State FMR profile · HUD FY2026

Fair Market Rents in California

The average 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent across California is $1,647/mo — 72% above the US average.

$1,647
Avg 1BR FMR
58
Counties
26
Metro areas

The verdict

California's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent averages $2,053 — 75% above the US average, the 5th highest of 51 states.

#5
most expensive of 51 states (2BR)
+75%
vs the US 2-bedroom average
$82,120
income to afford it (30% rule)
273%
gap, cheapest→priciest county

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for 58 counties and 26 metro areas in CA. Verify with HUD →

What these rents mean for California

Across California's 58 counties and 26 metro areas, HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rents average $1,513 for a studio, $1,647 for a 1-bedroom, $2,053 for a 2-bedroom, $2,752 for a 3-bedroom, and $3,165 for a 4-bedroom. FMR is set at the county or metro FMR area level — not statewide — so the numbers above are the arithmetic average of every FMR area inside CA, weighted equally. Local housing authorities use each county's or metro's FMR (not the state average) to calibrate Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, typically ranging from 90% to 110% of FMR.

Benchmarked against the rest of the country, California's average 1-bedroom FMR of $1,647 is 72% above the US average of $959. Inside the state, rents are not uniform — the cheapest 1-bedroom FMR is in Modoc County at $883, while the most expensive is in Santa Cruz County at $3,298, a spread of roughly 273% between the lowest- and highest-cost counties. That intra-state dispersion is why urban voucher recipients, families relocating for jobs, and landlords setting Section 8 rents all need to check the specific FMR area rather than rely on a statewide figure.

For affordability, the 30% rule implies a household income of $65,880 per year (about $5,490/month) to afford California's average 1-bedroom at $1,647. The ratio of FMR to local wages determines how many households are rent-burdened. Pair these rent figures with California's rent burden rankings and year-over-year rent growth pages to see which counties are tightening fastest and which remain comparatively affordable.

Where California sits among all 50 states + DC

Average 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. every US state

$2,053 Top 10% higher than 90% of 51 states

$900–$1,000: 11 states (22%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,100: 7 states (14%). Below this entry. $1,100–$1,200: 8 states (16%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,300: 2 states (4%). Below this entry. $1,300–$1,400: 3 states (6%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,500: 8 states (16%). Below this entry. $1,500–$1,600: 3 states (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,700: 1 states (2%). Below this entry. $1,700–$1,800: 1 states (2%). Below this entry. $1,800–$1,900: 1 states (2%). Below this entry. $1,900–$2,000: 1 states (2%). Below this entry. $2,000–$2,100: 1 states (2%). This entry sits in this band. $2,100–$2,200: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $2,300–$2,400: 0 states (0%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,500: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. CA $900 $2,500 every US state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.1K-wide band; taller bars hold more states. 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

State Average vs National Average

Studio
$1,513
+69% vs US avg
1 BR
$1,647
+72% vs US avg
2 BR
$2,053
+75% vs US avg
3 BR
$2,752
+80% vs US avg
4 BR
$3,165
+80% vs US avg

Most expensive counties in California by 1-bedroom FMR

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent — the highest-cost 10 of 58 CA counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Inside CA, 1-bedroom FMR runs from $883 in Modoc County to $3,298 in Santa Cruz County.

Source HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data As of FY2026

Cheapest Counties

Lowest FMR rental costs →

Most Expensive Counties

Highest FMR rental costs →

Rent Burden

% of income spent on rent →

Rent Growth

YoY rent trends by county →

Metro areas in California

Each metro FMR area applies one rent schedule across all its counties, ranked here by 1-bedroom FMR.

# Metro area Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA $3,179$3,298$4,214$5,377$5,659
2 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA $2,459$2,746$3,124$4,075$4,647
3 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA $2,288$2,459$3,001$3,998$4,845
4 Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area $2,142$2,385$2,912$3,724$4,413
5 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA $1,998$2,250$2,693$3,652$4,240
6 Salinas, CA MSA $2,173$2,232$2,684$3,623$3,945
7 San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area $2,205$2,212$2,902$3,944$4,190
8 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA MSA $1,949$2,155$2,827$3,887$4,147
9 Napa, CA MSA $1,912$2,113$2,773$3,532$4,134
10 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area $1,863$2,085$2,601$3,298$3,672
11 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA MSA $1,732$1,914$2,512$3,370$3,861
12 Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area $1,748$1,832$2,255$3,002$3,460
13 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA $1,692$1,777$2,201$2,912$3,514
14 Vallejo, CA MSA $1,567$1,705$2,178$2,911$3,297
15 Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA $1,288$1,395$1,742$2,423$2,922
16 Modesto, CA MSA $1,255$1,356$1,758$2,442$2,823
17 Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area $1,347$1,355$1,664$2,314$2,660
18 Yuba City, CA MSA $1,166$1,272$1,550$2,156$2,600
19 Chico, CA MSA $1,155$1,270$1,625$2,260$2,726
20 Merced, CA MSA $1,116$1,213$1,503$2,067$2,503
21 Redding, CA MSA $1,172$1,212$1,590$2,211$2,667
22 Hanford-Corcoran, CA MSA $1,150$1,157$1,469$2,043$2,451
23 Bakersfield-Delano, CA MSA $1,132$1,140$1,483$2,062$2,488
24 Visalia, CA MSA $1,116$1,123$1,474$2,028$2,393
25 El Centro, CA MSA $939$1,038$1,362$1,845$2,285
26 Madera, CA MSA —————

Counties in California, ranked by rent (58)

All 58 counties with a published FY2026 Fair Market Rent, highest 1-bedroom first.

