Last updated
Average Rent in San Mateo, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 4 apartment communities in San Mateo, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$4,324/mo
Lowest Available
$3,527/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
4
tracked daily
Units Listed
12
available now
Price Cuts This Week in San Mateo, CA
12 listed units across 3 buildings offering 1 bed units in San Mateo, CA dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $71/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Place at San Mateo Apartments | Unit 5227 | $7,552 | $7,387 | $165 |
| Park Place at San Mateo Apartments | Unit 4103 | $7,306 | $7,166 | $140 |
| 55 West Fifth Apartments | Unit 12B | $3,966 | $3,861 | $105 |
| Park Place at San Mateo Apartments | Unit 5118, 2 Bedrooms C | $5,788 | $5,688 | $100 |
| Brickline Flats | Unit 1, Plan 1F | $4,936 | $4,886 | $50 |
| Brickline Flats | Unit 2 | $3,941 | $3,891 | $50 |
| Brickline Flats | Unit 3 | $5,394 | $5,344 | $50 |
| Brickline Flats | Unit 4, Plan 1D | $4,596 | $4,546 | $50 |
Rent by Neighborhood in San Mateo, CA
Compare average rent across San Mateo, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends. View these neighborhoods on the rent map
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South San Mateo | $5,576 | ▼ $484 | $4,193 | 1 | 20 |
| Country Club Manor | $5,404 | ▲ $131 | $4,290 | 2 | 21 |
| North Central | $4,667 | ▼ $48 | $3,891 | 1 | 4 |
| Belmont 94002 | $4,333 | ▼ $148 | $3,811 | 1 | 7 |
| Western Hills | $3,754 | ▼ $1,189 | $3,527 | 1 | 3 |
| Town Center | $3,258 | ▼ $102 | $1,750 | 2 | 8 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in San Mateo, CA?
As of September 2026, the average rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,324 per month across 4 apartment communities and 12 available units.
The most affordable option is 55 West Fifth Apartments starting at $3,527/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $4,324/mo.
Prices range from $3,527 to $5,344 per month. The most common price point is the $4,200 range, where 4 units are currently listed.
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in San Mateo, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in San Mateo, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 West Fifth Apartments | $3,527/mo | $3,754/mo | 3 | 3.7 |
| Park Place at San Mateo Apartments | $4,193/mo | $4,327/mo | 5 | 4.4 |
| Marlin Cove Apartments | $4,210/mo | $4,210/mo | 1 | 3.2 |
| Brickline Flats | $4,546/mo | $4,925/mo | 3 | 3.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in San Mateo, CA
What is the average rent in San Mateo, CA?
Is rent going up or down in San Mateo, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in San Mateo, CA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA?
How many apartments are available in San Mateo, CA?
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
$173,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $4,324/mo.
Comfortable income
$208,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($3,527/mo), you need to earn at least $141,000/year.
Median household income in San Mateo, CA is $152,669 , about 26% 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) | $4,324 |
| Utilities | $861 |
| Groceries | $622 |
| Transportation | $2,051 |
| Healthcare | $1,001 |
| Other goods and services | $1,601 |
| Estimated total | $10,460/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
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 Mateo, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore San Mateo, CA Apartments
Browse all 4 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.