Apartments for Rent in San Marcos, CA

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

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

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

The price range for a studio apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,315 and $5,000.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $1,650 and $5,159.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,400 and $10,322.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,347 and $12,900.

In San Marcos, 36% of the residents are renting compared to 64% owning a home, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Large-scale apartment buildings with more than 50 units represent 24% of San Marcos's rentals, 50% are small-scale complexes with under 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.

Studio apartments in San Marcos are around 2% of rentals, while 1-bedroom floor plans represent 31% of the total stock. For those in search of larger rentals, 2-bedroom floorplans make up 52% of all rentals. More generous apartments with 3 bedrooms or more are also available in this city for those in search of more space.