Santa Cruz, CA Rental Market Trends
Last updated: November 18, 2025 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Santa Cruz is $3,283, a 6.38% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,507.
Studio Apartments at $2,904 offer the most budget-friendly option with 466 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 632 square feet for $3,194, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-beedroom units at $3,964 offer 927 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Average rent in Santa Cruz, CA
Last updated: November 18, 2025
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $3,283 | 674 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $2,904 | 466 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $3,194 | 632 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $3,964 | 927 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | n/a | n/a |
Santa Cruz, CA rent trends
Rental prices in Santa Cruz, CA have decreased by 6.38% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,507 to $3,283.
What's the typical rent budget in Santa Cruz, CA?
The largest share of rentals in Santa Cruz, CA (58%) 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 Santa Cruz, CA?
11,331 or 52% of the households in Santa Cruz, CA are renter-occupied while 10,338 or 48% are owner-occupied.
Average Rent in Santa Cruz, CA By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Downtown Santa Cruz | $3,014 |
| Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon | $2,985 |
/
Santa Cruz | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon is 1% lower than in Downtown Santa Cruz
$2,985
Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon rent is 9% lower than Santa Cruz average
Average Rent
$2,985
$3,014
Downtown Santa Cruz rent is 8% lower than Santa Cruz average
Average Rent
$3,014
How Santa Cruz Compares to Other Cities
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $3,283 |
| Los Angeles | $2,765 |
| East Bay | $2,670 |
| San Francisco | $3,598 |
| San Diego | $2,968 |
| Long Beach | $2,670 |
| Sacramento | $1,906 |
| Oakland | $2,635 |
| San Jose | $3,134 |
| Fresno | $1,622 |
| Tulare | $1,693 |
| Sunnyvale | $3,447 |
| Mountain View, CA | $3,776 |
| Santa Clara, CA | $3,511 |
| Palo Alto, CA | $3,100 |
| Menlo Park, CA | $4,595 |
| Redwood City, CA | $3,724 |
| Salinas, CA | $2,346 |
| Milpitas, CA | $3,153 |
| Campbell, CA | $2,897 |
| Los Gatos, CA | $3,510 |
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 Santa Cruz 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.