San Diego Maintains Position as 10th Most Expensive Rental Market in US
San Diego Maintains Position as 10th Most Expensive Rental Market in US
San Diego continues to rank among the nation's priciest rental markets, securing its position as the 10th most expensive city for renters in January 2025, according to the latest Zumper National Rent Report.The report shows that the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Diego now stands at $2,350, marking a 2.2% increase from the previous month and a modest 0.9% rise compared to the same period last year.
While San Diego's rental market remains expensive, its year-over-year growth has been relatively modest compared to other major California cities. San Francisco, which recently reclaimed its position as the nation's second most expensive rental market, saw a more substantial 7.1% annual increase, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $3,160. Similarly, San Jose experienced an 11% year-over-year increase, with typical one-bedroom units renting for $2,720.
For those seeking two-bedroom apartments in San Diego, the market has remained notably stable, with prices holding steady at $3,150 and showing just a 0.3% increase from the previous year.
Despite its high ranking among expensive rental markets, San Diego's rate of price growth has been considerably more moderate than some other cities. New Haven, Connecticut, for instance, recorded the nation's largest annual rent increase at 33.7%, while cities like Urban Honolulu saw prices surge by 19.4% over the past year.
The data suggests that while San Diego remains one of America's most expensive rental markets, its recent price trends indicate a period of relative stability compared to the more volatile markets in other major metropolitan areas.
It's costs the most to rent an apartment in these US cities: report
(NEXSTAR) – The price of renting an apartment is on the rise, particularly in some major U.S. cities, including San Diego.
This is according to the latest rent report from Zumper, which has found that across the nation, the price for a one-bedroom apartment is up 2.5% since this time last year.
On a city-by-city level, some areas have seen a drastic rise in apartment prices, with New Haven, Connecticut, seeing the largest rise by far with over a 33% rise in price for a one-bedroom apartment.
Not far behind New Haven were two cities in Nebraska, Lincoln and Omaha, where rent prices are up more than 26% and 24% over the past year.
In terms of pure price, New York City remains on top with an apartment costing over $4,280 a month on average—a 5.9% year-over-year rise.
San Francisco finished as the second-most expensive city to rent an apartment, where the price is $3,160 a month, followed by Jersey City at $3,080.
Here is Zumper’s full list of the most expensive cities to rent a one-bedroom apartment:
| Ranking | City | One Bedroom Price | Month-Over-Month Change | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $4,280 | 1.70% | 5.90% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $3,160 | 3.90% | 7.10% |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $3,080 | -5.80% | -4.30% |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $2,830 | -4.10% | -5.70% |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $2,720 | 2.60% | 11.00% |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $2,630 | 0.00% | -2.20% |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $2,520 | 0.80% | 5.40% |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $2,430 | 1.70% | 5.70% |
| 9 | New Haven, CT | $2,380 | 4.40% | 33.70% |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $2,350 | 2.20% | 0.90% |
To see the full list of the most expensive cities for renters, take a look at Zumper’s website.
On the other, less expensive end of the spectrum, several major cities saw rent prices drop to more affordable prices since last year.
The city that saw the largest drop was Durham, North Carolina, which had a 12.8% price drop. Prices there are sitting at $1,290 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Surprisingly, Chicago had the second-largest drop in the U.S. with rental prices down 11.1% since last year.
In terms of affordability based on where you live, one of Texas’ major cities may be the perfect place to move to, according to Redfin.
Redfin’s latest report found that Austin, Houston, and Dallas offer the perfect price for renting an apartment based on what the average person’s salary is. Austin was named the most affordable city for renters in the country based on the median rent in the city being $1,394 and the average renter making more than $69,000 a year.
Here’s how the other Texas cities as well as other cities in the U.S. fared in terms of affordability for renters, according to Redfin:
| Ranking | City | Median Asking Rent | Income Required To Afford Median Asking Rent | Estimated Median Renter Income | % Difference Between Income Required and Estimated Median Renter Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $1,394 | $55,760 | $69,781 | 25.14% |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $1,239 | $49,560 | $58,287 | 17.61% |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $1,460 | $58,400 | $64,417 | 10.30% |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $1,476 | $59,040 | $64,271 | 8.86% |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $1,418 | $56,720 | $61,463 | 8.36% |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $1,695 | $67,800 | $72,803 | 7.38% |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $1,476 | $59,040 | $63,157 | 6.97% |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $2,039 | $81,560 | $86,644 | 6.23% |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $1,600 | $64,000 | $66,745 | 4.29% |
| 10 | Nashville, TN | $1,495 | $59,800 | $61,236 | 2.40% |
To check out more about affordable renting cities, go to Redfin’s website.
