Highest Rent in California

Top 100 cities ranked by highest rent

Best California Cities

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All Countries  ·  United States  ·  California

Highest Rent - California

1 Topanga $3,501
2 Hillsborough $3,501
3 Danville $3,501
4 Blackhawk $3,501
5 Piedmont $3,501
6 Malibu $3,501
7 Atherton $3,501
8 Coto de Caza $3,501
9 Rolling Hills Estates $3,501
10 Los Altos $3,501
11 Lucas Valley-Marinwood $3,501
12 Rossmoor $3,501
13 Los Altos Hills $3,501
14 Tiburon $3,501
15 Cupertino $3,501
16 Kensington $3,501
17 Westlake Village $3,501
18 Woodside $3,501
19 Camp Pendleton Mainside $3,501
20 Marina del Rey $3,501
21 Montecito $3,501
22 San Marino $3,501
23 Foster City $3,501
24 Jamul $3,501
25 Saratoga $3,501
26 Rancho Palos Verdes $3,501
27 Alamo $3,501
28 Clayton $3,501
29 Manhattan Beach $3,492
30 Corte Madera $3,468
31 Sausalito $3,408
32 Millbrae $3,401
33 Rancho Mission Viejo $3,342
34 Rancho Murieta $3,333
35 Palos Verdes Estates $3,331
36 Ladera Ranch $3,331
37 Palo Alto $3,328
38 Mill Valley $3,313
39 Coronado $3,250
40 East Foothills $3,247
41 Mountain House $3,232
42 Dublin $3,174
43 Rio del Mar $3,172
44 Menlo Park $3,156
45 Oak Park $3,150
46 Newport Beach $3,146
47 Walnut $3,120
48 Moraga $3,119
49 Milpitas $3,112
50 Agoura Hills $3,094
51 Ladera Heights $3,089
52 Pacifica $3,080
53 San Mateo $3,079
54 Calabasas $3,070
55 Sunnyvale $3,065
56 Eastvale $3,065
57 Solana Beach $3,022
58 Pleasanton $3,017
59 French Valley $3,016
60 Hercules $3,003
61 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley $2,990
62 Santa Clara $2,985
63 Los Gatos $2,969
64 Redwood City $2,959
65 El Sobrante CDP (Riverside County) $2,954
66 Camp Pendleton South $2,947
67 Del Aire $2,938
68 Eastern Goleta Valley $2,924
69 San Ramon $2,916
70 Cerritos $2,909
71 Fremont $2,905
72 Discovery Bay $2,897
73 Belmont $2,894
74 Irvine $2,893
75 Dana Point $2,883
76 Strawberry CDP (Marin County) $2,876
77 Woodcrest $2,875
78 Larkspur $2,867
79 Lafayette $2,855
80 Las Flores CDP (Orange County) $2,845
81 La Cañada Flintridge $2,842
82 Rancho Calaveras $2,840
83 Emeryville $2,833
84 South San Francisco $2,833
85 Laguna Niguel $2,819
86 Hermosa Beach $2,812
87 Beverly Hills $2,805
88 San Carlos $2,802
89 Laguna Beach $2,802
90 Temescal Valley $2,794
91 Yorba Linda $2,779
92 Stevenson Ranch $2,777
93 Aliso Viejo $2,774
94 Campbell $2,751
95 San Anselmo $2,750
96 Chino Hills $2,750
97 Lake of the Pines $2,741
98 Pinole $2,738
99 Newark $2,730
100 Encinitas $2,730

Cities with the highest rents in California reflect tight housing markets where demand significantly exceeds supply. Topanga leads with a median rent of $3,501 per month.

High rents are typically found in cities with strong economies, large populations of young professionals, and limited housing supply. These markets often have low vacancy rates and competitive rental processes.

The rent burden in these cities can be significant, with many residents spending more than 30% of their income on housing. This has fueled discussions about rent control, affordable housing development, and tenant protections in many of these communities.

Did You Know?

  • 1. Renters in Topanga pay $3,501/month - that's $42,012 per year on housing alone.
  • 2. The general rule of thumb is that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income - in many of these cities, average earners exceed that threshold.
  • 3. High-rent cities often have rental vacancy rates below 5%, creating intense competition for available units.

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