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Average Rent in Lake Forest, CA & Rent Trends

What is the average rent in Lake Forest, CA?

The average listed apartment rent in Lake Forest, CA is $3,108 per month, as of October 22, 2026. This sample includes 135 priced apartments in 10 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. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.

Rent prices and market trends across 10 apartment communities in Lake Forest, CA. Prices update after successful source checks.

Area All Areas Portola Springs
Laguna Beach 92651
Lake Forest 92630
Mission Viejo 92692
Rancho Santa Margarita 92688
Beds All Bedrooms 1 Bed 2 Bed 3 Bed

Showing any bedrooms in Lake Forest, CA.

Market Average

$3,108/mo

▼ 1.5% from last month

Lowest Available

$2,432/mo

cheapest unit on market

Communities

10

tracked daily

Units Listed

135

available now

Rent Watch: cuts and increases

Open Rent Watch →

14 cuts and 4 increases among 54 comparable listings this week. Filter by bedrooms and budget, then inspect each building’s history.

Rent by Neighborhood in Lake Forest, CA

Compare average rent across Lake Forest, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends. View these neighborhoods on the rent map

Neighborhood Avg Rent 30d Change From Properties Units
Portola Springs $3,279 ▼  $71 $2,576 3 37
Laguna Beach 92651 $3,224 ▼  $128 $2,604 1 30
Mission Viejo 92692 $2,986 ▼  $79 $2,537 1 27
Lake Forest 92630 $2,952 ▲  $223 $2,442 4 35
Rancho Santa Margarita 92688 $2,936 ▲  $192 $2,432 1 6

Is Rent Going Up or Down in Lake Forest, CA?

As of October 2026, the average rent in Lake Forest, CA is $3,108 per month across 10 apartment communities and 135 available units. Rents have decreased $46 (1.5%) over the past month.

The most affordable option is Skyview Apartments starting at $2,432/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $2,758/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $3,333/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $4,045/mo.

Prices range from $2,432 to $4,527 per month. The most common price point is the $3,200 range, where 32 units are currently listed.

Lake Forest, CA Rent Price History

Timeframe
View as table
Month Avg Rent Change Properties
June 2026 $2,980 - 9
July 2026 $3,029 +$49 11
August 2026 $3,037 +$8 11
September 2026 $3,061 +$24 11
October 2026 $3,068 +$7 11

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.

Average Rent by Bedroom

Rent Price Distribution

Rent by Bedroom Type in Lake Forest, CA

1 Bed
$2,758
from $2,432 · 59 units
2 Bed
$3,333
from $2,867 · 71 units
3 Bed
$4,045
from $3,575 · 5 units

Rent Prices by Apartment in Lake Forest, CA

Property Starting at Average Units Rating
Skyview Apartments $2,432/mo $2,936/mo 6 4.7
Siena Terrace Apartments $2,442/mo $2,791/mo 14 4.6
eaves Lake Forest $2,482/mo $2,858/mo 11 4.4
Vista Del Lago Apartments $2,537/mo $2,986/mo 27 4.6
Sonterra at Foothill Ranch Apartments $2,576/mo $2,952/mo 9 4.5
Artisan Laguna Beach $2,604/mo $3,224/mo 30 4
Paloma Summit Condominium Rentals $2,726/mo $2,726/mo 1 4.6

Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Lake Forest, CA

How many bedrooms are you looking for?

How many bedrooms are you looking for?

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Any bedrooms

What is the average rent in Lake Forest, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in Lake Forest, CA is $3,108 per month, as of October 22, 2026. This sample includes 135 priced apartments in 10 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.

What rent range can I find in Lake Forest, CA?
The apartment listings we track in Lake Forest, CA range from $2,432 to $4,527 per month, as of October 22, 2026. These are the lowest and highest listed prices. They are not a typical price for every apartment. The building, floor plan, and lease terms can affect the price.

Are rents going up or down in Lake Forest, CA?
The daily building-average rent fell by $45 (1.5%) over 30 days between observations in September 2026 and October 2026. This compares recorded asking rents. The current month's figures may still be incomplete, and the building mix can change.

How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Lake Forest, CA?
1-bedroom apartments average $2,758 per month across 59 priced listings in Lake Forest, CA. Listed rents range from $2,432 to $3,291 per month, as of October 22, 2026. Compare apartments with similar floor plans and lease terms.

How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Lake Forest, CA?
2-bedroom apartments average $3,333 per month across 71 priced listings in Lake Forest, CA. Listed rents range from $2,867 to $4,017 per month, as of October 22, 2026. Compare apartments with similar floor plans and lease terms.

