County FMR · HUD FY2026

San Diego County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for San Diego County, CA - 156% above the US average.

$2,459
1-bedroom FMR
$3,001
2-bedroom FMR
+5.6%
YoY change
+156%
vs US avg

The verdict

San Diego is the 8th most expensive of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.6% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#8
most expensive of 58 in California (2BR)
+49%
vs the state average
$98,360
income to afford it (30% rule)
+5.6%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (17.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (79.7%); only 4 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby California counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for San Diego County, CA. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Diego County, California is $2,459 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $3,001/mo and a studio is $2,288/mo. This is 156% higher than the national average of $959 and 49% above the California average of $1,647.

Rent increased5.6% from FY 2025 ($2,328), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $98,360/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 3,289,701. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.6%, Census ACS). That's in line with California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.

What these rents mean for San Diego County

The San Diego County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and California's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 156% above the US average of $959 and 49% higher than the California state average of $1,647. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$2,328 in FY 2025 to $2,459 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.6%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $2,459, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $98,360 per year (about $8,197/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $3,001 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 3,289,701 and a county median household income of $102,285, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,513 · US avg: $893
$2,288/mo
↑ 6.7% YoY +51% vs state +156% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,647 · US avg: $959
$2,459/mo
↑ 5.6% YoY +49% vs state +156% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,053 · US avg: $1,175
$3,001/mo
↑ 4.2% YoY +46% vs state +155% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,752 · US avg: $1,525
$3,998/mo
↑ 3.8% YoY +45% vs state +162% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,165 · US avg: $1,756
$4,845/mo
↑ 3.3% YoY +53% vs state +176% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $2,145
$2,288
+$143 (+6.7%)
1 Bedroom $2,328
$2,459
+$131 (+5.6%)
2 Bedroom $2,881
$3,001
+$120 (+4.2%)
3 Bedroom $3,852
$3,998
+$146 (+3.8%)
4 Bedroom $4,690
$4,845
+$155 (+3.3%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$98,360
$8,197/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$120,040
$10,003/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in San Diego County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
26.8%
Affordable
Need $91,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
28.8%
Affordable
Need $98,360/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
35.2%
Burdened
Need $120,040/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
46.9%
Burdened
Need $159,920/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
56.8%
Severe
Need $193,800/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

San Diego County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%35.2%
San Diego County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $102,285 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View California rent burden →

Where San Diego sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$3,001 Top 1% higher than 99% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Below this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Below this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Below this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Below this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Below this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Below this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). This entry sits in this band. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How San Diego compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows San Diego is highlighted. Nearby California counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Clara County ($2,982), Orange County ($2,746), San Diego County (this county) ($2,459), Alameda County ($2,385), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $2,459/mo compares to California salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation CA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $170,910 17.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $140,330 21% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $125,240 23.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $115,400 25.6% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $98,190 30.1% Stretched
Accountants & Auditors $96,360 30.6% Stretched
Electricians $76,540 38.6% Stretched
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $72,960 40.4% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,950 49.2% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $49,640 59.4% Unaffordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,790 61.7% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $45,460 64.9% Unaffordable
Janitors & Cleaners $38,640 76.4% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $37,250 79.2% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $37,010 79.7% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (California) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for San Diego County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for San Diego (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.0% overall, from $1,566 to $2,459. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000$2,200$2,400$2,600 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $2,459
San Diego County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.6% $2,288 $2,459 $3,001
FY 2025 ↑3.6% $2,145 $2,328 $2,881
FY 2024 ↑19.3% $2,062 $2,248 $2,833
FY 2023 ↑8.4% $1,714 $1,885 $2,399
FY 2022 ↑5.9% $1,573 $1,739 $2,232
FY 2021 ↑4.9% $1,478 $1,642 $2,124
FY 2020 $1,404 $1,566 $2,037
Total change (6yr): +57.0%
Annualized: +7.8%/yr
1 BR: $1,566 → $2,459

Part of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area

San Diego County is a central county of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in California

Largest counties by population in California

Los Angeles County
1 BR: $2,085/mo Pop: 9,936,690
Orange County
1 BR: $2,746/mo Pop: 3,175,227
Riverside County
1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 2,429,487
San Bernardino County
1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 2,180,563
Santa Clara County
1 BR: $2,982/mo Pop: 1,916,831
Alameda County
1 BR: $2,385/mo Pop: 1,663,823
Sacramento County
1 BR: $1,832/mo Pop: 1,579,211
Contra Costa County
1 BR: $2,385/mo Pop: 1,162,648
View all counties in California →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in San Diego County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in San Diego County is $2,459 per month. A 2-bedroom is $3,001 and a studio is $2,288.
How does San Diego County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in San Diego County is 156% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $2,459 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in San Diego County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $98,360 ($8,197/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in San Diego County.
Is rent going up or down in San Diego County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in San Diego County increased by 5.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $2,328 to $2,459.
Which jobs can afford rent in San Diego County? ▼
Based on California BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $2,459/mo. 4 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in San Diego County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in San Diego County went from $1,566 in FY 2020 to $2,459 in FY 2026, a total change of +57.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in San Diego County? ▼
In San Diego County, the FY 2026 FMR of $2,459/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for San Diego County? ▼
For San Diego County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($2,459/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat San Diego's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $2,459 implies about $98,360/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
  • See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in San Diego can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.