San Diego California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in San Diego, CA (the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos metro area) was $1,758 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in San Diego was $1,773 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 San Diego median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for San Diego rental vacancy rates, San Diego rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in San Diego.
Real Gross Rent in San Diego California (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| California Median Gross Rent | $1,614 | +4.33% | +12.08% |
| San Diego, CA Median Gross Rent | $1,758 | +3.53% | +11.62% |
San Diego, CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,758, real median gross rent in San Diego was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,773, real average gross rent in San Diego was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in San Diego: San Diego CA Median, San Diego CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for San Diego
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
San Diego, CA Median |
San Diego, CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,758 | $1,773 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,698 | $1,737 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,648 | $1,680 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,575 | $1,617 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,514 | $1,574 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,450 | $1,523 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,357 | $1,441 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,333 | $1,416 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,336 | $1,398 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,396 | $1,465 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,395 | $1,469 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,372 | $1,433 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,340 | $1,401 |
San Diego Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for San Diego California was 4.77% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in San Diego California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| San Diego, CA | 4.77% | +0.51% | +0.98% |
Trends in San Diego, CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in San Diego peaked in 2011 at 5.54%. Since then it has fallen by 0.77% to 4.77%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 3.25%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.52%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: San Diego CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for San Diego
| Date | US | California | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.77% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 4.26% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 3.48% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 3.79% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 3.25% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 3.62% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 4.05% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 4.46% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 5.54% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 5.43% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 5.05% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 4.57% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 4.24% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for San Diego, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For San Diego, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 25.12% in 2019 according to the ACS.
San Diego California Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| California | 24.08% | -0.15% | -0.28% |
| San Diego, CA | 25.12% | -0.19% | -0.36% |
Trends in San Diego, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median San Diego household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2016 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 25.48%. Since then it has fallen by 0.36% to 25.12%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: San Diego CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in San Diego California
| Date | US | California | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 25.12% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 25.31% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 25.16% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 25.48% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 25.44% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 24.89% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 25.18% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 24.92% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 24.96% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 25.01% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 24.39% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 22.68% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 22.83% |
Renter Fraction in San Diego California
You can calculate the renter fraction in San Diego in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in San Diego as a fraction of total San Diego households. In 2019 46.17% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
San Diego Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| California | 45.14% | -0.04% | -1.22% |
| San Diego, CA | 46.17% | -0.73% | -1.76% |
Trends in the San Diego, CA Renter Fraction
The San Diego household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 47.97% and is now 1.80% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: San Diego CA, California, US
History of San Diego Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 46.17% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 46.90% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 46.51% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 47.93% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 47.97% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 47.83% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 47.23% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 46.88% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 46.71% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 46.06% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 44.82% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 44.11% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 41.77% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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