Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA

Prices and availability in San Mateo, CA were last updated on 19 Oct 2026.

The best apartments in San Mateo, CA are: The Preston at Hillsdale, Bridgepointe, RYAN TOWER, Azara 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 $2,295 and $8,008.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,295 and $8,008.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,295 and $7,694.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,295 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 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.

Studio apartments in San Mateo are around 6% of rentals, while 1-bedroom floor plans represent 47% of the total stock. For those in search of larger rentals, 2-bedroom floorplans make up 40% of all rentals. More generous apartments with 3 bedrooms or more are also available in this city for those in search of more space.