Last updated
Average Rent in San Diego, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 15 apartment communities in San Diego, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,974/mo
▲ +0.9% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,674/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
15
tracked daily
Units Listed
145
available now
Rent by Neighborhood in San Diego, CA
Compare average rent across San Diego, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-City | $3,408 | $2,195 | 1 | 8 |
| Embarcadero | $3,240 | $1,386 | 14 | 348 |
| Otay Mesa | $3,030 | $2,873 | 2 | 9 |
| Middletown | $2,895 | $2,895 | 1 | 1 |
| Jamacha | $2,594 | $2,123 | 1 | 4 |
| North Park | $2,084 | $1,674 | 1 | 6 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in San Diego, CA?
As of May 2026, the average rent in San Diego, CA is $2,974 per month across 15 apartment communities and 145 available units. Rents have increased $30 (0.9%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Northpark Properties starting at $1,674/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $2,974/mo.
Prices range from $1,674 to $5,495 per month. The most common price point is the $2,800 range, where 35 units are currently listed.
San Diego, CA Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in San Diego, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in San Diego, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northpark Properties | $1,674/mo | $1,981/mo | 5 | 3 |
| Vera Cortez Hill | $2,289/mo | $2,395/mo | 8 | 4.1 |
| Mercer Properties | $2,295/mo | $2,295/mo | 2 | 4 |
| Nova Apartment Homes | $2,376/mo | $2,376/mo | 1 | 4.3 |
| Vantage Pointe Apartments | $2,456/mo | $2,720/mo | 31 | 3.6 |
| The Rey Apartments | $2,571/mo | $2,805/mo | 29 | 4.3 |
| 4th+J | $2,576/mo | $2,888/mo | 8 | 4.3 |
Google Search Trends for San Diego, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in San Diego, CA
What is the average rent in San Diego, CA?
Is rent going up or down in San Diego, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in San Diego, CA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in San Diego, CA?
How many apartments are available in San Diego, CA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Diego, 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
$119,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $2,974/mo.
Comfortable income
$143,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,674/mo), you need to earn at least $67,000/year.
Median household income in San Diego, CA is $104,321 , about 27% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in San Diego, CA
Overall prices in San Diego, CA runs above the national average by about 11% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 110.7, 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 Diego, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,974 |
| Utilities | $799 |
| Groceries | $552 |
| Transportation | $1,904 |
| Healthcare | $929 |
| Other goods and services | $1,486 |
| Estimated total | $8,644/mo |
Population
1,385,061
Median household income
$104,321
Census median rent
$2,223/mo
Rent as % of income
32.2%
Median age
36.0
Mean commute
24 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.
Explore San Diego, CA Apartments
Browse all 15 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.