437 rentals in San Diego
Rental Listings in San Diego, CA
About San Diego, CA Real Estate
San Diego is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. It is the eighth-most populous city in the U.S. and second-most populous city in California with a population of over 1.4 million, while the San Diego metropolitan area with over 3.3 million residents is the 18th-largest metropolitan area in the country. San Diego is the county seat of San Diego County. It is known for its mild Mediterranean climate, extensive beaches and parks, long association with the United States Navy, and recent emergence as a wireless, electronics, healthcare, and biotechnology development center.
San Diego is California's second-largest city, known for its year-round mild climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches, and laid-back coastal lifestyle. Home to a thriving biotech industry, major military installations, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Today, San Diego has 439 homes for rent at a median rent of $4,000/mo, typically leasing in about 56 days. Families here choose from 116 schools rated 8 or higher on the Topfind School Score.
Top Rated Schools in San Diego
Powered by the Topfind School Score
- 10Adobe Bluffs Elementaryelementary
- 10Ashley Falls Elementaryelementary
- 10Barnard Elementaryelementary
- 10Benchley/Weinberger Elementaryelementary
- 10Birney Elementaryelementary
- 10Canyon Crest Academyhigh school
Why Live in San Diego?
- 70 miles of stunning Pacific coastline
- Thriving biotech and healthcare industry
- Top-ranked public and private schools
- World-class craft beer scene with 150+ breweries
Popular Neighborhoods in San Diego
San Diego Rental Pulse
Topfind Market Read
The picture is mixed here. Rents are up 11% over the last six months and 13% over the past year, yet 6.4 months of supply is more than current demand absorbs, and the typical rental takes about 56 days to lease, so neither side holds a clear advantage. Renters can take time to compare options, while well-priced units still lease at a steady clip.
Median Rent
$4,000/mo
↑ 13% over the past yearChart shows the median closed lease rate by month
Months of Rental Inventory
Estimated time to lease all rentals at the current leasing pace
6.4 months of supply
Ample Supply439 active rentals, plenty of options to choose from.
What this means for renters
There are more rentals available than recent leasing absorbs, so renters have plenty of options and stronger footing to negotiate rent and terms. Rentals typically lease in ~56 days.
Rental Velocity
How fast rentals are leasing
Rentals take longer to lease here than in a balanced market, so renters have more time to compare options and negotiate. The trend is moving the other way though, with leasing times down 53% over the last six months.
Rental Inventory Distribution
Most current rental listings are under 30 days old, so the mix skews toward fresh inventory.
Housing Tenure in San Diego
Renting is more common here than statewide, so this market has more rental inventory and shorter-term residents.
48%
Homeowners
52%
Renters
Homeownership is 7.5 points lower than the California average (55.5%)
522,146 households (2023)
Affordability Snapshot
Typical rent
$4,000/mo
Median rent
Affordable budget (30%)
$2,608/mo
Based on median income
Median household income
$8,693/mo
San Diego
Typical rent costs about 46% of the median household's income.
The standard recommendation is to spend ≤30% of income on rent.
Income needed to afford typical rent comfortably
$160K/year
Assumes rent ≤30% of income
Median Rent by Bedroom
Rent increases significantly with bedroom count, with larger units commanding premium prices.
Each additional bedroom adds about $1,839/mo to rent on average.
Largest increase: 3 → 4 bedrooms (+$2,298/mo)
Rent Reductions
113 listings have reduced their rent
26% of active listings
Average reduction: 12.2% (~$488/mo)
Have questions about San Diego?
Connect with a local specialist