Zumper National Rent Report
Notable Trends
- The Zumper National Rent Index kicked off the year with the median one-bedroom rent decreasing 0.3% this month to $1,534, while two-bedrooms inched up 0.1% to $1,907.
- San Francisco reclaimed its previously held position as the second priciest market in the nation this January after nearly two years of ranking behind Jersey City.
- Los Angeles one-bedroom rent hit an all-time high of $2,520, however record supply is slated to come online in this market in 2025.
At the very top, New York City rents for one and two-bedrooms were up on all fronts, both monthly and annually. Though one-bedroom rent in the most expensive market in the nation is down from its peak of $4,500 in the summer and fall months of 2024, the current rate of $4,280 is not a far cry. San Francisco reclaimed its previously held position as the second priciest city, a ranking it has not occupied since spring 2023, while Jersey City dropped down to third. Washington D.C. fell out of the top 10 markets, while New Haven moved up 2 spots to enter the top 10 as the ninth priciest city.
2025 starts off with stable monthly national rates
The Zumper National Rent Index kicked off the year with the median one-bedroom rent decreasing 0.3% this January to $1,534, while two-bedrooms inched up 0.1% to $1,907.
“As we emerge from the slowest renting months, the stability in our national rent prices comes as no surprise,” said Zumper CEO Anthemos Georgiades. “January is when more renters begin planning for their next moves, and we anticipate that our National Rent Index will reflect increasing demand and more upward pressure on rent rates in the months ahead.”
On an annual basis, national rents for one and two-bedroom units have grown 2.5% and 3.2%, respectively, aligning closely with the latest U.S. annual inflation rate of 2.9%—the highest since July 2024. The steady annual growth reflected in the Zumper National Rent Index, coupled with persistent inflationary pressures, indicates that further rate cuts by the Federal Reserve are becoming increasingly uncertain.
To dive deeper into how Zumper’s monthly rent data provides insights to where the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is heading, please go to our blog post here: https://www.zumperrentals.com/blog/zumper-consumer-price-index/
San Francisco dethrones Jersey City to reclaim ranking as the 2nd most expensive city
After overtaking San Francisco as the second most expensive city in the nation in May 2023, Jersey City has relinquished its nearly two-year hold on this ranking as of this month. Jersey City one-bedroom rent experienced a 5.8% monthly decrease to $3,080, and two-bedrooms saw an even larger drop of 6.1%, to settle at $3,550. These stark declines in monthly rents are likely due to the notable amount of new supply that has come online in this city. In 2024, Jersey City ranked as the third highest among markets in the New York metro area for the number of new rentals built. To put this in perspective, Jersey City added twice as many units last year as Queens, despite Queens covering a significantly larger geographic area. Property owners in Jersey City are likely lowering rents in an effort to fill vacancies quickly, especially if they are facing heightened competition due to increased supply.
On the other side of the country, San Francisco saw one-bedroom rent climb 3.9%, settling at $3,160 this January, and up a spot to now rank as the second priciest city overall. While this current price point isn’t San Francisco’s post-pandemic peak—rent was slightly higher during the summer months last year—it’s a strong indicator of the city’s ongoing recovery, supported by other positive trends that signal growing demand. San Francisco’s multifamily apartment vacancy rate dipped to 6.3% in Q3 2024, the lowest rate since Q1 2020. Office leasing activity also saw improvement, with Q3 2024 marking the highest volume since early 2022, likely driven by expansion in the tech sector, particularly in AI. With the growing popularity of hybrid work among employers, as well as many large tech companies enforcing return-to-office policies of up to 5 days a week, many tech workers who may have previously left the Bay Area have likely made their way back. Rent prices in some South Bay markets have experienced even larger annual growth rates than San Francisco’s. For example, while San Francisco saw one-bedroom rent climb 7.1% annually, San Jose rent has jumped 11%.
Los Angeles one-bedroom rent reaches a historic high but record supply slated for 2025
Los Angeles one-bedroom rent hit the $2,500 threshold for the first time ever in November 2024 and has now reached a historic high of $2,520 this January, after a 0.8% monthly increase. Although the recent wildfires have brought on challenges and uncertainty into the rental market, Los Angeles is expected to welcome nearly 19,000 new rental units in 2025—the largest volume of new supply for this city on record. This upcoming inventory should help bring some relief to the tight rental market by offering more opportunities for those seeking housing in the longer term.
