What is the average apartment size in California?

The average size for a California apartment is 854 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in California?

As of Jul / 2026, the average rent in California is $2,685 per month, a 1.95% increase from last years average of $2,634.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in California?

In California, studios rent for $2,091 per month, one-bedroom units average $2,454 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $2,889 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $3,500 per month

What is the average apartment size in California?

The typical apartment in California offers about 854 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in California?

Studio apartments in California average 500 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 706 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 994 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,282 sq. ft.

California Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in California?

The typical rent budget in California ranges from $3,000 to per month, with 29% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in California?

In California, 44% of households rent while 56% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Last updated: August 31, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in California is $2,685, a 1.95% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,634.

Studio Apartments at $2,091 offer the most budget-friendly option with 500 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 706 square feet for $2,454, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-bedroom units at $2,889 offer 994 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,282 sq ft) for $3,500, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in California

Last updated: August 31, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$2,685	854 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,091	500 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$2,454	706 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$2,889	994 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$3,500	1,282 sq. ft.

California rent trends

What's the typical rent budget in California?

The largest share of rentals in California (29%) fall between $3,000- per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in California?

5,980,523 or 44% of the households in California are renter-occupied while 7,567,568 or 56% are owner-occupied.

How California Compares to Other States

City	Average Rent
California	$2,685
Los Angeles	$2,758
East Bay	$2,753
San Diego	$3,028
San Francisco	$3,964
Sacramento	$1,894
Oakland	$2,688
Fresno	$1,621
San Jose	$3,301
Alameda	$3,073
Long Beach	$2,699

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all California apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.