Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA Rental Market Trends
Last updated: September 01, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Serra Mesa is $3,479, a 5.66% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,292.
One-bedroom apartments provide 729 square feet for $3,047, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-bedroom units at $3,687 offer 1,075 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,362 sq ft) for $4,504, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $3,479 | 950 sq. ft. |
| Studio | n/a | n/a |
| 1 Bed | $3,047 | 729 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $3,687 | 1,075 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $4,504 | 1,362 sq. ft. |
Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA rent trends
Rental prices in Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA have increased by 5.66% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,292 to $3,479.
What's the typical rent budget in Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA?
The largest share of rentals in Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA (73%) 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 Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA?
3,336 or 56% of the households in Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA are renter-occupied while 2,666 or 44% are owner-occupied.
Most affordable neighborhoods in Serra Mesa?
Colina del Sol $1,661/month
Logan Heights $1,931/month
Lincoln Park $1,940/month
All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,028/month.Most expensive neighborhoods in Serra Mesa?
College View Estates $3,888/month
Bankers Hill - Park West $3,963/month
Carmel Valley $4,089/month
These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.Average Rent in San Diego, CA By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Carmel Valley | $4,089 |
| Bankers Hill - Park West | $3,963 |
| College View Estates | $3,888 |
| Harborview | $3,719 |
| Torrey Hills | $3,688 |
| Scripps Ranch | $3,617 |
| Little Italy | $3,503 |
| Serra Mesa | $3,479 |
| Mission Valley West | $3,476 |
| Morena | $3,436 |
| University City | $3,358 |
| Sabre Springs | $3,309 |
| Kearny Mesa | $3,301 |
| Del Cerro | $3,283 |
| Miramar Ranch | $3,276 |
| Core - Columbia | $3,201 |
| Mission Valley East | $3,097 |
| Rancho Penasquitos | $3,097 |
| Cortez | $3,092 |
| University Heights | $3,085 |
| Carmel Mountain | $2,981 |
| Ocean View Hills | $2,974 |
| Hillcrest | $2,969 |
| East Village | $2,963 |
| Rolando | $2,958 |
| Talmadge | $2,949 |
| Mira Mesa | $2,923 |
| Tierrasanta | $2,915 |
| Rancho Bernardo | $2,888 |
| Grantville | $2,861 |
| Otay Mesa | $2,854 |
| Pacific Beach | $2,816 |
| North Park | $2,810 |
| Linda Vista | $2,783 |
| Marina | $2,775 |
| Birdland | $2,770 |
| Allied Gardens | $2,746 |
| Point Loma Heights | $2,731 |
| College Area | $2,634 |
| Bay Park | $2,588 |
| Nestor | $2,514 |
| San Carlos | $2,501 |
| North Clairemont | $2,447 |
| Clairemont Mesa East | $2,407 |
| Bay Ho | $2,356 |
| Lake Murray | $2,354 |
| Redwood Village | $2,353 |
| Otay Mesa West | $2,240 |
| El Cerrito | $2,230 |
| Palm City | $2,230 |
| Golden Hill | $2,210 |
| Ocean Beach | $2,178 |
| Midway | $2,176 |
| Bay Terraces | $2,121 |
| Cherokee Point | $2,097 |
| Egger Highlands | $2,088 |
| Lincoln Park | $1,940 |
| Logan Heights | $1,931 |
| Colina del Sol | $1,661 |
San Diego | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Serra Mesa is 27% higher than in Allied Gardens
Serra Mesa rent is the same as San Diego average
Allied Gardens rent is 21% lower than San Diego average
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 Serra Mesa 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.