Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA

Prices and availability in San Mateo, CA were last updated on 14 May 2026.

The best apartments in San Mateo, CA are: 520 E Bellevue, 82 E. 39th Avenue, Madison Place, Station Park Green and Hillsdale Garden.

The average rent in San Mateo, CA is $3,414.

The price range for a studio apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,095 and $10,987.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,095 and $11,849.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,150 and $14,619.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,250 and $15,167.

In San Mateo, 49% of the residents are renting compared to 51% owning a home, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Large-scale apartment buildings with more than 50 units represent 27% of San Mateo's rentals, 58% are small-scale complexes with under 50 units, and 15% are single-family rentals.

The average age of rental buildings in San Mateo is 37 years old, with 39% being newer apartment buildings completed since 2000. The average height of apartment buildings in the city is 4 stories, of which 92% are garden-style apartment communities, 20% are mid-sized buildings, and 4% are high-rises. These characteristics describe large-scale apartment communities of 50 apartments or more.

Rental apartments in San Mateo come in a range of sizes and floorplans. Studio apartments represent 6% 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 47% of the total apartments in the city, while 2-bedroom floorplans represent around 40% of all rentals in San Mateo. The rest are larger floorplans with 3 bedrooms or more, typically preferred by families, larger households or roommates sharing space.