Last updated
Average Rent in San Mateo, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 7 apartment communities in San Mateo, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$4,057/mo
▼ 2.8% from last month
Lowest Available
$2,639/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
7
tracked daily
Units Listed
47
available now
Rent by Neighborhood in San Mateo, CA
Compare average rent across San Mateo, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town Center | $4,725 | $3,777 | 1 | 4 |
| San Mateo 94402 | $4,420 | $3,529 | 1 | 5 |
| South San Mateo | $4,372 | $3,853 | 1 | 17 |
| San Mateo 94002 | $3,636 | $2,639 | 3 | 18 |
| North Central | $3,298 | $2,900 | 1 | 3 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in San Mateo, CA?
As of May 2026, the average rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,057 per month across 7 apartment communities and 47 available units. Rents have decreased $112 (2.8%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Sofi Belmont Hills starting at $2,639/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $2,814/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $3,795/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $4,795/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $6,970/mo.
Prices range from $2,639 to $6,970 per month. The most common price point is the $3,800 range, where 15 units are currently listed.
San Mateo, CA Rent Price History
Average Rent by Bedroom
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofi Belmont Hills | $2,639/mo | $3,030/mo | 10 | 4.1 |
| Belmont Glen Residences | $2,785/mo | $2,785/mo | 1 | 4.4 |
| SC Properties | $2,900/mo | $3,298/mo | 3 | 2.9 |
| 55 West Fifth Apartments | $3,529/mo | $4,420/mo | 5 | 3.7 |
| One Hundred Grand Apartments | $3,777/mo | $4,725/mo | 4 | 3.1 |
| Artisan Crossing | $3,822/mo | $4,622/mo | 7 | 4.4 |
| Park Place at San Mateo Apartments | $3,853/mo | $4,372/mo | 17 | 4.4 |
Google Search Trends for San Mateo, 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 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
$162,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $4,057/mo.
Comfortable income
$195,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,639/mo), you need to earn at least $106,000/year.
Median household income in San Mateo, CA is $152,669 , about 22% 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) | $4,057 |
| Utilities | $861 |
| Groceries | $622 |
| Transportation | $2,051 |
| Healthcare | $1,001 |
| Other goods and services | $1,601 |
| Estimated total | $10,193/mo |
Population
103,555
Median household income
$152,669
Census median rent
$3,079/mo
Rent as % of income
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.
Explore San Mateo, CA Apartments
Browse all 7 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.