San Diego, CA Rental Market Trends
What is the average rent in San Diego?
The average rent for an apartment in San Diego is $2,978. The cost of rent varies depending on several factors, including location, size, and quality.
Average rent in San Diego, CA
Average Rent | Average Apartment Size |
---|---|
$2,978 | 879 sq. ft. |
What is the average apartment size in San Diego?
The average size for a San Diego, CA apartment is 879 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.
San Diego, CA apartment rent ranges
San Diego, CA Occupied Housing Units
273,751 or 52% of the households in San Diego, CA are renter-occupied while 248,395 or 48% are owner-occupied.
San Diego, CA rent trends

Average Rent in San Diego, CA By Neighborhood
City | Average Rent |
---|---|
Carmel Valley | $3,917 |
Rolando | $3,793 |
Harborview | $3,755 |
Torrey Hills | $3,593 |
Morena | $3,452 |
Scripps Ranch | $3,431 |
Little Italy | $3,414 |
Mission Valley West | $3,414 |
College View Estates | $3,358 |
Otay Mesa | $3,336 |
Miramar Ranch | $3,316 |
Kearny Mesa | $3,284 |
Serra Mesa | $3,278 |
University City | $3,265 |
Del Cerro | $3,194 |
University Heights | $3,186 |
Sabre Springs | $3,181 |
Mission Valley East | $3,137 |
Core - Columbia | $3,080 |
Ocean View Hills | $2,984 |
Bankers Hill - Park West | $2,979 |
Pacific Beach | $2,970 |
East Village | $2,959 |
Grantville | $2,950 |
Rancho Penasquitos | $2,931 |
Mira Mesa | $2,919 |
Allied Gardens | $2,879 |
Hillcrest | $2,858 |
Tierrasanta | $2,857 |
Carmel Mountain | $2,836 |
Rancho Bernardo | $2,819 |
Talmadge | $2,817 |
Point Loma Heights | $2,783 |
North Park | $2,762 |
Linda Vista | $2,703 |
Marina | $2,696 |
Birdland | $2,644 |
Bay Park | $2,576 |
Nestor | $2,535 |
College Area | $2,533 |
North Clairemont | $2,463 |
San Carlos | $2,418 |
Lake Murray | $2,349 |
Redwood Village | $2,332 |
Bay Ho | $2,309 |
Golden Hill | $2,289 |
Clairemont Mesa East | $2,273 |
Otay Mesa West | $2,236 |
El Cerrito | $2,221 |
Bay Terraces | $2,157 |
Ocean Beach | $2,123 |
Lincoln Park | $2,049 |
Cherokee Point | $2,044 |
Egger Highlands | $2,018 |
Midway | $2,010 |
Colina del Sol | $1,726 |
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego are Colina del Sol, where the average rent goes for $1,726/month, Midway, where renters pay $2,010/mo on average, and Egger Highlands, where the average rent goes for $2,018/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Cherokee Point ($2,044), Lincoln Park ($2,049), and Ocean Beach ($2,123), where the asking prices are below the average San Diego rent of $2,978/mo.
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego?
The most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego are Harborview ($3,755), Rolando ($3,793) and Carmel Valley ($3,917).
What are the most popular neighborhoods in San Diego?
The most popular neighborhood in San Diego is Pacific Beach, where there are 13 listings with an average rent of $2,970. Next up is Core - Columbia, where apartments go for $3,080/month, followed by University City with $3,265 If you’re looking to rent in San Diego’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out East Village, where renters pay $2,959 on average, and Mira Mesa, where the average monthly rent is $2,919.
San Diego | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Allied Gardens is 3% lower than in Bankers Hill - Park West
Allied Gardens rent is 3% lower than San Diego average
Bankers Hill - Park West rent is 1% higher than San Diego average
How San Diego Compares to Other Cities
State | Average Rent |
---|---|
Los Angeles | $2,763 |
San Francisco | $3,420 |
East Bay | $2,629 |
San Diego | $2,978 |
Sacramento | $1,889 |
Long Beach | $2,608 |
San Jose | $3,044 |
Oakland | $2,568 |
Tulare | $1,752 |
Vallejo | $2,074 |
Fresno | $1,598 |
Vista | $2,537 |
Murrieta | $2,408 |
Chula Vista | $2,620 |
Carlsbad | $3,180 |
Oceanside | $2,620 |
El Cajon | $2,266 |
Escondido | $2,261 |
La Mesa | $2,486 |
San Clemente | $3,040 |
Santee | $2,448 |
What is the average price for a storage unit in San Diego?
The average rent for a non-climate-controlled 10'x10' storage unit in San Diego is $221.25. Rental costs vary depending on several factors, including unit size and the storage facility's location and amenities.