Navigate apartment hunting and city life like a local with our curated articles about San Diego, California.
Navy families and SDSU grad students share 1960s courtyard units. Naval Medical Center proximity ensures military discounts but 5AM reveille echoes through thin walls.
Beyond the picture-perfect postcards, La Jolla's rental market offers surprising diversity from vintage cottages to luxury high-rises. The Village provides European-style walkability rare in Southern California, where errands become pleasant strolls rather than traffic-clogged drives. Many apartments include outdoor space with ocean views or glimpses between buildings, while sea breezes create natural air conditioning during warmer months. The microclimate stays noticeably cooler than inland neighborhoods, though early summer "May Gray" and "June Gloom" marine layers sometimes persist all day. Parking challenges increase dramatically during summer tourism season, making rentals with dedicated spots worth the premium. When seeking outdoor recreation, the protected cove offers swimming, paddleboarding, and snorkeling literally steps from many residential buildings.
Urban diversity thrives in Central San Diego, where this expansive district includes multiple distinctive neighborhoods each with unique character within minutes of downtown. Rental options range from historic bungalows to modern apartments across varied price points throughout this diverse area. The region offers exceptional access to both Balboa Park cultural institutions and major employers throughout the central city, creating convenient positioning for households seeking urban energy without downtown density or pricing.
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.
National study of renter’s satisfaction with their cities and states
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:
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Renters say:
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.
