Last updated
Average Rent in San Rafael, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 7 apartment communities in San Rafael, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,720/mo
▲ +2.1% from last month
Lowest Available
$600/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
7
tracked daily
Units Listed
29
available now
Price Cuts This Week in San Rafael, CA
27 listed units across 3 buildings offering 1 bed units in San Rafael, CA dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $151/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands of Marin | Unit 10 | $4,781 | $2,529 | $2,252 |
| View at Marin | Unit 108, Studio | $2,635 | $2,385 | $250 |
| Deer Valley Apartments | Unit 0411, Plan 3A | $4,317 | $4,199 | $118 |
| View at Marin | Unit 106, 1x1 | $2,639 | $2,543 | $96 |
| Deer Valley Apartments | Unit 0224, Plan 1A | $3,057 | $2,967 | $90 |
| Deer Valley Apartments | Unit 0826, Plan 1A | $3,017 | $2,929 | $88 |
| Highlands of Marin | Unit 7 | $2,830 | $2,747 | $83 |
| Highlands of Marin | Unit 4 | $2,798 | $2,717 | $81 |
Rent by Neighborhood in San Rafael, CA
Compare average rent across San Rafael, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael 94901 | $3,250 | ▼ $6 | $600 | 4 | 20 |
| San Rafael 94903 | $3,079 | ▼ $53 | $2,385 | 3 | 32 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in San Rafael, CA?
As of August 2026, the average rent in San Rafael, CA is $2,720 per month across 7 apartment communities and 29 available units. Rents have increased $66 (2.1%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Rafael Town Center Apartments starting at $600/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $2,720/mo.
Prices range from $600 to $3,800 per month. The most common price point is the $2,600 range, where 8 units are currently listed.
San Rafael, CA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $3,088 | - | 7 |
| August 2026 | $3,075 | -$13 | 7 |
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 Rafael, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in San Rafael, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Town Center Apartments | $600/mo | $600/mo | 1 | 4.7 |
| 215 BAYVIEW APARTMENTS | $2,300/mo | $2,300/mo | 1 | 4.3 |
| One55 Lofts | $2,390/mo | $2,669/mo | 4 | 3.6 |
| Highlands of Marin | $2,529/mo | $2,742/mo | 9 | 4.1 |
| View at Marin | $2,543/mo | $2,729/mo | 9 | 4.4 |
| Deer Valley Apartments | $2,929/mo | $2,954/mo | 3 | 3.7 |
| Second and B Street Apartments | $3,400/mo | $3,600/mo | 2 | 4.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in San Rafael, CA
What is the average rent in San Rafael, CA?
Is rent going up or down in San Rafael, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in San Rafael, CA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in San Rafael, CA?
How many apartments are available in San Rafael, CA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Rafael, 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
$109,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,720/mo.
Comfortable income
$131,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($600/mo), you need to earn at least $24,000/year.
Cost of living in San Rafael, CA
We only have live rent data for San Rafael, CA so far. The full cost of living breakdown (utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare) is coming soon.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,720 |
| Estimated total | $2,720/mo |
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 are refreshed annually.
Google Search Trends for San Rafael, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore San Rafael, CA Apartments
Browse all 7 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.