Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA

Prices and availability in San Mateo, CA were last updated on 7 Jun 2026.

The best apartments in San Mateo, CA are: The Preston at Hillsdale, Hillsdale Garden, Oakview Apartments, 19th Avenue Apartments and MODE Apartments.

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

The price range for a studio apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,095 and $11,469.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,095 and $12,847.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,195 and $14,929.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,408 and $14,929.

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.

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.