San Diego, CA Rental Market Trends
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in San Diego is $2,043, a 6% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,936.
Studio apartments in San Diego rent for $1,474 a month, while 1-bedroom apartments ask on average $1,799 a month; the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,207.
Average Rent in San Diego, CA
Last updated Jul 2018
| All rentals | Studio | 1 Bed | 2 Beds | 3 Beds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,043 | $1,474 | $1,799 | $2,207 | $2,784 |
| Y-o-Y Change | 6% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 3% |
| Average Apartment Size | 827 sq. ft. | 454 sq. ft. | 675 sq. ft. | 971 sq. ft. | 1,298 sq. ft. |
The average size for a San Diego apartment is 827 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on apartment type. A studio averages 454 sq. ft., while a one-bedroom apartment offers a more generous square footage: 675. 2-bedroom apartments in San Diego have an average size of 971 sq. ft.
San Diego, CA Apartment Rent Ranges
- $701-$1,00015%
- $1,001-$1,50042%
- $1,501-$2,00034%
- > $2,0009%
San Diego, CA Rent Trends
| Average Rent All rentals | Studio | 1 Bed | 2 Beds | 3 Beds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul / 2018 | $2,043 | $1,474 | $1,799 | $2,207 | $2,784 |
| Sept / 2017 | $2,028 | $1,479 | $1,793 | $2,190 | $2,773 |
| May / 2017 | $2,019 | $1,455 | $1,781 | $2,181 | $2,797 |
| Jan / 2017 | $1,936 | $1,406 | $1,701 | $2,088 | $2,702 |
| Sept / 2016 | $1,963 | $1,414 | $1,715 | $2,132 | $2,737 |
| May / 2016 | $1,929 | $1,348 | $1,693 | $2,096 | $2,655 |
| Jan / 2016 | $1,870 | $1,320 | $1,646 | $2,026 | $2,552 |
| Sept / 2015 | $1,864 | $1,329 | $1,648 | $2,018 | $2,483 |
| May / 2015 | $1,797 | $1,283 | $1,580 | $1,952 | $2,383 |
| Jan / 2015 | $1,726 | $1,235 | $1,517 | $1,875 | $2,285 |
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Average Rent in San Diego, CA By Neighborhood
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| Average Rent | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood | All rentals | Studio | 1 Bed | 2 Beds | 3 Beds |
| Corridor | $1,440 | $1,088 | $1,256 | $1,583 | $1,483 |
| Cherokee Point | $1,440 | $1,088 | $1,256 | $1,583 | $1,483 |
| Teralta West | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Swan Canyon | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Islenair | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Fox Canyon | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Fairmount Village | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Fairmont Park | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Chollas Creek | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Castle | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Azalea - Hollywood Park | $1,446 | $1,138 | $1,233 | $1,530 | $1,483 |
| Ridgeview - Webster | $1,496 | $1,113 | $1,328 | $1,575 | $1,483 |
| Linda Vista | $1,628 | $1,333 | $1,456 | $1,667 | $2,176 |
| Clairemont Mesa West | $1,638 | $1,293 | $1,455 | $1,755 | $2,228 |
| Clairemont Mesa East | $1,638 | $1,293 | $1,455 | $1,755 | $2,228 |
| North Clairemont | $1,646 | $1,256 | $1,455 | $1,829 | $2,383 |
| Lake Murray | $1,661 | $1,152 | $1,569 | $1,902 | $2,052 |
| Torrey Pines Preserve | $1,691 | $1,302 | $1,598 | $1,900 | $2,800 |
| Sorrento Valley | $1,691 | $1,302 | $1,598 | $1,900 | $2,800 |
| University Heights | $1,719 | $1,345 | $1,598 | $2,081 | $2,446 |
| Bay Ho | $1,728 | $1,399 | $1,586 | $1,951 | $2,461 |
| Sunset Cliffs | $1,770 | $1,135 | $1,595 | $2,053 | $2,676 |
| Ocean Beach | $1,770 | $1,135 | $1,595 | $2,053 | $2,676 |
| Bay Park | $1,791 | $1,120 | $1,480 | $2,017 | $2,932 |
| Morena | $1,794 | $1,157 | $1,485 | $1,955 | $2,625 |
| Mission Hills South | $1,796 | $1,367 | $1,694 | $2,200 | $2,446 |
| Hillcrest | $1,796 | $1,367 | $1,694 | $2,200 | $2,446 |
| Teralta East | $1,800 | $1,376 | $1,320 | $1,805 | $1,950 |
| Redwood Village | $1,800 | $1,376 | $1,320 | $1,805 | $1,950 |
| Oak Park | $1,800 | $1,376 | $1,320 | $1,805 | $1,950 |
| El Cerrito | $1,800 | $1,376 | $1,320 | $1,805 | $1,950 |
| Colina del Sol | $1,800 | $1,376 | $1,320 | $1,805 | $1,950 |
| San Carlos | $1,844 | $1,200 | $1,591 | $1,991 | $2,846 |
