Apartments for Rent in San Marcos, CA

Prices and availability in San Marcos, CA were last updated on 24 Jun 2026.

The best apartments in San Marcos, CA are: 222 North City, Marc San Marcos, Palomar Station, Meadow Creek Apartments and Whispering Oaks.

The average rent in San Marcos, CA is $2,734.

The price range for a studio apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,350 and $4,714.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,135 and $5,000.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,400 and $8,825.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,395 and $12,900.

In San Marcos 36% of the housing is rented out compared to 64% of homes are owned, according to the most recent Census Bureau estimates. 24% of San Marcos's apartments are found in large buildings of 50 units or more, 50% are located in smaller apartment complexes with less than 50 units, and 20% are single-family rentals.

The average age of rental buildings in San Marcos is 24 years old, with 58% being newer apartment buildings completed since 2000. The average height of apartment buildings in the city is 3 stories, of which 96% are garden-style apartment communities, 4% are mid-sized buildings, and none are high-rises. These characteristics describe large-scale apartment communities of 50 apartments or more.

Rental apartments in San Marcos come in a range of sizes and floorplans. Studio apartments represent 2% of units for rent, ideal for singles, renters on a budget and people who value central locations more than space. Rentals with 1-bedroom floorplans make up 31% of the total apartments in the city, while 2-bedroom floorplans represent around 52% of all rentals in San Marcos. The rest are larger floorplans with 3 bedrooms or more, typically preferred by families, larger households or roommates sharing space.