Average Rent in San Mateo CA
9 apartment buildings, 44 units. Real asking prices, refreshed daily.
Avg Rent
$4,114/mo
Cheapest
$2,740/mo
Properties
9
Units
44
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 9 properties in San Mateo CA.
Average Rent by Property
Starting Price vs Average
Rent by Bedroom Count
Price per Square Foot
San Mateo CA Rent Prices
All 9 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Sofi Belmont Hills
2515 Carlmont Dr, Belmont
Belmont Glen Residences
200 Davey Glen Rd, Belmont
SC Properties
311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo
55 West Fifth Apartments
55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo
One Hundred Grand Apartments
551 Foster City Blvd, Foster City
Park Place at San Mateo Apartments
1101 Park Pl, San Mateo
Artisan Crossing
1325 Old County Rd, Belmont
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofi Belmont Hills 2515 Carlmont Dr, Belmont | $2,740 | $3,073 | $5.53 | 4.1 | 9 |
| 2 | Belmont Glen Residences 200 Davey Glen Rd, Belmont | $2,785 | $2,785 | $5.99 | 4.4 | 1 |
| 3 | SC Properties 311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo | $3,395 | $4,197 | $3.47 | 2.9 | 3 |
| 4 | 55 West Fifth Apartments 55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo | $3,529 | $4,420 | $4.38 | 3.7 | 5 |
| 5 | One Hundred Grand Apartments 551 Foster City Blvd, Foster City | $3,687 | $4,518 | $4.44 | 3.1 | 3 |
| 6 | Park Place at San Mateo Apartments 1101 Park Pl, San Mateo | $3,853 | $4,372 | $5.60 | 4.4 | 17 |
| 7 | Artisan Crossing 1325 Old County Rd, Belmont | $3,899 | $4,668 | $6.02 | 4.4 | 6 |
Explore Each Property
Sofi Belmont Hills
4.12515 Carlmont Dr, Belmont
Belmont Glen Residences
4.4200 Davey Glen Rd, Belmont
SC Properties
2.9311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo
55 West Fifth Apartments
3.755 W 5th Ave, San Mateo
One Hundred Grand Apartments
3.1551 Foster City Blvd, Foster City
Park Place at San Mateo Apartments
4.41101 Park Pl, San Mateo
San Mateo CA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average rent in San Mateo CA is $4,114 per month, based on 44 units across 9 apartment communities. Prices range from $2,740 at Sofi Belmont Hills to $3,899 at Artisan Crossing.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,815/mo | $2,740/mo | 5 |
| 1 Bed | $3,801/mo | $3,224/mo | 25 |
| 2 Bed | $4,927/mo | $3,395/mo | 12 |
| 3 Bed | $6,385/mo | $5,800/mo | 2 |
Every price comes directly from each property's leasing system, updated that morning. Request a neighborhood we don't cover and we add it within 24 hours.
Market Context
Who rents in San Mateo CA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in San Mateo CA averages $3,801/mo, with two-bedroom units averaging $4,927/mo. At the local median household income of $152,669, that works out to 32% 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 San Mateo CA at $3,079/mo. The current tracked market average runs 34% 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 San Mateo CA while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Mateo 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
$165,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $4,114/mo.
Comfortable income
$197,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,740/mo), you need to earn at least $110,000/year.
Median household income in San Mateo CA is $152,669 , about 23% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in San Mateo CA
Overall prices in San Mateo CA runs above the national average by about 18% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 117.6, 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 Mateo CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $4,114 |
| Utilities | $861 |
| Groceries | $622 |
| Transportation | $2,051 |
| Healthcare | $1,001 |
| Other goods and services | $1,601 |
| Estimated total | $10,250/mo |
Population
103,555
Median household income
$152,669
Census median rent
$3,079/mo
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Median age
38.0
Mean commute
27 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.
Compare
Nearby cities in California
How San Mateo CA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs San Mateo CA | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,857 | -31% | 44 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,215 | -22% | 25 |
| Riverside, CA | $2,501 | -39% | 25 |
| Sacramento, CA | $2,333 | -43% | 24 |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,832 | -31% | 22 |
| Oakland, CA | $3,293 | -20% | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Mateo CA?
The average rent in San Mateo CA is $4,114 per month, based on 44 units across 9 apartment buildings tracked by Average Rent. Prices are updated every morning through our proprietary data sourcing.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in San Mateo CA?
The lowest available rent in San Mateo CA starts at $2,740 per month. Availability changes daily as leasing data is refreshed each morning.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo CA?
1-bedroom apartments in San Mateo CA average $3,801/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $3,224/mo across 25 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo CA?
2-bedroom apartments in San Mateo CA average $4,927/mo. Units start from $3,395/mo across 12 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in San Mateo CA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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