Full Data
| 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedrooms | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | Ranking Change | City | Price | M/M% | Y/Y% | Price | M/M% | Y/Y% |
| 1 | 0 | New York, NY | $4,280 | 1.70% | 5.90% | $5,300 | 1.50% | 17.50% |
| 2 | 1 | San Francisco, CA | $3,160 | 3.90% | 7.10% | $4,210 | -0.20% | 7.40% |
| 3 | -1 | Jersey City, NJ | $3,080 | -5.80% | -4.30% | $3,550 | -6.10% | -9.90% |
| 4 | 0 | Boston, MA | $2,830 | -4.10% | -5.70% | $3,470 | -0.90% | -2.50% |
| 5 | 0 | San Jose, CA | $2,720 | 2.60% | 11.00% | $3,390 | 1.20% | 9.70% |
| 6 | 0 | Miami, FL | $2,630 | 0.00% | -2.20% | $3,380 | 2.40% | -4.20% |
| 7 | 0 | Los Angeles, CA | $2,520 | 0.80% | 5.40% | $3,700 | -2.60% | 11.10% |
| 8 | 0 | Arlington, VA | $2,430 | 1.70% | 5.70% | $3,280 | -0.90% | 8.60% |
| 9 | 2 | New Haven, CT | $2,380 | 4.40% | 33.70% | $2,500 | 1.60% | 19.00% |
| 10 | 0 | San Diego, CA | $2,350 | 2.20% | 0.90% | $3,150 | 0.00% | 0.30% |
| 11 | -2 | Washington, DC | $2,300 | -1.30% | 0.40% | $3,070 | -1.00% | 2.30% |
| 12 | 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $2,150 | 2.40% | 19.40% | $2,820 | 6.00% | 7.20% |
| 13 | -1 | Santa Ana, CA | $2,100 | -2.80% | -3.70% | $2,850 | -1.70% | 1.40% |
| 14 | 0 | Anaheim, CA | $2,080 | 1.50% | 3.00% | $2,660 | 0.40% | 3.10% |
| 15 | 2 | Charleston, SC | $2,000 | 4.20% | 0.50% | $2,540 | 4.50% | 2.00% |
| 15 | 1 | Oakland, CA | $2,000 | 0.00% | -2.40% | $2,610 | -1.50% | -3.30% |
| 17 | 2 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $1,970 | 3.70% | -0.50% | $2,990 | 4.50% | 4.20% |
| 18 | -1 | Seattle, WA | $1,940 | 1.00% | 2.10% | $2,740 | 2.20% | 5.40% |
| 19 | -4 | Chicago, IL | $1,930 | -5.40% | -11.10% | $2,460 | -4.30% | -9.60% |
| 20 | 0 | Long Beach, CA | $1,840 | -0.50% | 2.20% | $2,500 | 2.00% | 4.20% |
| 21 | 1 | Scottsdale, AZ | $1,800 | 5.90% | 7.80% | $2,600 | 6.10% | 18.20% |
| 22 | 4 | Newark, NJ | $1,730 | 6.10% | 17.70% | $2,250 | 2.30% | 18.40% |
| 23 | -1 | Denver, CO | $1,710 | 0.60% | -4.50% | $2,310 | 0.90% | -2.50% |
| 24 | 0 | Tampa, FL | $1,650 | -0.60% | 4.40% | $1,830 | -1.10% | -2.10% |
| 24 | 3 | Atlanta, GA | $1,650 | 2.50% | -2.90% | $2,080 | 3.00% | -4.10% |
| 26 | -5 | Providence, RI | $1,640 | -5.70% | 2.50% | $2,000 | -2.00% | -7.00% |
| 27 | 6 | Virginia Beach, VA | $1,600 | 6.00% | 6.70% | $1,800 | 1.10% | 5.90% |
| 27 | 0 | Nashville, TN | $1,600 | -0.60% | -7.50% | $1,800 | 2.90% | -6.30% |
| 29 | 0 | Gilbert, AZ | $1,590 | 0.60% | 5.30% | $1,950 | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| 30 | -5 | St Petersburg, FL | $1,550 | -6.10% | 3.30% | $2,070 | -5.90% | -1.90% |
| 31 | 4 | Henderson, NV | $1,540 | 3.40% | 4.10% | $1,760 | 1.70% | 2.90% |
| 31 | -1 | Sacramento, CA | $1,540 | -0.60% | 0.70% | $1,900 | 0.00% | 0.50% |
