| STUDIO | $2,058 |
| 2 BEDS | $3,201 |
| 3 BEDS | $4,015 |
| 1 BED | Ask for Pricing |
| 2 BEDS | Ask for Pricing |
| 3 BEDS | Ask for Pricing |
| 1 BED | Ask for Pricing |
| 2 BEDS | Ask for Pricing |
| 3 BEDS | Ask for Pricing |
| STUDIO | $1,523 |
| 1 BED | $1,194 |
| 1 BED | Ask for Pricing |
| 2 BEDS | Ask for Pricing |
| 1 BED | Ask for Pricing |
| 2 BEDS | Ask for Pricing |
Rental prices in San Luis Obispo, CA have increased by 1.28% over the past year. The average rent moved from $2,947 to $2,985.
Compared to the national average rent of $1,750, the average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA is $2,985.
The average monthly rent of apartments in San Luis Obispo, CA is $2,985.
About 15% of apartment rents in San Luis Obispo, CA range between $2,001-$2,500. Meanwhile, apartments around $2,501-$3,000 represent 16% of apartments. Around 28% of San Luis Obispo’s apartments are in the $1,501-$2,000 price range. 1% of apartments are priced between $1,001-$1,500. A share of 40% of apartment rentals in San Luis Obispo are in the > $3,000 range.
The largest share of rentals in San Luis Obispo, CA (40%) fall between $3,000- per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.
Prices and availability in San Luis Obispo, CA were last updated on 18 Nov 2025.
The best apartments in San Luis Obispo, CA are: Roundhouse Place, Connect, VILLAGE AT BROAD STREET, Meadow Creek and 815 Mirada Drive.
The average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA is $2,949.
In San Luis Obispo 61% of the housing is rented out compared to 39% of homes are owned, according to the most recent Census Bureau estimates. 6% of San Luis Obispo’s apartments are found in large buildings of 50 units or more, 65% are located in smaller apartment complexes with less than 50 units, and 28% 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 Luis Obispo are about 41 years old, on average. Of these, 29% 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 3 stories. About 97% of the rental communities here are low-rise, garden-style communities, 3% are mid-rises, and none are high-rise buildings. These are true especially for large-scale multifamily buildings with over 50 apartments.
Rental apartments in San Luis Obispo come in a range of sizes and floorplans. Studio apartments represent 20% 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 28% of the total apartments in the city, while 2-bedroom floorplans represent around 33% of all rentals in San Luis Obispo. The rest are larger floorplans with 3 bedrooms or more, typically preferred by families, larger households or roommates sharing space.
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San Luis Obispo is a coastal city that’s about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles in California. As part of San Luis Obispo County in the central part of the state, this small town has a rich history known for beautiful Spanish-style architecture and wineries. It’s also home to the California Polytechnic State University. Renters who live around San Luis Obispo love spending time outdoors: Being close to Cuesta Canyon Park and Santa Rosa Park makes it easy to go hiking. Plus, the proximity to the coastline of the Pacific is very attractive to people who rent homes in the area and want to go to Avila Beach. Overlooking the town is the Santa Lucia Mountains, making the entire area of San Luis Obispo lush and gorgeous. Great public schools and the restaurant scene are two other major reasons for young professionals and renting families to live in this fun area of California.
As a densely suburban area with lots of amenities, San Luis Obispo renters can feel at home in this lively community. More people rent than own their homes in this part of California, making renter households very common. That’s great news for people looking to find an apartment for rent in San Luis Obispo because there are plenty of rental options to choose from. Most of the rental apartments in San Luis Obispo offer amenities like pools, clubhouses, tennis courts, and walking trails for pet owners to explore. Condos and townhome apartments are also popular rental choices in the area for young professionals and families who want their children to go to one of the highly rated school schools in the area.
There are plenty of shopping malls and stores around rental apartments in San Luis Obispo all along Highway 101. That includes the SLO Promenade, the Madonna Plaza Shopping Center, and Mission Mall that’s located in the downtown area. It has specialty shops and is considered part of the town’s restaurant district, where local renters go for a great meal. The Network Shopping Center is another fun place for local renters to shop that has smaller artisan stores and a smoothie shop. For grocery shopping, renters have access to chains like Vons, Ralphs, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, and a Whole Foods Market with organic items. For renters who want to shop at big box stores, there is a Target located in Prefumo Creek Commons that is located near many rental apartments in San Luis Obispo.
People renting in San Luis Obispo have access to a public transit system that runs throughout the town. The main bus system is called the SLO Transit bus line with stops to popular places for goods and services. Amtrak has a station in San Luis Obispo, connecting local renters with many locations in California. Bike lanes are present all over the city, and renters are encouraged to use ridesharing and cycling whenever possible. For air travel, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport operates flights to popular destinations in the U.S. including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Las Vegas. Other airports in the area include Fresno Yosemite International Airport, located some 150 miles away, and Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, which is about three hours away by car.
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Whether you're looking for a studio, an apartment with one or more bedrooms, or maybe you're upgrading to a luxury apartment or need to acommodate a pet, RentCafe allows you to easily search for a rental near you based on your criteria, anywhere in the U.S. So, let's find your new home today!
RentCafe is your one-stop shop for finding a great new apartment in San Luis Obispo, CA. Easily search through a wide selection of apartments for rent in San Luis Obispo, CA, and view detailed information about available rentals including floor plans, pricing, photos, amenities, interactive maps, and thorough property descriptions. Property owners and managers are one click away, so feel free to contact them and find out all you need to know about the apartment you’re interested in. Browse San Luis Obispo, CA apartments with rents starting from $1,194 and submit your rental application today!
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