Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA

Prices and availability in San Mateo, CA were last updated on 16 Jul 2026.

The best apartments in San Mateo, CA are: The Preston at Hillsdale, Bridgepointe, Lakeview Garden, 82 E. 39th Avenue and 123 N El Camino.

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

The price range for a studio apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,195 and $12,237.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,195 and $13,119.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,325 and $16,507.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,519 and $16,507.

In San Mateo 50% of the housing is rented out compared to 50% of homes are owned, according to the most recent Census Bureau estimates. 26% of San Mateo's apartments are found in large buildings of 50 units or more, 56% are located in smaller apartment complexes with less than 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.

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.