Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in California
The typical rent in California is $2,036 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $2,632 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $50.62 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in California
- Typical rent
- $2,036
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 44% more than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $2,632
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,084 to $4,254 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $50.62
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $105,280 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 55%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of California, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
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Studio
Wage: $14.52–$62.12 an hour
Lowest: $755 Highest: $3,230
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $16.46–$65.19 an hour
Lowest: $856 Highest: $3,390
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $20.85–$81.81 an hour
Lowest: $1,084 Highest: $4,254
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $28.87–$106.37 an hour
Lowest: $1,501 Highest: $5,531
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $29.13–$110.54 an hour
Lowest: $1,515 Highest: $5,748
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In California, 55% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
55%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
5,980,523 renter households in California
- Spend half or more of their income 29%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 27%
- Spend less than 30% 45%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in California. Highest fair market rent first.
| Santa Cruz County | $4,254 | $2,264 | $81.81 | 52% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo County | $3,697 | $2,922 | $71.10 | 48% |
| Marin County | $3,697 | $2,668 | $71.10 | 56% |
| San Francisco County | $3,697 | $2,476 | $71.10 | 40% |
| Napa County | $3,375 | $2,237 | $64.90 | 55% |
| Santa Clara County | $3,272 | $2,857 | $62.92 | 45% |
| Santa Barbara County | $3,106 | $2,131 | $59.73 | 58% |
| Orange County | $3,057 | $2,434 | $58.79 | 57% |
| San Benito County | $3,004 | $1,992 | $57.77 | 48% |
| Los Angeles County | $2,964 | $1,954 | $57.00 | 58% |
| San Diego County | $2,823 | $2,246 | $54.29 | 58% |
| Sonoma County | $2,819 | $2,158 | $54.21 | 55% |
| Contra Costa County | $2,805 | $2,375 | $53.94 | 56% |
| Alameda County | $2,805 | $2,357 | $53.94 | 50% |
| San Luis Obispo County | $2,720 | $1,992 | $52.31 | 58% |
| Ventura County | $2,424 | $2,317 | $46.62 | 59% |
| Monterey County | $2,416 | $2,055 | $46.46 | 56% |
| Solano County | $2,342 | $2,163 | $45.04 | 60% |
| Placer County | $2,201 | $2,069 | $42.33 | 58% |
| Sacramento County | $2,201 | $1,790 | $42.33 | 56% |
| El Dorado County | $2,201 | $1,715 | $42.33 | 54% |
| Yolo County | $2,135 | $1,857 | $41.06 | 59% |
| Riverside County | $2,103 | $1,901 | $40.44 | 59% |
| San Bernardino County | $2,103 | $1,801 | $40.44 | 59% |
| San Joaquin County | $2,015 | $1,734 | $38.75 | 54% |
| Mono County | $1,927 | $1,629 | $37.06 | 49% |
| Nevada County | $1,885 | $1,677 | $36.25 | 57% |
| Stanislaus County | $1,803 | $1,623 | $34.67 | 54% |
| Amador County | $1,765 | $1,421 | $33.94 | 46% |
| Fresno County | $1,685 | $1,392 | $32.40 | 56% |
| Mendocino County | $1,683 | $1,317 | $32.37 | 55% |
| Kern County | $1,656 | $1,300 | $31.85 | 56% |
| Lake County | $1,616 | $1,368 | $31.08 | 62% |
| Tuolumne County | $1,603 | $1,302 | $30.83 | 59% |
| Sutter County | $1,600 | $1,439 | $30.77 | 53% |
| Yuba County | $1,600 | $1,311 | $30.77 | 54% |
| Shasta County | $1,581 | $1,317 | $30.40 | 53% |
| Humboldt County | $1,554 | $1,287 | $29.88 | 60% |
| Calaveras County | $1,533 | $1,625 | $29.48 | 59% |
| Alpine County | $1,526 | — | $29.35 | — |
| Sierra County | $1,526 | — | $29.35 | — |
| Merced County | $1,517 | $1,343 | $29.17 | 52% |
| Kings County | $1,512 | $1,331 | $29.08 | 49% |
| Butte County | $1,509 | $1,414 | $29.02 | 60% |
