The average rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in San Diego is $3,056+, while the average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment is $3,857+. Rent rates updated 7 days ago

Studio: $2,595+
Prices trending down
1 Bed: $3,056+
Prices trending down
2 Beds: $3,857+
Prices trending down
3+ Beds: $4,760+
Prices trending down

* Averages are based on the rental prices of properties listed on Apartment List that don’t include fees

Top neighborhoods in San Diego, CA

College East
What's it like to live in College East?
Navy families and SDSU grad students share 1960s courtyard units. Naval Medical Center proximity ensures military discounts but 5AM reveille echoes through thin walls.
Great for
- College Students
- Grad Students
- Academics
- Young Renters
- Remote Workers
Neighborhood vibe
- Mixed-Use
- Peaceful
- Mixed-Use & Commercial
View 148 listings
Western San Diego
What's it like to live in Western San Diego?
Beach proximity without premium pricing makes Western San Diego appealing for coastal enthusiasts on a budget. Neighborhoods like Ocean Beach and Point Loma offer more affordable alternatives to La Jolla while maintaining similar beach access. Many apartments feature ocean breezes reducing air conditioning needs during warm months, while the neighborhood's proximity to both beaches and downtown creates ideal positioning for enjoying all San Diego offers.
Great for
- Families
- Retirees
- Professionals
- Young Renters
- Commuters
Neighborhood vibe
- Mixed-Use
- Peaceful
- Mixed-Use & Commercial
View 113 listings
Mid City
What's it like to live in Mid City?
Authentic diversity thrives in Mid-City San Diego, where global communities have created one of the city's most vibrant culinary scenes along El Cajon Boulevard. The neighborhood offers significantly better rental value than coastal or downtown options while maintaining straightforward access to both through excellent public transportation. As San Diego's original streetcar suburb, Mid-City features distinctive architecture spanning multiple eras, creating character increasingly rare across the city's newer developments dominated by contemporary styling with limited architectural diversity.
Great for
- Families
- Retirees
- Professionals
- Young Renters
- Commuters
Neighborhood vibe
- Mixed-Use
- Peaceful
- Mixed-Use & Commercial
View 70 listings

Find more rentals by

Amenities

Bedrooms

Price

Neighborhoods

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

San Diego Rent Report: February 2026

Welcome to the Apartment List February 2026 Rent Report for San Diego, CA. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $2,262, roughly the same as last month. Prices remain down 1.1% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the San Diego rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the broader San Diego metro area and the nation as a whole.

San Diego Renter Confidence Survey

National study of renter’s satisfaction with their cities and states

Here’s how San Diego ranks on:

Overview of Findings

Apartment List has released San Diego’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.

"San Diego renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "With expensive rents in coastal cities, it comes as no surprise that cost of living is a source of dissatisfaction in San Diego."

Key findings in San Diego include the following:

For bullet formatting use: * (with a space on each side)

San Diego renters gave their city an A- overall.
The highest-rated categories for San Diego were weather (A+), safety and low crime rate and recreational opportunities (which both received an A-).
The areas of concern to San Diego renters are cost of living (D), public transit and jobs and career opportunities (which both received a C+).
Millennial renters are very satisfied (A-), as are renters who are parents (A).
San Diego did relatively well compared to other cities in California, including San Francisco (B+), Los Angeles (C+), and San Jose (C ).
San Diego earned similar scores to other cities like Boston, MA (A), Washington, DC (A-) and Austin, TX (A-).
The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.

Renters say:

"Great bars, restaurants and other businesses to patronize. Love the weather and the proximity to the ocean. Amazing beaches. Also people are very relaxed and friendly here." – Stacy H.
"Love that it’s so close to the beach. Hate that it’s so expensive." – Anon.
"I love how close it is to everything. The weather is always perfect, sunny and 75. There’s nothing I hate about San Diego!" – Callie B.
"I love the weather, nightlife, and opportunities to meet people. Don’t like that the homelessness problem seems to be getting worse." – Bill K.

For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.

View our national survey results.

Renting in San Diego: Tips and local insights

Navigate apartment hunting and city life like a local with our curated articles about San Diego, California.

Data & Rent Estimates
Cost of Living in San Diego, CA [2025]
October 2
Read full story
Apartment Hunting
14 Pros and Cons of Living in San Diego
September 17
Read full story
Apartment Moving
25 Things to Know Before Moving to San Diego [2025]
April 17
Read full story

Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA

Listings

Average rent in San Diego, California

Top neighborhoods in San Diego, CA

College East

What's it like to live in College East?

Great for

Neighborhood vibe

Western San Diego

What's it like to live in Western San Diego?

Great for

Neighborhood vibe

Mid City

What's it like to live in Mid City?

Great for

Neighborhood vibe

Find more rentals by

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much is rent in San Diego, CA?

How much is rent in San Diego, CA?

How can I find a cheap apartment in San Diego, CA?

How can I find a cheap apartment in San Diego, CA?

How can I find a pet-friendly apartment in San Diego, CA?

How can I find a pet-friendly apartment in San Diego, CA?

How much should I pay for rent in San Diego, CA?

How much should I pay for rent in San Diego, CA?

How can I find off-campus housing in San Diego, CA?

How can I find off-campus housing in San Diego, CA?

San Diego Renter Confidence Survey

Here’s how San Diego ranks on:

Overview of Findings

Renting in San Diego: Tips and local insights

Cost of Living in San Diego, CA [2025]

14 Pros and Cons of Living in San Diego

25 Things to Know Before Moving to San Diego [2025]

San Diego Renter Confidence Survey

Here’s how San Diego ranks on:

Overview of Findings

Renting in San Diego: Tips and local insights

Cost of Living in San Diego, CA [2025]

14 Pros and Cons of Living in San Diego

25 Things to Know Before Moving to San Diego [2025]

Listings