Santa Cruz, CA Rental Market Trends
What is the average rent in Santa Cruz?
The average rent for an apartment in Santa Cruz is $3,372. The cost of rent varies depending on several factors, including location, size, and quality.
Average rent in Santa Cruz, CA
Average Rent | Average Apartment Size |
---|---|
$3,372 | 707 sq. ft. |
What is the average apartment size in Santa Cruz?
The average size for a Santa Cruz, CA apartment is 707 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.
Santa Cruz, CA apartment rent ranges
Santa Cruz, CA Occupied Housing Units
11,937 or 54% of the households in Santa Cruz, CA are renter-occupied while 10,130 or 46% are owner-occupied.
Santa Cruz, CA rent trends

Average Rent in Santa Cruz, CA By Neighborhood
Neighborhood | Average Rent |
---|---|
Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon | $3,596 |
Downtown Santa Cruz | $3,596 |
Garfield | $3,596 |
Harvey West | $3,596 |
Lighthouse-Natural Bridges | $3,596 |
Moore Creek | $3,596 |
Nobel | $3,596 |
University of California Santa Cruz | $3,596 |
Westlake | $3,596 |
Wilder Ranch State Park | $3,596 |
East Morrissey | $3,478 |
Carbonera-Prospect Heights | $3,448 |
Seabright | $2,993 |
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Cruz?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Cruz are Seabright, where the average rent goes for $2,993/month, Carbonera-Prospect Heights, where renters pay $3,448/mo on average, and East Morrissey, where the average rent goes for $3,478/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon ($3,596), Downtown Santa Cruz ($3,596), and Garfield ($3,596), where the asking prices are below the average Santa Cruz rent of $3,372/mo.
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Cruz?
The most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Cruz are University of California Santa Cruz ($3,596), Westlake ($3,596) and Wilder Ranch State Park ($3,596).
What are the most popular neighborhoods in Santa Cruz?
The most popular neighborhood in Santa Cruz is Downtown Santa Cruz, where there are 4 listings with an average rent of $3,596. Next up is Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon, where apartments go for $3,596/month, followed by Seabright with $2,993 If you’re looking to rent in Santa Cruz’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out East Morrissey, where renters pay $3,478 on average, and Nobel, where the average monthly rent is $3,596.
Santa Cruz | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon is 4% higher than in Carbonera-Prospect Heights
Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon rent is 7% higher than Santa Cruz average
Average Rent | $3,596 |
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Carbonera-Prospect Heights rent is 2% higher than Santa Cruz average
Average Rent | $3,448 |
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How Santa Cruz Compares to Other Cities
City | Average Rent |
---|---|
Los Angeles | $2,742 |
San Francisco | $3,336 |
East Bay | $2,570 |
San Diego | $3,016 |
Long Beach | $2,579 |
Sacramento | $1,856 |
San Jose | $3,021 |
Oakland | $2,790 |
Fresno | $1,547 |
Inglewood | $2,570 |
Sunnyvale | $3,063 |
Mountain View | $3,283 |
Palo Alto | $3,402 |
San Mateo | $3,447 |
Fremont | $2,767 |
Menlo Park | $4,231 |
Santa Clara | $3,155 |
Hayward | $2,357 |
Redwood City | $3,447 |
Campbell | $2,791 |
Santa Cruz | $3,372 |
What is the average price for a storage unit in Santa Cruz?
The average rent for a non-climate-controlled 10'x10' storage unit in Santa Cruz is $300.33. Rental costs vary depending on several factors, including unit size and the storage facility's location and amenities.