Average Rent in San Mateo, CA
What is the average rent in San Mateo, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,943 per month, as of November 10, 2026. This sample includes 93 priced apartments in 12 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 6, 2026 through November 10, 2026. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.
12 apartment buildings, 93 units. Recorded asking prices and price history where available.
Browse apartments in San Mateo, CACheapest
$2,795/mo
Casa Baywood Apartments
Properties
12
tracked daily
Units
93
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 12 properties in San Mateo, CA.
Average rent trend, last 3 months
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
San Mateo, CA Rent Prices
All 12 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Country Club Apartments
420 N Bayshore Blvd #1, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Casa Baywood Apartments
212 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Alta De Sabla
10 De Sabla Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
Ryan Tower
120 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
Park Royal Apartments
651 N El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
The Hayden Apartments
815 Old County Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA
Hanover Burlingame
1881 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country Club Apartments 420 N Bayshore Blvd #1, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA | $2,245 as of Nov 3 | $2,245 | $6.41/ft² | 2.3 (9) | 1 |
| 2 | Casa Baywood Apartments 212 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA | $2,795 | $2,795 | $4.14/ft² | 4.7 (3) | 1 |
| 3 | Alta De Sabla 10 De Sabla Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA | $2,900 | $3,419 | $5.69/ft² | 4.1 (17) | 5 |
| 4 | Ryan Tower 120 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA | $3,197 | $4,042 | $5.66/ft² | 3.6 (34) | 6 |
| 5 | Park Royal Apartments 651 N El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA | $3,247 | $3,469 | $5.39/ft² | 3.2 (25) | 4 |
| 6 | The Hayden Apartments 815 Old County Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA | $3,430 | $4,221 | $6.32/ft² | 4.3 (69) | 14 |
| 7 | Hanover Burlingame 1881 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA | $3,540 as of Oct 31 | $5,238 | $5.30/ft² | 4.7 (115) | 15 |
Rent & Price History by Building
Compare apartment listings by price, bedrooms, and neighborhood.
Country Club Apartments
2.3 (9)420 N Bayshore Blvd #1, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Casa Baywood Apartments
4.7 (3)212 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Alta De Sabla
4.1 (17)10 De Sabla Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
Ryan Tower
3.6 (34)120 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
Park Royal Apartments
3.2 (25)651 N El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
The Hayden Apartments
4.3 (69)815 Old County Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA
By Area
San Mateo, CA neighborhoods
Tracked buildings across 5 named neighborhoods. Pick one to see its apartments.
San Mateo, CA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average listed rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,943 per month, based on 93 units across 12 apartment communities. Prices range from $2,795 at Casa Baywood Apartments to $9,795 at Two50 Downtown.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,600/mo | $2,900/mo | 7 |
| 1 Bed | $4,257/mo | $2,795/mo | 49 |
| 2 Bed | $5,935/mo | $4,072/mo | 32 |
| 3 Bed | $7,192/mo | $6,527/mo | 5 |
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 San Mateo, CA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in San Mateo, CA averages $4,257/mo , with two-bedroom units averaging $5,935/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 61% 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
$198,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $4,943/mo.
Comfortable income
$237,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,795/mo), you need to earn at least $112,000/year.
Median household income in San Mateo, CA is $152,669 , about 36% 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) | $4,943 |
| Utilities | $861 |
| Groceries | $622 |
| Transportation | $2,051 |
| Healthcare | $1,001 |
| Other goods and services | $1,601 |
| Estimated total | $11,079/mo |
Population
103,555
Median household income
$152,669
Census median rent
$3,079/mo
Census rent burden
28.5%
Median age
38.0
Mean commute
27 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 San Mateo, CA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs San Mateo, CA | 30-Day Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $3,109 | -37% | -2.9% | 50 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,375 | -32% | -2.9% | 36 |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,881 | -42% | +3% | 34 |
| EL Cajon, CA | $2,257 | -54% | -19.7% | 33 |
| Antioch, CA | $2,277 | -54% | -6% | 32 |
| Hayward, CA | $2,763 | -44% | -4% | 32 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Mateo, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,943 per month, as of November 10, 2026. This sample includes 93 priced apartments in 12 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
What is the median rent in San Mateo, CA?
The median asking rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,609 per month, computed from 93 priced listings; check the observation dates shown on this page. The average is $4,943/mo; the median resists skew from luxury listings.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in San Mateo, CA?
The lowest available rent in San Mateo, CA starts at $2,795 per month. Confirm current availability, fees, and lease terms with the selected listing.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA?
1-bedroom apartments in San Mateo, CA average $4,257/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $2,795/mo across 49 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA?
2-bedroom apartments in San Mateo, CA average $5,935/mo. Units start from $4,072/mo across 32 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in San Mateo, CA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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