Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA

Prices and availability in San Mateo, CA were last updated on 13 Nov 2026.

The best apartments in San Mateo, CA are: The Preston at Hillsdale, Bridgepointe, 123 N El Camino, Casa Baywood and Colonial Garden Apartments.

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

The price range for a studio apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,185 and $6,225.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,250 and $7,623.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,250 and $8,363.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,250 and $9,895.

In San Mateo, 50% of the residents are renting compared to 50% owning a home, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Large-scale apartment buildings with more than 50 units represent 26% of San Mateo's rentals, 56% are small-scale complexes with under 50 units, and 17% are single-family rentals.

The age and size of multifamily buildings are among the most visible characteristics of the rental market in a city. In this case, the apartment buildings in San Mateo are about 37 years old, on average. Of these, 39% have been built since 2000, representing the newer options on the market and typically offering more amenities. Rental buildings in the city have an average height of 4 stories. About 92% of the rental communities here are low-rise, garden-style communities, 20% are mid-rises, and 4% are high-rise buildings. These are true especially for large-scale multifamily buildings with over 50 apartments.

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.