Last updated
Average Rent in Tri-City & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 3 apartment communities in Tri-City, Vista, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,780/mo
▼ 1.6% from last month
Lowest Available
$2,374/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
3
tracked daily
Units Listed
17
available now
Tri-City vs Vista, CA Average
Tri-City is cheaper the Vista, CA average by $116/mo (4%). The citywide average is $2,896/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Tri-City?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Tri-City is $2,780 per month across 3 apartment communities and 17 available units. Rents have decreased $44 (1.6%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Sunterra starting at $2,374/mo. By unit type, a 2-bedroom averages $2,780/mo.
Prices range from $2,374 to $3,018 per month. The most common price point is the $2,600 range, where 7 units are currently listed.
Tri-City Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Tri-City
Rent Prices by Apartment in Tri-City
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunterra | $2,374/mo | $2,447/mo | 2 | 3 |
| Waterleaf Apartment Homes | $2,620/mo | $2,820/mo | 14 | 3.8 |
| Carlsbad View | $2,895/mo | $2,895/mo | 1 | 3.7 |
Google Search Trends for Tri-City Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Tri-City
What is the average rent in Tri-City?
Is rent going up or down in Tri-City?
What is the cheapest apartment in Tri-City?
How many apartments are available in Tri-City?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Tri-City?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$111,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $2,780/mo.
Comfortable income
$133,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,374/mo), you need to earn at least $95,000/year.
Median household income in Tri-City is $91,854 , about 31% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Tri-City
Overall prices in Tri-City 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 Tri-City's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,780 |
| Utilities | $799 |
| Groceries | $552 |
| Transportation | $1,904 |
| Healthcare | $929 |
| Other goods and services | $1,486 |
| Estimated total | $8,450/mo |
Population
98,646
Median household income
$91,854
Census median rent
$2,148/mo
Rent as % of income
33.2%
Median age
34.9
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 Tri-City Apartments
Browse all 3 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.