| Talmadge | $1,874 | $1,382 | $1,334 | $1,863 | $2,486 |
| Rolando Park | $1,874 | $1,382 | $1,334 | $1,863 | $2,486 |
| Rolando | $1,874 | $1,382 | $1,334 | $1,863 | $2,486 |
| College View Estates | $1,874 | $1,382 | $1,334 | $1,863 | $2,486 |
| Alvarado Estates | $1,874 | $1,382 | $1,334 | $1,863 | $2,486 |
| Pacific Beach | $1,890 | $1,538 | $1,771 | $2,433 | $3,214 |
| Mission Beach | $1,890 | $1,538 | $1,771 | $2,433 | $3,214 |
| Mission Bay | $1,890 | $1,538 | $1,771 | $2,433 | $3,214 |
| Old Town San Diego | $1,899 | $1,147 | $1,583 | $2,228 | $3,129 |
| Mission Hills | $1,899 | $1,147 | $1,583 | $2,228 | $3,129 |
| Point Loma Heights | $1,905 | $979 | $1,567 | $2,202 | $3,112 |
| College Area | $1,912 | $1,314 | $1,428 | $1,913 | $2,671 |
| Kearny Mesa | $1,937 | $1,413 | $1,779 | $2,017 | $2,338 |
| Loma Portal | $1,940 | $927 | $1,559 | $2,241 | $3,144 |
| Del Cerro | $2,002 | $1,256 | $1,611 | $2,087 | $2,922 |
| Allied Gardens | $2,002 | $1,256 | $1,611 | $2,087 | $2,922 |
| Mira Mesa | $2,025 | $1,473 | $1,752 | $2,140 | $2,715 |
| Serra Mesa | $2,134 | $1,701 | $1,947 | $2,216 | $2,470 |
| Birdland | $2,134 | $1,701 | $1,947 | $2,216 | $2,470 |
| Midway | $2,140 | $1,530 | $2,025 | $2,601 | $3,438 |
| Mission Valley West | $2,145 | $1,255 | $1,871 | $2,371 | $3,195 |
| Miramar | $2,148 | $1,657 | $1,854 | $2,315 | $2,992 |
| Balboa Park | $2,153 | $1,579 | $2,129 | $2,648 | $4,071 |
| Midtown San Diego | $2,156 | $1,570 | $2,118 | $2,721 | $3,998 |
| Bankers Hill - Park West | $2,156 | $1,570 | $2,118 | $2,721 | $3,998 |
| Grantville | $2,182 | $1,529 | $1,924 | $2,353 | $3,193 |
| University City | $2,197 | $1,733 | $1,884 | $2,410 | $3,228 |
| Petco Park | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| Marina | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| Little Italy | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| Horton Plaza | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| Harborview | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| Gaslamp | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| East Village | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| Cortez | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| Core - Columbia | $2,219 | $1,591 | $2,209 | $2,825 | $4,071 |
| Mission Valley East | $2,225 | $1,744 | $1,987 | $2,422 | $3,278 |
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The most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego are Cherokee Point, where the average rent goes for $1,440/month, Corridor, where renters pay $1,440/mo on average, and Azalea - Hollywood Park, where the average rent goes for $1,446/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Castle ($1,446), Chollas Creek ($1,446), and Fairmont Park ($1,446), where the asking prices are below the average San Diego rent of $2,043/mo.
The most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego are Marina ($2,219), Petco Park ($2,219) and Mission Valley East ($2,225).
San Diego | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Allied Gardens is 7% higher than in Alvarado Estates
$2,002
Allied Gardens rent is 2% lower than San Diego average
| All rentals | $2,002 |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,256 |
| 1 Bed | $1,611 |
| 2 Beds | $2,087 |
| 3 Beds | $2,922 |
$1,874
Alvarado Estates rent is 8% lower than San Diego average
| All rentals | $1,874 |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,382 |
| 1 Bed | $1,334 |
| 2 Beds | $1,863 |
| 3 Beds | $2,486 |
How Does San Diego Compare to Nearby Cities
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $2,043 | 6% |
| El Cajon | $1,450 | 5% |
| El Cajon City | $1,450 | 5% |
| Chula Vista | $1,654 | 5% |
| Escondido | $1,530 | 6% |
| Escondido City | $1,530 | 6% |
| Vista | $1,705 | 5% |
| La Mesa | $1,637 | 5% |
| La Mesa City | $1,637 | 5% |
| Oceanside | $1,706 | 5% |
| San Marcos | $1,955 | 11% |
For more information about the San Diego rental trends, check out our monthly rent report
Cheapest Listings on RENTCafé
Mid-priced Listings on RENTCafé
Most Expensive Listings on RENTCafé
The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all San Diego apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.