How much is a 3-bedroom apartment in Lake Forest, CA?
3-bedroom apartments average $4,045 per month across 5 priced listings in Lake Forest, CA. Listed rents range from $3,575 to $4,527 per month, as of October 22, 2026. Compare apartments with similar floor plans and lease terms.

How do 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom rents compare in Lake Forest, CA?
The 1-bedroom average is $2,758 per month across 59 listings. The 2-bedroom average is $3,333 across 71 listings, $575 (20.8%) higher. This is a comparison of listing groups, not the cost to upgrade a specific apartment.

Which tracked building has the lowest starting rent in Lake Forest, CA?
Skyview Apartments has the lowest starting rent among the buildings in the comparison table, at $2,432 per month. We track 6 priced listings matching your bedroom choice in that building, as of October 22, 2026. The starting price applies to its lowest-priced matching apartment. Check that apartment's latest price and availability.

Which rent range has the most listings in Lake Forest, CA?
The $3,200 to $3,400 monthly range has the most matching listings: 32 units, or 23.7% of the priced apartments we track in Lake Forest, CA. This count does not tell us how fast the apartments rent.

How many apartment listings do you track in Lake Forest, CA?
We track 135 priced units at 10 apartment buildings, as of October 22, 2026. This is not the total number of apartments in those buildings. A listing can change or become unavailable. Open the apartment details to check its latest status.

How much rent history is available for Lake Forest, CA?
We have recorded rent data on 98 days from June 2026 through October 2026 for apartment listings in Lake Forest, CA. Some dates can be missing. The chart only shows recorded data. The current month includes the days recorded so far.

Why can the headline rent differ from the trend chart in Lake Forest, CA?
The average at the top of the page gives each matching apartment equal weight. The chart first averages recorded prices within each building, then compares buildings. It removes the highest and lowest groups when at least ten buildings contribute and omits days with fewer than five buildings. Different dates, building counts, and listing mixes can produce different figures. The monthly table averages the recorded daily figures.

Does my bedroom choice change the prices and answers?
Yes. Your chosen area and bedroom count filter the asking rents, listing counts, rent ranges, and answers on this page. The active community exclusions are Student housing and 55+ community. When you choose a bedroom count, the history chart uses recorded prices for matching apartments with a known identity. If those records are missing, we leave the chart empty rather than use prices for other bedroom types. Open an individual apartment to check its own price history.

Do these rents include utilities, parking, and other fees?
We use the published total monthly rent when it is available and the base rent otherwise. Unknown fees are not zero. Utilities, parking, pet charges, deposits, and one-time costs can add to the amount you pay. Check the selected unit and lease terms for a complete quote.

How should I compare free-rent offers with listed rent?
A free-rent offer can reduce the effective cost over a lease without changing the listed monthly rent. Compare the same lease length and move-in date, then include required charges and the offer conditions. The market averages do not assume an unconfirmed discount.

Does this page represent every rental in the market?
These figures describe the priced apartment listings we track, not every rental home or every occupied apartment. Coverage and the mix of bedrooms, buildings, and locations can change. A lower market average does not prove that the same apartment received a price cut.

How fresh are the Lake Forest, CA rent figures?
We schedule rent updates each day, but buildings can have different price-check dates. The latest accepted price check for these listings was October 22, 2026. The month label does not mean we checked every price today. Open the building or apartment details for its latest price and availability.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Lake Forest, 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

$124,000/year

Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $3,108/mo.

Comfortable income

$149,000/year

Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.

To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,432/mo), you need to earn at least $97,000/year.

Median household income in Lake Forest, CA is $131,378 , about 12% below the comfortable-living threshold.

Explore Lake Forest, CA Apartments

Browse all 10 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.

Browse All Apartments Find Your Match

Cost of living in Lake Forest, CA

Overall prices in Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest, CA's regional price parities.

Category Monthly estimate
Rent (market average) $3,108
Utilities $744
Groceries $578
Transportation $1,773
Healthcare $865
Other goods and services $1,384
Estimated total $8,452/mo

Population

85,846

Median household income

$131,378

Census median rent

$2,616/mo

Census rent burden

33.5%

Median age

40.4

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.
California Rent Trends
Compare rent across all California cities
Lake Forest, CA Neighborhood Rent Map
See rent history by neighborhood on a map
Explore Lake Forest, CA on Map
See neighborhoods and rent data interactively
US-wide rent comparison
See how Lake Forest, CA rents stack up against the national median

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