Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA

Prices and availability in San Mateo, CA were last updated on 26 Jul 2026.

The best apartments in San Mateo, CA are: The Preston at Hillsdale, Bridgepointe, Hillsdale Garden, Lakeview Garden and The Triton.

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

The price range for a studio apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,150 and $8,542.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,150 and $8,542.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,195 and $8,542.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,500 and $10,250.

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.

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.