Last updated
Average Rent in El Cajon, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 8 apartment communities in El Cajon, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,885/mo
Lowest Available
$2,200/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
8
tracked daily
Units Listed
16
available now
Rent Watch: cuts and increases
Open Rent Watch →See current options while we confirm new price comparisons. Filter by bedrooms and budget, then inspect each building’s history.
Rent by Neighborhood in El Cajon, CA
Compare average rent across El Cajon, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Cajon 92019 | $2,576 | ▲ $36 | $2,258 | 2 | 55 |
| El Cajon 92020 | $2,351 | ▲ $13 | $1,699 | 9 | 56 |
| El Cajon 92021 | $2,310 | ▲ $14 | $1,622 | 11 | 40 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in El Cajon, CA?
As of October 2026, the average rent in El Cajon, CA is $2,885 per month across 8 apartment communities and 16 available units.
The most affordable option is Cabo Verde Apartments starting at $2,200/mo. By unit type, a 3-bedroom averages $2,885/mo.
Prices range from $2,200 to $3,400 per month. The most common price point is the $2,800 range, where 7 units are currently listed.
El Cajon, CA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | $2,124 | - | 5 |
| July 2026 | $2,255 | +$131 | 5 |
| August 2026 | $2,234 | -$21 | 5 |
| September 2026 | $2,247 | +$13 | 6 |
| October 2026 | $2,464 | +$217 | 8 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in El Cajon, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in El Cajon, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabo Verde Apartments | $2,200/mo | $2,717/mo | 6 | 3.8 |
| The Arches Apartments | $2,670/mo | $2,820/mo | 3 | 4.7 |
| The Ballantyne Manor | $2,800/mo | $2,800/mo | 1 | 2.4 |
| Dominguez Way Apartments | $2,950/mo | $2,950/mo | 1 | 5 |
| Terre at Madison Apartments | $2,955/mo | $2,955/mo | 1 | 4.6 |
| Oak Valley Apartments | $2,995/mo | $2,995/mo | 1 | 3.7 |
| Bella Vista Apartments | $3,000/mo | $3,200/mo | 2 | 3.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in El Cajon, CA
What is the average rent in El Cajon, CA?
Is rent going up or down in El Cajon, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in El Cajon, CA?
How many apartments are available in El Cajon, CA?
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
$115,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,885/mo.
Comfortable income
$138,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,200/mo), you need to earn at least $88,000/year.
Median household income in El Cajon, CA is $66,478 , about 52% 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) | $2,885 |
| Utilities | $799 |
| Groceries | $552 |
| Transportation | $1,904 |
| Healthcare | $929 |
| Other goods and services | $1,486 |
| Estimated total | $8,555/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
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
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
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
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.
Google Search Trends for El Cajon, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
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