Average Rent in California (2026)
The average 1-bedroom fair market rent in California is $1,845/month as of 2026, covering 1237 cities and 2,405 ZIP codes. Rents statewide have changed -0.1% year over year, so an increase above 0.1% exceeds the statewide trend. Data source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.
Average 1-Bedroom Fair Market Rent
$1,845/mo
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent FY2026 · 2,405 zip codes
Year-over-Year
↓ -0.1%
Source: Apartment List
Includes all regions. Los Angeles average: $2,135/mo →
Data through
The average 1-bedroom rent in California is $1,845/month according to HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data, covering 1237 cities and 2,405 ZIP codes. Rents have decreased 0.1% year-over-year. The average 1-bedroom rent in California is 54% above the national average of $1,196/month.
Key Facts
How much is rent in California?
The average 1-bedroom rent in California is $1,845/month as of 2026, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data across 1237 cities and 2,405 ZIP codes. Rents statewide have changed -0.1% year over year. Rents vary widely by city — see the table below for a breakdown.
What is a fair rent increase in California?
Based on market data, a rent increase around 0.1% is broadly in line with the California statewide trend for 2026. Increases above this level exceed the statewide average, though local conditions vary significantly. Check city and ZIP-level pages for your specific area.
Rent by City in California
| City | 1-BR Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $2,135 |
| San Diego | $2,621 |
| San Jose | $2,976 |
| Santa Ana | $2,735 |
| Riverside | $1,826 |
| San Francisco | $2,974 |
| Sacramento | $1,847 |
| Fresno | $1,393 |
| Oakland | $2,370 |
| Oxnard | $2,215 |
| Bakersfield | $1,223 |
| Stockton | $1,435 |
| Santa Rosa | $2,161 |
| Santa Maria | $2,738 |
| San Luis Obispo | $1,993 |
| Visalia | $1,251 |
| Modesto | $1,390 |
| Salinas | $2,380 |
| Anaheim | $2,869 |
| Long Beach | $2,256 |
Showing top 20 of 1237 cities.
Sorted by number of zip codes. Source: HUD SAFMR FY2026.
Questions about rent in California
What is the average 1-bedroom rent in California?
The average 1-bedroom fair market rent in California is $1,845/month as of 2026, based on statewide coverage across 1237 cities and 2,405 ZIP codes. This is 54% above the national average of $1,196/month.
What is a fair rent increase in California?
A rent increase up to about 0.1% is roughly in line with the recent statewide trend in California. A larger increase is above trend and should be checked against local city and ZIP data. The statewide average 1-BR rent is $1,845/month — your specific city may differ significantly.
Are rents going up or down in California?
Statewide rents in California have decreased 0.1% year over year based on the trend shown on this page. This is based on Apartment List data covering multiple cities and ZIP codes across the state.
How broad is the rent coverage in California?
This page summarizes rent benchmarks across 1237 cities and 2,405 ZIP codes in California, giving a broad statewide view before drilling down into city and ZIP-level pages. Data is sourced from HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents (FY2026) and supplemented with Apartment List trend data where available.
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Renter Tools
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Renter Guides
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Market data updated monthly from public and third-party sources. Actual rents vary by unit, building, and lease terms. For informational purposes only — not legal or financial advice. See methodology →