Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA

Prices and availability in San Mateo, CA were last updated on 6 Sep 2026.

The best apartments in San Mateo, CA are: The Preston at Hillsdale, Bridgepointe, Hillsdale Garden, Azara and RYAN TOWER.

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 $10,000.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $1,600 and $8,427.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,595 and $8,471.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA is between $2,595 and $10,000.

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 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.