Average Rent in San Mateo, CA
9 apartment buildings, 76 units. Real asking prices, refreshed daily.
Avg Rent
$4,910/mo
market average
Cheapest
$2,900/mo
SC Properties
Properties
9
tracked daily
Units
76
available now
San Mateo, CA Resident Access
City Club members share insider gate codes, parking links, and amenity tips.
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.
SC Properties
311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
55 West Fifth Apartments
55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
Hanover Burlingame
1881 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
Marlin Cove Apartments
1000 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
Brickline Flats
20 N Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Revery
1766 El Camino Real, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
One Adrian Apartments
1 Adrian Ct, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SC Properties 311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA | $2,900 | $3,198 | $3.45 | 2.9 (25) | 3 |
| 2 | 55 West Fifth Apartments 55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA | $3,588 | $3,588 | $5.13 | 3.7 (96) | 1 |
| 3 | Hanover Burlingame 1881 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA | $3,725 | $5,265 | $9.29 | 4.7 (115) | 3 |
| 4 | Marlin Cove Apartments 1000 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404, USA | $3,728 | $4,625 | $4.90 | 3.2 (58) | 3 |
| 5 | Brickline Flats 20 N Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA | $3,781 | $4,462 | $8.75 | 3.8 (19) | 3 |
| 6 | Revery 1766 El Camino Real, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA | $3,921 | $5,005 | $5.92 | 4.4 (46) | 38 |
| 7 | One Adrian Apartments 1 Adrian Ct, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA | $3,955 | $5,382 | $5.51 | 4 (34) | 9 |
Explore Each Property
SC Properties
2.9 (25)311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
55 West Fifth Apartments
3.7 (96)55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
Hanover Burlingame
4.7 (115)1881 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
Marlin Cove Apartments
3.2 (58)1000 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
Brickline Flats
3.8 (19)20 N Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Revery
4.4 (46)1766 El Camino Real, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
San Mateo, CA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,910 per month, based on 76 units across 9 apartment communities. Prices range from $2,900 at SC Properties to $4,202 at The Hayden Apartments.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,010/mo | $3,781/mo | 54 |
| 1 Bed | $4,170/mo | $3,588/mo | 9 |
| 2 Bed | $4,841/mo | $2,900/mo | 11 |
| 3 Bed | $5,925/mo | $3,725/mo | 2 |
Every price is a real asking rent, 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 $4,170/mo, with two-bedroom units averaging $4,841/mo. At the local median household income of $152,669, that works out to 39% 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 59% 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
$196,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $4,910/mo.
Comfortable income
$236,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,900/mo), you need to earn at least $116,000/year.
Median household income in San Mateo, CA is $152,669 , about 35% 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) | $4,910 |
| Utilities | $861 |
| Groceries | $622 |
| Transportation | $2,051 |
| Healthcare | $1,001 |
| Other goods and services | $1,601 |
| Estimated total | $11,046/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 | $2,876 | -41% | 35 |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,813 | -43% | 28 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,300 | -33% | 24 |
| Sacramento, CA | $2,356 | -52% | 24 |
| Riverside, CA | $2,567 | -48% | 24 |
| Antioch, CA | $2,329 | -53% | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Mateo, CA?
The average rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,910 per month, based on 76 units across 9 apartment buildings tracked by Average Rent. Prices are refreshed daily.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in San Mateo, CA?
The lowest available rent in San Mateo, CA starts at $2,900 per month. Availability changes daily and prices are refreshed each morning.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA?
1-bedroom apartments in San Mateo, CA average $4,170/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $3,588/mo across 9 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA?
2-bedroom apartments in San Mateo, CA average $4,841/mo. Units start from $2,900/mo across 11 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in San Mateo, CA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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