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

Last updated July 2023

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

Access comprehensive real estate data and information on Yardi Matrix

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

$3,596

Beach Hill-Neary Lagoon rent is 7% higher than Santa Cruz average

Average Rent	$3,596

$3,448

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

Average Rent	$3,448

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.