San Diego, CA Rental Market Trends
What is the average rent in San Diego?
The average rent for an apartment in San Diego is $2,216, a 1% decrease compared to the previous year.
Average Rent in San Diego, CA
Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | Average Apartment Size |
---|---|---|
$2,216 | -1% | 873 sq. ft. |
What is the average apartment size in San Diego?
The average size for a San Diego, CA apartment is 873 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
- $701-$1,0001%
- $1,001-$1,5006%
- $1,501-$2,00033%
- > $2,00059%
San Diego, CA Occupied Housing Units
- Renter-occupied Households39%
- Owner-occupied Households60%
200,363 or 39% of the households in San Diego, CA are renter-occupied while 307,217 or 60% are owner-occupied.
San Diego, CA Rent Trends
Average Rent | Nov / 2017 | Mar / 2018 | Jul / 2018 | Nov / 2018 | Mar / 2019 | Jul / 2019 | Nov / 2019 | Mar / 2020 | Jul / 2020 | Nov / 2020 | Feb / 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Diego, CA | $2,054 | $2,061 | $2,164 | $2,186 | $2,155 | $2,216 | $2,223 | $2,235 | $2,176 | $2,201 | $2,216 |
National | $1,317 | $1,348 | $1,357 | $1,361 | $1,393 | $1,400 | $1,401 | $1,391 | $1,393 | $1,399 |

Average Rent in San Diego, CA By Neighborhood
Neighborhood | Average Rent |
---|---|
Carmel Valley | $2,866 |
North City | $2,866 |
Torrey Hills | $2,866 |
Torrey Highlands | $2,696 |
4S Ranch | $2,379 |
Bernardo Springs | $2,379 |
Santa Fe Valley | $2,379 |
The Lakes - Crosby Estates | $2,379 |
Core - Columbia | $2,364 |
Cortez | $2,364 |
East Village | $2,364 |
Gaslamp | $2,364 |
Harborview | $2,364 |
Horton Plaza | $2,364 |
Little Italy | $2,364 |
Marina | $2,364 |
Petco Park | $2,364 |
University City | $2,347 |
Black Mountain Ranch | $2,334 |
Miramar Ranch | $2,333 |
Rancho Encantada - Stonebridge Estates | $2,333 |
Scripps Ranch | $2,333 |
Mission Valley East | $2,323 |
Balboa Park | $2,315 |
Bankers Hill - Park West | $2,313 |
Midtown San Diego | $2,313 |
Rancho Penasquitos | $2,298 |
Miramar | $2,298 |
Midway | $2,290 |
Grantville | $2,288 |
Tierrasanta | $2,282 |
Birdland | $2,279 |
Serra Mesa | $2,279 |
Rancho Bernardo | $2,268 |
Mission Valley West | $2,248 |
Sabre Springs | $2,238 |
Carmel Mountain | $2,218 |
Mira Mesa | $2,167 |
Allied Gardens | $2,163 |
Del Cerro | $2,163 |
Mission Bay | $2,150 |
Mission Beach | $2,150 |
Pacific Beach | $2,150 |
Kearny Mesa | $2,131 |
Loma Portal | $2,063 |
College Area | $2,034 |
Mission Hills | $2,030 |
Old Town San Diego | $2,030 |
Point Loma Heights | $2,019 |
San Carlos | $2,010 |
Fleet Ridge | $1,995 |
La Playa | $1,995 |
Roseville Heights | $1,995 |
Wooded Area | $1,995 |
Morena | $1,983 |
Egger Highlands | $1,972 |
Nestor | $1,972 |
Ocean View Hills | $1,972 |
Otay Mesa | $1,972 |
Otay Mesa West | $1,972 |
Palm City | $1,972 |
Tijuana River Valley | $1,972 |
Alvarado Estates | $1,960 |
College View Estates | $1,960 |
Rolando | $1,960 |
Rolando Park | $1,960 |
Talmadge | $1,960 |
Hillcrest | $1,944 |
Mission Hills South | $1,944 |
Bay Park | $1,922 |
Bay Ho | $1,914 |
University Heights | $1,899 |
Colina del Sol | $1,895 |
El Cerrito | $1,895 |
Oak Park | $1,895 |
Redwood Village | $1,895 |
Teralta East | $1,895 |
Linda Vista | $1,887 |
Ocean Beach | $1,862 |
Sunset Cliffs | $1,862 |
Clairemont Mesa East | $1,831 |
Clairemont Mesa West | $1,831 |
Sorrento Valley | $1,804 |
Torrey Pines Preserve | $1,804 |
Lake Murray | $1,785 |
North Clairemont | $1,783 |
Burlingame | $1,749 |
North Park | $1,749 |
South Park | $1,743 |
Chollas View | $1,737 |
Golden Hill | $1,737 |
Grant Hill | $1,737 |
Mount Hope | $1,737 |
Sherman Heights | $1,737 |
Stockton | $1,737 |
Cherokee Point | $1,656 |
Corridor | $1,656 |
Ridgeview - Webster | $1,654 |
Lincoln Park | $1,632 |
Azalea - Hollywood Park | $1,601 |
Castle | $1,601 |
Chollas Creek | $1,601 |
Fairmont Park | $1,601 |
Fairmount Village | $1,601 |
Fox Canyon | $1,601 |
Islenair | $1,601 |
Swan Canyon | $1,601 |
Teralta West | $1,601 |
Paradise Hills | $1,598 |
Bay Terraces | $1,533 |
Barrio Logan | $1,250 |
Logan Heights | $1,250 |
Mountain View | $1,250 |
Shelltown | $1,250 |
Southcrest | $1,250 |
Alta Vista | $1,050 |
Broadway Heights | $1,050 |
Emerald Hills | $1,050 |
Encanto | $1,050 |
Jamacha Lomita | $1,050 |
Skyline | $1,050 |
Valencia Park | $1,050 |
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego are Alta Vista, where the average rent goes for $1,050/month, Broadway Heights, where renters pay $1,050/mo on average, and Emerald Hills, where the average rent goes for $1,050/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Encanto ($1,050), Jamacha Lomita ($1,050), and Skyline ($1,050), where the asking prices are below the average San Diego rent of $2,216/mo.
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego?
The most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego are Carmel Valley ($2,866), North City ($2,866) and Torrey Hills ($2,866).
What are the most popular neighborhoods in San Diego?
The most popular neighborhood in San Diego is Mira Mesa, where there are 8 verified RENTCafé listings with an average rent of $2,167. Next up is University City, where apartments go for $2,347/month, followed by Pacific Beach with $2,150 If you’re looking to rent in San Diego’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out Ocean View Hills, where renters pay $1,972 on average, and Point Loma Heights, where the average monthly rent is $2,019.
San Diego | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in 4S Ranch is 10% higher than in Allied Gardens
4S Ranch rent is 7% higher than San Diego average
Average Rent | $2,379 |
---|
Allied Gardens rent is 2% lower than San Diego average
Average Rent | $2,163 |
---|
How San Diego Compares to Other Cities
Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | |
---|---|---|
Los Angeles | $2,353 | -6% |
San Francisco | $2,901 | -20% |
East Bay | $2,273 | -4% |
San Diego | $2,216 | -1% |
Palo Alto | $2,913 | -13% |
Oakland | $2,648 | -11% |
El Cajon | $1,659 | 5% |
Chula Vista | $1,888 | 3% |
Escondido | $1,760 | 5% |
Temecula | $1,864 | 8% |
Santee | $1,822 | 5% |