# County Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Santa Cruz County $3,179$3,298$4,214$5,377$5,659
2 Santa Clara County $2,621$2,982$3,483$4,602$5,010
3 Marin County $2,485$2,977$3,604$4,604$4,772
4 San Francisco County $2,485$2,977$3,604$4,604$4,772
5 San Mateo County $2,485$2,977$3,604$4,604$4,772
6 Orange County $2,682$2,746$3,236$4,393$5,246
7 Santa Barbara County $2,459$2,746$3,124$4,075$4,647
8 San Diego County $2,288$2,459$3,001$3,998$4,845
9 Alameda County $2,142$2,385$2,912$3,724$4,413
10 Contra Costa County $2,142$2,385$2,912$3,724$4,413
11 Ventura County $1,998$2,250$2,693$3,652$4,240
12 Monterey County $2,173$2,232$2,684$3,623$3,945
13 San Benito County $2,205$2,212$2,902$3,944$4,190
14 Sonoma County $1,949$2,155$2,827$3,887$4,147
15 Napa County $1,912$2,113$2,773$3,532$4,134
16 Los Angeles County $1,863$2,085$2,601$3,298$3,672
17 San Luis Obispo County $1,732$1,914$2,512$3,370$3,861
18 El Dorado County $1,748$1,832$2,255$3,002$3,460
19 Placer County $1,748$1,832$2,255$3,002$3,460
20 Sacramento County $1,748$1,832$2,255$3,002$3,460
21 Riverside County $1,692$1,777$2,201$2,912$3,514
22 San Bernardino County $1,692$1,777$2,201$2,912$3,514
23 Solano County $1,567$1,705$2,178$2,911$3,297
24 Yolo County $1,604$1,615$2,104$2,917$3,178
25 Mono County $1,171$1,528$1,675$2,330$2,769
26 Amador County $1,387$1,396$1,698$2,220$2,714
27 San Joaquin County $1,288$1,395$1,742$2,423$2,922
28 Nevada County $1,373$1,382$1,813$2,521$3,041
29 Inyo County $1,058$1,381$1,514$1,940$2,540
30 Stanislaus County $1,255$1,356$1,758$2,442$2,823
31 Fresno County $1,347$1,355$1,664$2,314$2,660
32 Mendocino County $1,269$1,306$1,713$2,382$2,789
33 Sutter County $1,166$1,272$1,550$2,156$2,600
34 Yuba County $1,166$1,272$1,550$2,156$2,600
35 Butte County $1,155$1,270$1,625$2,260$2,726
36 Tuolumne County $1,096$1,257$1,589$2,078$2,666
37 Del Norte County $957$1,222$1,370$1,905$2,277
38 Merced County $1,116$1,213$1,503$2,067$2,503
39 Shasta County $1,172$1,212$1,590$2,211$2,667
40 Humboldt County $1,112$1,186$1,550$2,156$2,600
41 Lake County $1,173$1,181$1,549$2,154$2,599
42 Calaveras County $1,078$1,175$1,542$2,145$2,316
43 Alpine County $1,068$1,165$1,529$2,126$2,527
44 Sierra County $1,068$1,165$1,529$2,126$2,527
45 Kings County $1,150$1,157$1,469$2,043$2,451
46 Mariposa County $1,016$1,148$1,454$2,022$2,439
47 Kern County $1,132$1,140$1,483$2,062$2,488
48 Tulare County $1,116$1,123$1,474$2,028$2,393
49 Plumas County $973$1,075$1,411$1,962$1,995
50 Madera County $1,055$1,062$1,376$1,914$2,275
51 Glenn County $939$1,038$1,362$1,807$2,179
52 Imperial County $939$1,038$1,362$1,845$2,285
53 Tehama County $952$1,038$1,362$1,865$2,285
54 Lassen County $882$1,016$1,279$1,779$2,146
55 Colusa County $989$995$1,306$1,723$1,729
56 Siskiyou County $962$969$1,249$1,737$1,915
57 Trinity County $829$916$1,202$1,636$1,655
58 Modoc County $774$883$1,108$1,434$1,831

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in California? ▼
The average FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in California is $1,647 per month. A 2-bedroom averages $2,053.
How does California rent compare to the national average? ▼
California rents are 72% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here averages $1,647 vs $959 nationally.
Where is the cheapest rent in California? ▼
The most affordable county is Modoc County with a 1-bedroom FMR of $883. The most expensive is Santa Cruz County at $3,298.
What income do I need to afford rent in California? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need at least $65,880/year ($5,490/month) to afford the average 1-bedroom FMR in California.

Explore California rent data

Rent burden → Rent growth → Cheapest counties → Most expensive counties → National rent-burden rankings → Affordability calculator →

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
Data sourced from HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data. See our methodology for details. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rent data (huduser.gov).