What It Costs Retirees To Rent in San Diego and 15 Other California Cities

With its lovely beaches, temperate weather and famous cities, California may be known as The Golden State. But it is also known as an extremely expensive state in which to rent an apartment — especially in the large metropolitan areas. Major cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles have average rental rates of over $2,000, while cities such as Irvine have average rental rates of nearly $3,000.

Such expenses can be especially difficult for retirees who live on fixed incomes and budgets.  That’s why California offers a number of rental assistance programs, especially for retirees. Public housing programs offer affordable housing for senior citizens with low incomes, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides benefits for low-income seniors and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) helps homeless and disabled seniors apply for such benefit programs. All of these programs (and more) can assist retirees in affording the rather pricey rental rates for California’s cities.

Here’s what it costs to rent in San Diego and other California cities.

• % of population 65+: 13.8%
• Overall average rent: $2,274
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,938
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,429

• % of population 65+: 13.4%
• Overall average rent: $2,067
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,849
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,357

• % of population 65+: 13.7%
• Overall average rent: $2,679
• 1-bedroom average rent: $2,331
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,766

• % of population 65+: 16.7%
• Overall average rent: $2,620
• 1-bedroom average rent: $2,645
• 2-bedroom average rent: $3,135

• % of population 65+: 11.9%
• Overall average rent: $1,326
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,050
• 2-bedroom average rent: $1,295

• % of population 65+: 13.8%
• Overall average rent: $1,643
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,347
• 2-bedroom average rent: $1,702

• % of population 65+: 12.5%
• Overall average rent: $1,737
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,552
• 2-bedroom average rent: $1,901

• % of population 65+: 14.1%
• Overall average rent: $2,021
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,850
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,220

• % of population 65+: 12.2%
• Overall average rent: $2,271
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,948
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,404

• % of population 65+: 11.3%
• Overall average rent: $1,783
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,478
• 2-bedroom average rent: $1,776

• % of population 65+: 10.6%
• Overall average rent: $2,215
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,942
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,290

• % of population 65+: 10.4%
• Overall average rent: $2,986
• 1-bedroom average rent: $2,534
• 2-bedroom average rent: $3,106

• % of population 65+: 12.2%
• Overall average rent: $2,360
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,734
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,269

• % of population 65+: 13.0%
• Overall average rent: $2,626
• 1-bedroom average rent: $2,183
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,645

• % of population 65+: 12.4%
• Overall average rent: $2,470
• 1-bedroom average rent: $2,007
• 2-bedroom average rent: $2,442

• % of population 65+: 9.4%
• Overall average rent: $1,897
• 1-bedroom average rent: $1,568
• 2-bedroom average rent: $1,784

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the average rental cost of major US cities and the cost of living in those cities. First, GOBankingRates found the 100 most populated cities, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey. For each city, GOBankingRates found total population, total households, population ages 65 and over and household median income, all sourced from the American Community Survey; the cost-of-living indexes, as sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces; the average overall rental cost, one-bedroom rental cost and two-bedroom rental cost, all sourced from ApartmentList; the average cost of a condo or co-op, as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, and the livability index, as sourced from AreaVibes. The cost-of-living indexes and the national average expenditure costs for all residents were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Using the average condo/co-op value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the overall rental cost and expenditure costs, the total cost of living for each city was calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 13, 2024.