San Diego, CA Rental Market Trends
Last updated: October 01, 2025 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in San Diego is $2,954, a 1.93% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,012.
Studio Apartments at $2,168 offer the most budget-friendly option with 507 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 707 square feet for $2,605, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-beedroom units at $3,248 offer 1,032 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,298 sq ft) for $3,954, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in San Diego, CA
Last updated: October 01, 2025
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $2,954 | 878 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $2,168 | 507 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $2,605 | 707 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $3,248 | 1,032 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $3,954 | 1,298 sq. ft. |
What is the average apartment size in San Diego?
The average size for a San Diego, CA apartment is 878 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.
San Diego, CA rent trends
Rental prices in San Diego, CA have decreased by 1.93% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,012 to $2,954.
What's the typical rent budget in San Diego, CA?
The largest share of rentals in San Diego, CA (43%) 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 San Diego, CA?
273,751 or 52% of the households in San Diego, CA are renter-occupied while 248,395 or 48% are owner-occupied.
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 San Diego 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.