Last updated
Average Rent in San Diego, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 21 apartment communities in San Diego, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,444/mo
Lowest Available
$1,500/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
21
tracked daily
Units Listed
134
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 San Diego, CA
Compare average rent across San Diego, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends. View these neighborhoods on the rent map
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Valley | $4,530 | ▼ $226 | $2,959 | 2 | 32 |
| Middletown | $3,424 | ▲ $70 | $2,259 | 1 | 16 |
| Embarcadero | $3,408 | ▲ $159 | $1,500 | 22 | 436 |
| Otay Mesa | $3,261 | ▼ $30 | $2,678 | 2 | 41 |
| San Carlos | $3,030 | ▲ $132 | $2,870 | 1 | 12 |
| Morena | $2,899 | - | $2,899 | 1 | 1 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in San Diego, CA?
As of October 2026, the average rent in San Diego, CA is $2,444 per month across 21 apartment communities and 134 available units.
The most affordable option is J Street Flats starting at $1,500/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $2,444/mo.
Prices range from $1,500 to $4,520 per month. The most common price point is the $2,200 range, where 45 units are currently listed.
San Diego, CA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $3,410 | - | 15 |
| June 2026 | $3,448 | +$38 | 17 |
| July 2026 | $3,287 | -$161 | 19 |
| August 2026 | $3,255 | -$32 | 22 |
| September 2026 | $3,223 | -$32 | 22 |
| October 2026 | $3,459 | +$236 | 20 |
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 San Diego, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in San Diego, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Street Flats | $1,500/mo | $1,555/mo | 10 | 4.2 |
| 900 F Street Apartments | $1,795/mo | $1,914/mo | 2 | 3.9 |
| Vera Cortez Hill | $1,874/mo | $1,953/mo | 5 | 4.1 |
| The Rey Apartments | $2,060/mo | $2,258/mo | 24 | 4.3 |
| Nova Apartment Homes | $2,067/mo | $2,205/mo | 12 | 4.3 |
| 4th+J | $2,099/mo | $2,424/mo | 19 | 4.3 |
| 625 Broadway | $2,109/mo | $2,522/mo | 4 | 4.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in San Diego, CA
What is the average rent in San Diego, CA?
Is rent going up or down in San Diego, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in San Diego, CA?
How many apartments are available in San Diego, CA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Diego, 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
$98,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,444/mo.
Comfortable income
$117,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,500/mo), you need to earn at least $60,000/year.
Median household income in San Diego, CA is $104,321 , about 11% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in San Diego, CA
Overall prices in San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,444 |
| Utilities | $799 |
| Groceries | $552 |
| Transportation | $1,904 |
| Healthcare | $929 |
| Other goods and services | $1,486 |
| Estimated total | $8,114/mo |
Population
1,385,061
Median household income
$104,321
Census median rent
$2,223/mo
Census rent burden
32.2%
Median age
36.0
Mean commute
24 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 San Diego, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore San Diego, CA Apartments
Browse all 21 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.