Apartments for Rent in San Marcos, CA

Prices and availability in San Marcos, CA were last updated on 2 Jul 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 $2,395 and $4,714.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,135 and $4,883.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,400 and $8,834.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Marcos, CA is between $2,395 and $12,909.

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 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 Marcos are about 24 years old, on average. Of these, 58% 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 96% of the rental communities here are low-rise, garden-style communities, 4% are mid-rises, and none are high-rise buildings. These are true especially for large-scale multifamily buildings with over 50 apartments.

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.