45 rentals in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to an urban area including part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city, one of the region's largest commercial clusters, with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light manufacturing. The population was 111,918 at the 2020 census.
Costa Mesa features South Coast Plaza, one of the largest shopping centers in the US. Offers thriving arts scene at Segerstrom Center and diverse dining.
Today, Costa Mesa has 45 homes for rent at a median rent of $4,495/mo, typically leasing in about 26 days. Families here choose from 7 schools rated 8 or higher on the Topfind School Score.
Powered by the Topfind School Score
Median Rent
$6,400/mo
↑ 34.7% over the past yearMonths of Rental Inventory
Estimated time to lease all rentals at the current leasing pace
0.1 months of supply
Landlord's MarketWith only 45 active rentals, supply is tight.
What this means for renters
Rental inventory is tight relative to how many homes get leased each month—fewer options, and well-priced units draw competition. Rentals typically lease in ~26 days.
Rental Velocity
How fast rentals are leasing
Rentals are leasing quickly—be prepared to apply fast when you find a good fit. Leasing 75% faster than 6 months ago.
Rental Inventory Distribution
Rentals are being leased quickly—most listings move within 30 days, signaling strong renter demand.
Housing Tenure in Costa Mesa
Renting is more common here than statewide—this market has more rental inventory and transient residents.
39%
Homeowners
61%
Renters
Homeownership is 16.5% lower than the California average (55.5%)
41,628 households (2023)
Affordability Snapshot
Typical rent
$4,495/mo
Median rent
Affordable budget (30%)
$2,752/mo
Based on median income
Median household income
$9,173/mo
Costa Mesa
Typical rent costs about 49% of the median household's income.
The standard recommendation is to spend ≤30% of income on rent.
Income needed to afford typical rent comfortably
$180K/year
Assumes rent ≤30% of income
Median Rent by Bedroom
Rent increases significantly with bedroom count—larger units command premium prices.
Each additional bedroom adds about $1,660.667/mo to rent on average.
Largest increase: 2 → 3 bedrooms (+$2,150/mo)
Rent Reductions
15 listings have reduced their rent
33% of active listings
Average reduction: 10.2% (~$458/mo)
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