| Mariposa County | $1,486 | $1,305 | $28.58 | 49% |
| Inyo County | $1,465 | $1,189 | $28.17 | 35% |
| Madera County | $1,460 | $1,390 | $28.08 | 57% |
| Tulare County | $1,450 | $1,280 | $27.88 | 50% |
| Plumas County | $1,422 | $1,194 | $27.35 | 45% |
| Del Norte County | $1,406 | $1,233 | $27.04 | 58% |
| Tehama County | $1,361 | $1,184 | $26.17 | 56% |
| Glenn County | $1,361 | $1,120 | $26.17 | 50% |
| Imperial County | $1,347 | $1,056 | $25.90 | 53% |
| Colusa County | $1,344 | $1,157 | $25.85 | 55% |
| Siskiyou County | $1,254 | $1,091 | $24.12 | 58% |
| Lassen County | $1,248 | $1,000 | $24.00 | 43% |
| Trinity County | $1,153 | $1,073 | $22.17 | 34% |
| Modoc County | $1,084 | $836 | $20.85 | 45% |
- Santa Cruz $4,254$81.81
- San Mateo $3,697$71.10
- Marin $3,697$71.10
- San Francisco $3,697$71.10
- Napa $3,375$64.90
- Santa Clara $3,272$62.92
- Santa Barbara $3,106$59.73
- Orange $3,057$58.79
- San Benito $3,004$57.77
- Los Angeles $2,964$57.00
- San Diego $2,823$54.29
- Sonoma $2,819$54.21
- Contra Costa $2,805$53.94
- Alameda $2,805$53.94
- San Luis Obispo $2,720$52.31
- Ventura $2,424$46.62
- Monterey $2,416$46.46
- Solano $2,342$45.04
- Placer $2,201$42.33
- Sacramento $2,201$42.33
- El Dorado $2,201$42.33
- Yolo $2,135$41.06
- Riverside $2,103$40.44
- San Bernardino $2,103$40.44
- San Joaquin $2,015$38.75
- Mono $1,927$37.06
- Nevada $1,885$36.25
- Stanislaus $1,803$34.67
- Amador $1,765$33.94
- Fresno $1,685$32.40
- Mendocino $1,683$32.37
- Kern $1,656$31.85
- Lake $1,616$31.08
- Tuolumne $1,603$30.83
- Sutter $1,600$30.77
- Yuba $1,600$30.77
- Shasta $1,581$30.40
- Humboldt $1,554$29.88
- Calaveras $1,533$29.48
- Alpine $1,526$29.35
- Sierra $1,526$29.35
- Merced $1,517$29.17
- Kings $1,512$29.08
- Butte $1,509$29.02
- Mariposa $1,486$28.58
- Inyo $1,465$28.17
- Madera $1,460$28.08
- Tulare $1,450$27.88
- Plumas $1,422$27.35
- Del Norte $1,406$27.04
- Tehama $1,361$26.17
- Glenn $1,361$26.17
- Imperial $1,347$25.90
- Colusa $1,344$25.85
- Siskiyou $1,254$24.12
- Lassen $1,248$24.00
- Trinity $1,153$22.17
- Modoc $1,084$20.85
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in California
What California law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- How much can they charge for a deposit?
- Up to 1 month of rent
- Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(c)(1), (c)(4)
- When must they return my deposit?
- 21 days
- Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 3 court days
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §1161(2)
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 30 or 60 days, depending on the case
- Cal. Civ. Code §1946.1(b), (c)
- Only a court order can remove youCal. Civ. Code §789.3
- Protection from retaliationCal. Civ. Code §1942.5
- Protection related to immigration statusCal. Civ. Code §1940.3
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in California
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
81 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 57 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies -
Rental assistance programs
Verified at their official source.
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): energy bill help · Limited funds remain, per the source · Verified November 6, 2026
- Los Angeles County Emergency Rent Relief Program · Only in: Los Angeles County · Closed, per the source · Verified November 6, 2026
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in California is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Santa Cruz County ($4,254, about $81.81 an hour) and the cheapest Modoc County ($1,084, about $20.85 an hour).
How many households in California spend too much on rent?
55% of renter households in California spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 29% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In California, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,084 to $4,254 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in California?
96 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in California; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.