Average Rent in San Mateo, CA
9 apartment buildings, 47 units. Real asking prices, refreshed daily.
Avg Rent
$4,057/mo
Cheapest
$2,639/mo
Properties
9
Units
47
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 9 properties in San Mateo, CA.
Average Rent by Property
Starting Price vs Average
Rent by Bedroom Count
Price per Square Foot
San Mateo, CA Rent Prices
All 9 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Sofi Belmont Hills
2515 Carlmont Dr, Belmont, CA 94002, USA
Belmont Glen Residences
200 Davey Glen Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA
SC Properties
311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
55 West Fifth Apartments
55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
One Hundred Grand Apartments
551 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
Artisan Crossing
1325 Old County Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA
Park Place at San Mateo Apartments
1101 Park Pl, San Mateo, CA 94403, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofi Belmont Hills 2515 Carlmont Dr, Belmont, CA 94002, USA | $2,639 | $3,030 | $5.51 | 4.1 (72) | 10 |
| 2 | Belmont Glen Residences 200 Davey Glen Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA | $2,785 | $2,785 | $5.99 | 4.4 (46) | 1 |
| 3 | SC Properties 311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA | $2,900 | $3,298 | $3.51 | 2.9 (25) | 3 |
| 4 | 55 West Fifth Apartments 55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA | $3,529 | $4,420 | $4.38 | 3.7 (96) | 5 |
| 5 | One Hundred Grand Apartments 551 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404, USA | $3,777 | $4,725 | $4.51 | 3.1 (60) | 4 |
| 6 | Artisan Crossing 1325 Old County Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA | $3,822 | $4,622 | $5.69 | 4.4 (38) | 7 |
| 7 | Park Place at San Mateo Apartments 1101 Park Pl, San Mateo, CA 94403, USA | $3,853 | $4,372 | $5.60 | 4.4 (538) | 17 |
Explore Each Property
Sofi Belmont Hills
4.1 (72)2515 Carlmont Dr, Belmont, CA 94002, USA
Belmont Glen Residences
4.4 (46)200 Davey Glen Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA
SC Properties
2.9 (25)311 S Ellsworth Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
55 West Fifth Apartments
3.7 (96)55 W 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
One Hundred Grand Apartments
3.1 (60)551 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
Artisan Crossing
4.4 (38)1325 Old County Rd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA
San Mateo, CA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,057 per month, based on 47 units across 9 apartment communities. Prices range from $2,639 at Sofi Belmont Hills to $3,853 at Park Place at San Mateo Apartments.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,814/mo | $2,639/mo | 6 |
| 1 Bed | $3,795/mo | $3,192/mo | 25 |
| 2 Bed | $4,795/mo | $2,900/mo | 15 |
| 3 Bed | $6,970/mo | $6,970/mo | 1 |
Every price comes directly from each property's leasing system, updated that morning. Request a neighborhood we don't cover and we add it within 24 hours.
Market Context
Who rents in San Mateo, CA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in San Mateo, CA averages $3,795/mo, with two-bedroom units averaging $4,795/mo. At the local median household income of $152,669, that works out to 32% of gross income, above the 30 percent affordability ceiling, a stretched-budget market.
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2023 release pegged median gross rent in San Mateo, CA at $3,079/mo. The current tracked market average runs 32% higher than that benchmark, reflecting both two to three years of rent growth and the fact that the Census figure covers all renter-occupied housing in San Mateo, CA while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Mateo, CA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$162,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $4,057/mo.
Comfortable income
$195,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,639/mo), you need to earn at least $106,000/year.
Median household income in San Mateo, CA is $152,669 , about 22% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in San Mateo, CA
Overall prices in San Mateo, CA runs above the national average by about 18% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 117.6, 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 Mateo, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $4,057 |
| Utilities | $861 |
| Groceries | $622 |
| Transportation | $2,051 |
| Healthcare | $1,001 |
| Other goods and services | $1,601 |
| Estimated total | $10,193/mo |
Population
103,555
Median household income
$152,669
Census median rent
$3,079/mo
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Median age
38.0
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.
Compare
Nearby cities in California
How San Mateo, CA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs San Mateo, CA | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,872 | -29% | 46 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,210 | -21% | 25 |
| Sacramento, CA | $2,284 | -44% | 25 |
| Riverside, CA | $2,536 | -37% | 25 |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,749 | -32% | 22 |
| Oakland, CA | $3,349 | -17% | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Mateo, CA?
The average rent in San Mateo, CA is $4,057 per month, based on 47 units across 9 apartment buildings tracked by Average Rent. Prices are updated every morning through our proprietary data sourcing.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in San Mateo, CA?
The lowest available rent in San Mateo, CA starts at $2,639 per month. Availability changes daily as leasing data is refreshed each morning.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA?
1-bedroom apartments in San Mateo, CA average $3,795/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $3,192/mo across 25 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA?
2-bedroom apartments in San Mateo, CA average $4,795/mo. Units start from $2,900/mo across 15 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in San Mateo, CA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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