / $2,225 | 98% | 130 |
| 2.Oasis Del Sol Apartments | $217K/mo | 98% | 84 | |
| 3.Lexington Park Apartments | $185K/mo | $2,609 / $2,530 | 92% | 79 |
| 4.Camden Park Apartments | $147K/mo | $2,150 / $2,192 | 96% | 70 |
| 5.The Ballantyne Manor | $98K/mo | 97% | 36 | |
| 1 more estimated building | $57K/mo |
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 El Cajon, CA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in El Cajon, CA averages $2,302/mo, with two-bedroom units averaging $2,725/mo. At the local median household income of $66,478, that works out to 46% of gross income, a severely rent-burdened market by HUD standards.
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2023 release pegged median gross rent in El Cajon, CA at $1,790/mo. The current tracked market average runs 44% 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 El Cajon, CA while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in El Cajon, 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
$103,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,576/mo.
Comfortable income
$124,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,300/mo), you need to earn at least $52,000/year.
Median household income in El Cajon, CA is $66,478 , about 46% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in El Cajon, CA
Overall prices in El Cajon, CA runs above the national average by about 11% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 110.7, 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 El Cajon, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,576 |
| Utilities | $799 |
| Groceries | $552 |
| Transportation | $1,904 |
| Healthcare | $929 |
| Other goods and services | $1,486 |
| Estimated total | $8,246/mo |
Population
104,909
Median household income
$66,478
Census median rent
$1,790/mo
Census rent burden
41.0%
Median age
35.5
Mean commute
25 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 El Cajon, CA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs El Cajon, CA | 30-Day Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $3,116 | +21% | +9.5% | 50 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,406 | +32% | +4.6% | 36 |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,869 | +11% | +2.3% | 33 |
| San Francisco, CA | $5,282 | +105% | +3.5% | 32 |
| Riverside, CA | $2,396 | -7% | -0.7% | 26 |
| Antioch, CA | $2,294 | -11% | -1.3% | 25 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in El Cajon, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in El Cajon, CA is $2,576 per month, as of October 20, 2026. This sample includes 205 priced apartments in 33 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
What is the median rent in El Cajon, CA?
The median asking rent in El Cajon, CA is $2,321 per month, computed from 205 priced listings; check the observation dates shown on this page. The average is $2,576/mo; the median resists skew from luxury listings.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in El Cajon, CA?
The lowest available rent in El Cajon, CA starts at $1,300 per month. Confirm current availability, fees, and lease terms with the selected listing.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in El Cajon, CA?
1-bedroom apartments in El Cajon, CA average $2,302/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $1,300/mo across 84 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in El Cajon, CA?
2-bedroom apartments in El Cajon, CA average $2,725/mo. Units start from $1,995/mo across 112 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in El Cajon, CA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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