Rent in Santa Cruz, CA at a glance
2-bedroom rent (HUD)
$4,214$50,568 a year · HUD fiscal year 2026From October 1, 2026: $4,254 (+0.9%)How much rent can you afford in Santa Cruz, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
Rent in Santa Cruz, CA by bedroom, and the pay it takes
Income needed keeps rent at 30% of gross pay; the hourly figure assumes one full-time job, 2,080 hours a year.
| Size | A month | A year | Income needed | Hourly wage needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,179 | $38,148 | $127,160 | $61.13/hr |
| 1 bedroom | $3,298 | $39,576 | $131,920 | $63.42/hr |
| 2 bedroomsMost searched | $4,214 | $50,568 | $168,560 | $81.04/hr |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,377 | $64,524 | $215,080 | $103.40/hr |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,659 | $67,908 | $226,360 | $108.83/hr |
Cost of living in Santa Cruz, CA: income, prices and a budget →
Living and working in Santa Cruz, CA
Rent in Santa Cruz, CA: common questions
How much is rent going up in Santa Cruz, CA in 2027?
HUD's Fair Market Rent for fiscal 2027, which takes effect October 1, 2026, is $4,254 for a two-bedroom, up 0.9% from $4,214. A one-bedroom goes from $3,298 to $3,390, a studio from $3,179 to $3,230.
These are HUD's estimates of what a typical recently rented unit costs, used for housing vouchers. A landlord's increase on your lease follows your lease and your state's rules, not this figure.
What is the average rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026 is $3,298 for a one-bedroom and $4,214 for a two-bedroom, utilities included. That is $50,568 a year for the two-bedroom.
It is not an average of current listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so asking rents on newer places usually run higher.
How much do you need to make to afford rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
To keep a $4,214 two-bedroom at 30% of gross pay, one full-time worker needs $81.04 an hour, or $168,560 a year. A one-bedroom at $3,298 takes $63.42 an hour.
How much is a 1, 2 or 3-bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz, CA?
At HUD's 2026 Fair Market Rent: studio $3,179, one bedroom $3,298, two $4,214, three $5,377 and four $5,659 a month.
Is rent affordable in Santa Cruz, CA?
For the typical household, earning $115,475 a year ($9,623 a month, Census ACS), a two-bedroom at $4,214 takes 43.8% of income. Under 30% is the usual line for affordable; this is over it.
How is the income needed for rent worked out?
Rent for a year divided by 0.30, the share of gross income HUD treats as affordable: ($4,214 × 12) ÷ 0.30 = $168,560. Divided by 2,080 working hours, that is $81.04 an hour.