| 33 | 0 | New Orleans, LA | $1,530 | 1.30% | 2.00% | $1,750 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 33 | -1 | Philadelphia, PA | $1,530 | 0.70% | 2.00% | $1,760 | 0.60% | 0.60% |
| 35 | -4 | Madison, WI | $1,500 | -2.00% | 8.70% | $1,880 | -2.60% | 2.70% |
| 36 | 2 | Plano, TX | $1,490 | 0.70% | 2.10% | $1,990 | -1.00% | 1.00% |
| 37 | -2 | Orlando, FL | $1,480 | -0.70% | -6.30% | $1,780 | 0.60% | -4.30% |
| 38 | 1 | Austin, TX | $1,470 | 0.70% | -1.30% | $1,880 | 0.00% | -3.60% |
| 39 | 0 | Portland, OR | $1,450 | -0.70% | 0.00% | $1,730 | -3.90% | -4.40% |
| 40 | -1 | Charlotte, NC | $1,440 | -1.40% | -5.90% | $1,740 | 0.60% | -4.40% |
| 41 | 3 | Richmond, VA | $1,430 | 1.40% | 5.90% | $1,620 | -0.60% | 2.50% |
| 41 | -6 | Asheville, NC | $1,430 | -4.00% | 0.70% | $1,750 | -2.20% | -4.90% |
| 43 | -1 | Fresno, CA | $1,420 | 0.00% | 4.40% | $1,620 | -1.80% | 1.30% |
| 44 | -2 | Dallas, TX | $1,410 | -0.70% | 3.70% | $1,980 | 1.50% | 2.60% |
| 45 | 0 | Aurora, CO | $1,400 | 0.00% | 0.00% | $1,800 | 0.00% | -3.70% |
| 46 | 0 | Anchorage, AK | $1,370 | 0.00% | 0.70% | $1,650 | -1.20% | 2.50% |
| 47 | 0 | Knoxville, TN | $1,330 | -1.50% | -2.20% | $1,600 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 48 | 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $1,320 | 0.00% | -5.00% | $1,800 | 0.00% | -10.00% |
| 49 | -1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,300 | -3.00% | 9.20% | $1,570 | -1.90% | 1.30% |
| 49 | 1 | Reno, NV | $1,300 | -0.80% | 3.20% | $1,690 | -2.90% | 3.70% |
| 49 | 7 | Fort Worth, TX | $1,300 | 1.60% | 2.40% | $1,590 | 1.90% | 4.60% |
| 49 | 4 | Boise, ID | $1,300 | 0.00% | 0.80% | $1,490 | 3.50% | 4.90% |
| 49 | 6 | Salt Lake, City, UT | $1,300 | 0.80% | 0.00% | $1,690 | 2.40% | -2.30% |
| 49 | 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $1,300 | 1.60% | -1.50% | $1,550 | 0.60% | -3.10% |
| 55 | -2 | Baltimore, MD | $1,290 | -0.80% | -5.80% | $1,600 | -1.80% | 0.00% |
| 55 | -5 | Durham, NC | $1,290 | -1.50% | -12.80% | $1,530 | -3.80% | -12.10% |
| 57 | 5 | Houston, TX | $1,280 | 2.40% | 4.90% | $1,600 | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| 58 | -8 | Mesa, AZ | $1,270 | -3.10% | 0.00% | $1,550 | -0.60% | 0.00% |
| 59 | -3 | Rochester, NY | $1,260 | -1.60% | 11.50% | $1,500 | -5.10% | 7.90% |
| 59 | 3 | Raleigh, NC | $1,260 | 0.80% | -3.10% | $1,520 | -0.70% | -3.20% |
| 61 | -1 | Irving, TX | $1,250 | -1.60% | 0.00% | $1,630 | -1.20% | 1.90% |
| 61 | -5 | Norfolk, VA | $1,250 | -2.30% | -1.60% | $1,410 | -1.40% | 5.20% |
| 63 | -1 | Chattanooga, TN | $1,210 | -3.20% | 0.00% | $1,400 | 0.00% | -3.40% |
| 64 | 3 | Syracuse, NY | $1,200 | 0.00% | 13.20% | $1,460 | 2.10% | 14.10% |
| 64 | 6 | Buffalo, NY | $1,200 | 2.60% | 11.10% | $1,420 | 6.00% | 13.60% |
| 64 | 1 | Colorado Springs, CO | $1,200 | -0.80% | 9.10% | $1,500 | -1.30% | 3.40% |
