Santa Cruz, CA Rental Market Trends

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Santa Cruz is $2,295, a 4% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,205.

Studio apartments in Santa Cruz rent for $1,246 a month, while 1-bedroom apartments ask on average $2,154 a month; the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,936.

Average Rent in Santa Cruz, CA

Last updated May 2018
All rentals Studio 1 Bed 2 Beds 3 Beds
Average Rent $2,295 $1,246 $2,154 $2,936 $2,787
Y-o-Y Change 4% 0% 7% 12% 8%
Average Apartment Size 733 sq. ft. 377 sq. ft. 614 sq. ft. 871 sq. ft. 1,056 sq. ft.

The average size for a Santa Cruz apartment is 733 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on apartment type. A studio averages 377 sq. ft., while a one-bedroom apartment offers a more generous square footage: 614. 2-bedroom apartments in Santa Cruz have an average size of 871 sq. ft.

Santa Cruz, CA Apartment Rent Ranges

  • $701-$1,0001%
  • $1,001-$1,5007%
  • $1,501-$2,00032%
  • > $2,00060%

Santa Cruz, CA Rent Trends

Average Rent All rentals Studio 1 Bed 2 Beds 3 Beds
May / 2018 $2,295 $1,246 $2,154 $2,936 $2,787
Sept / 2017 $2,339 $1,242 $2,175 $2,726 $2,755
May / 2017 $2,349 $1,217 $2,143 $2,827 $2,597
Jan / 2017 $2,205 $1,245 $2,015 $2,613 $2,593
Sept / 2016 $2,260 $1,206 $2,076 $2,683 $2,572
May / 2016 $2,207 $1,057 $2,019 $2,637 $2,565
Jan / 2016 $2,068 $1,171 $1,898 $2,460 $2,460
/

Average Rent in Santa Cruz, CA By Neighborhood

Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon
$2,425
Downtown Santa Cruz
$2,425
Garfield
$2,425
Harvey West
$2,425
Lighthouse-Natural Bridges
$2,425
Moore Creek
$2,425
Nobel
$2,425
University of California Santa Cruz
$2,425
Westlake
$2,425
Wilder Ranch State Park
$2,425
Carbonera-Prospect Heights
$2,348
East Morrissey
$2,347
Seabright
$2,050

The most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Cruz are Seabright, where the average rent goes for $2,050/month, East Morrissey, where renters pay $2,347/mo on average, and Carbonera-Prospect Heights, where the average rent goes for $2,348/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon ($2,425), Downtown Santa Cruz ($2,425), and Garfield ($2,425), where the asking prices are below the average Santa Cruz rent of $2,295/mo.

The most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Cruz are University of California Santa Cruz ($2,425), Westlake ($2,425) and Wilder Ranch State Park ($2,425).

Santa Cruz | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Neighborhood
vs.
Neighborhood

Rent in Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon is 3% higher than in Carbonera-Prospect Heights

$2,425

Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon rent is 6% higher than Santa Cruz average

All rentals $2,425
Studio $1,256
1 Bed $2,289
2 Beds $3,300
3 Beds $3,650
$2,348

Carbonera-Prospect Heights rent is 2% higher than Santa Cruz average

All rentals $2,348
Studio $1,209
1 Bed $2,203
2 Beds $3,045
3 Beds $2,556

How Does Santa Cruz Compare to Nearby Cities

Average Rent Y-o-Y Change
Santa Cruz $2,295 4%
Capitola $1,745 0%
Twin Lakes $2,050 -5%
Watsonville $1,750 24%
Amesti $1,750 24%
Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley $1,750 24%
Bonny Doon $2,425 4%

For more information about the Santa Cruz rental trends, check out our monthly rent report

Cheapest Listings on RENTCafé

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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 Santa Cruz 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.

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