Prices last verified
Average Rent in Palo Alto, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 1 apartment community in Palo Alto, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$4,242/mo
Lowest Listed
$3,925/mo
as of Oct 6
Communities
1
tracked daily
Units Listed
4
as of Oct 6
Rent Watch: cuts and increases
Open Rent Watch →See current options while we confirm new price comparisons. Filter by bedrooms and budget, then inspect each building’s history.
Rent by Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA
Compare average rent across Palo Alto, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University South | $5,280 | ▲ $538 | $3,925 | 2 | 8 |
| Palo Alto 94303 | $4,515 | ▼ $150 | $3,095 | 1 | 10 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Palo Alto, CA?
As of October 2026, the average rent in Palo Alto, CA is $4,242 per month across 1 apartment community and 4 recently listed units.
The most affordable option is Mia starting at $3,925/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $4,242/mo.
Prices range from $3,925 to $4,533 per month. The most common price point is the $3,800 range, where 1 units were listed.
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Palo Alto, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Palo Alto, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mia | $3,925/mo | $4,242/mo | 4 | 4.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Palo Alto, CA
What is the average rent in Palo Alto, CA?
Is rent going up or down in Palo Alto, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in Palo Alto, CA?
How many apartments are available in Palo Alto, CA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Palo Alto, 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
$170,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $4,242/mo.
Comfortable income
$204,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($3,925/mo), you need to earn at least $157,000/year.
Median household income in Palo Alto, CA is $220,408 , about 8% above the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Palo Alto, CA
Overall prices in Palo Alto, CA runs above the national average by about 13% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 113.1, 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 Palo Alto, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $4,242 |
| Utilities | $916 |
| Groceries | $567 |
| Transportation | $2,183 |
| Healthcare | $1,065 |
| Other goods and services | $1,704 |
| Estimated total | $10,676/mo |
Population
67,231
Median household income
$220,408
Census median rent
$3,328/mo
Census rent burden
25.9%
Median age
42.5
Mean commute
23 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 Palo Alto, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
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