| 64 | 3 | Columbus, OH | $1,200 | 0.00% | 8.10% | $1,380 | -0.70% | 3.00% |
| 64 | 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $1,200 | 2.60% | -4.00% | $1,450 | -2.00% | -3.30% |
| 64 | 5 | Jacksonville, FL | $1,200 | 0.80% | -4.80% | $1,420 | 0.00% | -1.40% |
| 64 | -3 | Cleveland, OH | $1,200 | -4.80% | -9.80% | $1,250 | -6.00% | -9.40% |
| 71 | 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $1,160 | 2.70% | 9.40% | $1,400 | 0.70% | 12.00% |
| 72 | 0 | Omaha, NE | $1,140 | -0.90% | 23.90% | $1,470 | -0.70% | 13.10% |
| 72 | 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $1,140 | 3.60% | 8.60% | $1,460 | 0.70% | 8.10% |
| 72 | -7 | Glendale, AZ | $1,140 | -5.80% | -5.00% | $1,440 | -3.40% | 0.70% |
| 75 | 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $1,110 | 5.70% | 16.80% | $1,440 | 2.90% | 6.70% |
| 75 | -1 | Kansas City, MO | $1,110 | -0.90% | 1.80% | $1,350 | 3.80% | 2.30% |
| 77 | -2 | Louisville, KY | $1,090 | -1.80% | 3.80% | $1,210 | -3.20% | 0.80% |
| 78 | 1 | Memphis, TN | $1,070 | -0.90% | 18.90% | $1,160 | 0.90% | 14.90% |
| 78 | 1 | Arlington, TX | $1,070 | -0.90% | -2.70% | $1,440 | -1.40% | -0.70% |
| 80 | 4 | Tallahassee, FL | $1,060 | 1.90% | 6.00% | $1,300 | 0.80% | 4.00% |
| 80 | 1 | San Antonio, TX | $1,060 | 0.00% | -1.90% | $1,350 | 1.50% | 0.00% |
| 82 | -6 | Baton Rouge, LA | $1,050 | -4.50% | 8.20% | $1,140 | -5.80% | 4.60% |
| 82 | 0 | Spokane, WA | $1,050 | 0.00% | 1.00% | $1,350 | 1.50% | 6.30% |
| 82 | -6 | Detroit, MI | $1,050 | -4.50% | -4.50% | $1,170 | -2.50% | 1.70% |
| 85 | 2 | Des Moines, IA | $1,020 | 2.00% | 5.20% | $1,190 | -0.80% | -0.80% |
| 86 | 0 | Lincoln, NE | $1,000 | -1.00% | 26.60% | $1,270 | -1.60% | 24.50% |
| 86 | 1 | Lexington, KY | $1,000 | 0.00% | 8.70% | $1,320 | -2.20% | 10.00% |
| 86 | -1 | Milwaukee, WI | $1,000 | -2.00% | -10.70% | $1,160 | 0.90% | -0.90% |
| 89 | 0 | St Louis, MO | $990 | 0.00% | 12.50% | $1,320 | -2.20% | 6.50% |
| 90 | -1 | Greensboro, NC | $980 | -1.00% | -1.00% | $1,200 | 0.00% | 4.30% |
| 91 | 0 | Augusta, GA | $970 | -1.00% | 15.50% | $1,240 | 0.80% | 31.90% |
| 92 | 0 | Winston Salem, NC | $950 | 0.00% | 8.00% | $1,110 | -1.80% | 2.80% |
| 92 | 3 | Tulsa, OK | $950 | 5.60% | 1.10% | $1,200 | 0.80% | 11.10% |
| 94 | 0 | Albuquerque, NM | $920 | -1.10% | -3.20% | $1,230 | -0.80% | -3.10% |
| 95 | 0 | Oklahoma City, OK | $900 | 0.00% | 5.90% | $1,110 | 0.90% | 5.70% |
| 95 | 0 | Tucson, AZ | $900 | 0.00% | 0.00% | $1,250 | 1.60% | -0.80% |
| 97 | -4 | El Paso, TX | $880 | -6.40% | 8.60% | $1,200 | -2.40% | 9.10% |
| 98 | 0 | Shreveport, LA | $800 | -1.20% | 3.90% | $860 | -1.10% | 0.00% |
| 99 | 0 | Akron, OH | $780 | 4.00% | 2.60% | $930 | 0.00% | 3.30% |
| 100 | -1 | Wichita, KS | $750 | 0.00% | 17.20% | $910 | 0.00% | 7.10% |
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