Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Rental Market Trends
Last updated: April 23, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Rancho Santa Margarita is $2,769, a 1% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,742.
One-bedroom apartments provide 703 square feet for $2,565, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-beedroom units at $3,033 offer 999 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Average rent in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Last updated: April 23, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $2,769 | 832 sq. ft. |
| Studio | n/a | n/a |
| 1 Bed | $2,565 | 703 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $3,033 | 999 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | n/a | n/a |
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA rent trends
Rental prices in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA have increased by 1% over the past year. The average rent moved from $2,742 to $2,769.
What's the typical rent budget in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA?
The largest share of rentals in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (50%) fall between $2,501-$3,000 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.
Do most people rent or own in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA?
4,530 or 27% of the households in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA are renter-occupied while 12,512 or 73% are owner-occupied.
How Rancho Santa Margarita Compares to Other Cities
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Rancho Santa Margarita | $2,769 |
| Los Angeles | $2,742 |
| East Bay | $2,684 |
| San Diego | $2,969 |
| San Francisco | $3,792 |
| Oakland | $2,625 |
| Long Beach | $2,684 |
| Sacramento | $1,882 |
| San Jose | $3,170 |
| Alameda | $3,031 |
| Fresno | $1,618 |
| Anaheim | $2,470 |
| Riverside | $2,236 |
| Santa Ana | $2,735 |
| Huntington Beach, CA | $2,824 |
| Fullerton, CA | $2,528 |
| Murrieta, CA | $2,372 |
| Newport Beach, CA | $3,728 |
| Orange, CA | $2,797 |
| Costa Mesa, CA | $2,842 |
| Irvine, CA | $3,240 |
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 Rancho Santa Margarita 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.