Last updated
Average Rent in San Marcos 92078 & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 1 apartment community in San Marcos 92078, San Marcos, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,576/mo
▼ 3.4% from last month
Lowest Available
$2,548/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
1
tracked daily
Units Listed
2
available now
San Marcos 92078 vs San Marcos, CA Average
San Marcos 92078 is cheaper the San Marcos, CA average by $301/mo (10%). The citywide average is $2,877/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in San Marcos 92078?
As of May 2026, the average rent in San Marcos 92078 is $2,576 per month across 1 apartment community and 2 available units. Rents have decreased $108 (3.4%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Barham Villas Apartments starting at $2,548/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $2,576/mo.
Prices range from $2,548 to $2,604 per month. The most common price point is the $2,400 range, where 1 units are currently listed.
San Marcos 92078 Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in San Marcos 92078
Rent Prices by Apartment in San Marcos 92078
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barham Villas Apartments | $2,548/mo | $2,576/mo | 2 | 4.5 |
Google Search Trends for San Marcos 92078 Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in San Marcos 92078
What is the average rent in San Marcos 92078?
Is rent going up or down in San Marcos 92078?
What is the cheapest apartment in San Marcos 92078?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in San Marcos 92078?
How many apartments are available in San Marcos 92078?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Marcos 92078?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$103,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $2,576/mo.
Comfortable income
$124,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,548/mo), you need to earn at least $102,000/year.
Median household income in San Marcos 92078 is $105,286 , about 15% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in San Marcos 92078
Overall prices in San Marcos 92078 runs above the national average by about 11% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 110.7, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by San Marcos 92078's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,576 |
| Utilities | $799 |
| Groceries | $552 |
| Transportation | $1,904 |
| Healthcare | $929 |
| Other goods and services | $1,486 |
| Estimated total | $8,246/mo |
Population
94,078
Median household income
$105,286
Census median rent
$2,191/mo
Rent as % of income
36.0%
Median age
36.8
Mean commute
27 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Explore San Marcos 92078 Apartments
Browse all 1 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.