Average Rent in La Mesa, CA
What is the average rent in La Mesa, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in La Mesa, CA is $2,508 per month, as of November 7, 2026. This sample includes 144 priced apartments in 28 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 2, 2026 through November 7, 2026. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.
28 apartment buildings, 144 units. Recorded asking prices and price history where available.
Browse apartments in La Mesa, CAAvg Rent
$2,508/mo
median $2,426
market average
Cheapest
$1,797/mo
Spring Hill Apartments
Properties
28
tracked daily
Units
144
available now
La Mesa, CA Resident Access
City Club members share insider gate codes, parking links, and amenity tips.
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 28 properties in La 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
La Mesa, CA Rent Prices
All 28 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Spring Hill Apartments
4341 Spring St, La Mesa, CA 91941, USA
Parkway Plaza Apartments
7614 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
The Flats La Mesa
7475 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
Grossmont Apartments
8561 Mellmanor Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
Mohawk Gardens Apartments
7482 Mohawk St, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
Valle at Fairway Apartments
3753 Fairway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91941, USA
Enclave at Lake Murray
5476 Kiowa Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Hill Apartments 4341 Spring St, La Mesa, CA 91941, USA | $1,797 | $1,967 | $3.36/ft² | 3.9 (40) | 5 |
| 2 | Parkway Plaza Apartments 7614 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA | $1,845 | $2,228 | $2.80/ft² | 3 (28) | 4 |
| 3 | The Flats La Mesa 7475 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA | $1,850 | $1,861 | $4.14/ft² | 4.5 (8) | 4 |
| 4 | Grossmont Apartments 8561 Mellmanor Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA | $1,925 | $1,983 | $2.94/ft² | 2 (4) | 3 |
| 5 | Mohawk Gardens Apartments 7482 Mohawk St, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA | $1,925 | $1,925 | $3.12/ft² | 3 (6) | 2 |
| 6 | Valle at Fairway Apartments 3753 Fairway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91941, USA | $1,943 | $2,060 | $2.92/ft² | 4.3 (64) | 6 |
| 7 | Enclave at Lake Murray 5476 Kiowa Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA | $2,095 as of Oct 20 | $2,095 | $2.89/ft² | 3.6 (10) | 1 |
Rent & Price History by Building
Compare apartment listings by price, bedrooms, and neighborhood.
Spring Hill Apartments
3.9 (40)4341 Spring St, La Mesa, CA 91941, USA
Parkway Plaza Apartments
3 (28)7614 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
The Flats La Mesa
4.5 (8)7475 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
Grossmont Apartments
2 (4)8561 Mellmanor Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
Mohawk Gardens Apartments
3 (6)7482 Mohawk St, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA
Valle at Fairway Apartments
4.3 (64)3753 Fairway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91941, USA
By Area
La Mesa, CA neighborhoods
Tracked buildings across 2 named neighborhoods. Pick one to see its apartments.
La Mesa, CA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average listed rent in La Mesa, CA is $2,508 per month, based on 144 units across 28 apartment communities. Prices range from $1,797 at Spring Hill Apartments to $3,786 at Trio Townhomes.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,028/mo | $1,797/mo | 9 |
| 1 Bed | $2,293/mo | $1,850/mo | 72 |
| 2 Bed | $2,805/mo | $2,128/mo | 55 |
| 3 Bed | $2,945/mo | $2,821/mo | 8 |
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.
Market Context
Who rents in La Mesa, CA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in La Mesa, CA averages $2,293/mo , with two-bedroom units averaging $2,805/mo. At the local median household income of $84,337, that works out to 36% 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 La Mesa, CA at $1,958/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 La Mesa, CA while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in La 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
$100,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,508/mo.
Comfortable income
$120,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,797/mo), you need to earn at least $72,000/year.
Median household income in La Mesa, CA is $84,337 , about 30% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in La Mesa, CA
Overall prices in La Mesa, 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 La Mesa, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,508 |
| Utilities | $799 |
| Groceries | $552 |
| Transportation | $1,904 |
| Healthcare | $929 |
| Other goods and services | $1,486 |
| Estimated total | $8,178/mo |
Population
60,835
Median household income
$84,337
Census median rent
$1,958/mo
Census rent burden
36.2%
Median age
37.1
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 La Mesa, CA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs La Mesa, CA | 30-Day Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $3,104 | +24% | -4.4% | 50 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,360 | +34% | -5.1% | 36 |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,881 | +15% | +2% | 34 |
| EL Cajon, CA | $2,268 | -10% | -13.6% | 33 |
| Hayward, CA | $2,730 | +9% | -5.6% | 32 |
| San Francisco, CA | $5,205 | +108% | +7.2% | 32 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in La Mesa, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in La Mesa, CA is $2,508 per month, as of November 7, 2026. This sample includes 144 priced apartments in 28 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
What is the median rent in La Mesa, CA?
The median asking rent in La Mesa, CA is $2,426 per month, computed from 144 priced listings; check the observation dates shown on this page. The average is $2,508/mo; the median resists skew from luxury listings.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in La Mesa, CA?
The lowest available rent in La Mesa, CA starts at $1,797 per month. Confirm current availability, fees, and lease terms with the selected listing.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in La Mesa, CA?
1-bedroom apartments in La Mesa, CA average $2,293/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $1,850/mo across 72 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in La Mesa, CA?
2-bedroom apartments in La Mesa, CA average $2,805/mo. Units start from $2,128/mo across 55 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in La Mesa, CA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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