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.

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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.

Aerial view of boats and downtown San Diego.

San Diego

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

Learn More: 10 Things the Middle Class Won’t Be Able To Afford in Less Than a Decade

Also See: 20 Best Cities Where You Can Buy a House for Under $100K

Downtown Los Angeles stock photo

Los Angeles

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

Discover More: How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?

San Jose is the economic, cultural and political center of Silicon Valley, and the largest city in Northern California.

San Jose

  • % of population 65+: 13.7%
  • Overall average rent: $2,679
  • 1-bedroom average rent: $2,331
  • 2-bedroom average rent: $2,766
Golden Gate bridge with fog over San Francisco and Sutro Tower over the clouds, California.

San Francisco

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

Fresno

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

Read Next: The Salary Needed To Afford America’s 50 Biggest Cities

The sun rises over the historical landmarks of West Sacramento, California.

Sacramento

  • % of population 65+: 13.8%
  • Overall average rent: $1,643
  • 1-bedroom average rent: $1,347
  • 2-bedroom average rent: $1,702
Long Beach beach house,  Naples - Long Beach, California, Naples Island, patio set, patio furniture, outdoors furniture.

Long Beach

  • % of population 65+: 12.5%
  • Overall average rent: $1,737
  • 1-bedroom average rent: $1,552
  • 2-bedroom average rent: $1,901
Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA.

Oakland

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

Find More: The 30 Safest and Richest US Cities To Live in 2024

Elevated daytime view of the Anaheim, California skyline.

Anaheim

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

Riverside

  • % of population 65+: 11.3%
  • Overall average rent: $1,783
  • 1-bedroom average rent: $1,478
  • 2-bedroom average rent: $1,776
Daytime skyline view of downtown Santa Ana, California, USA.

Santa Ana

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

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A hillside with many houses in Irvine in southern Orange County, California, with mountains in the background.

Irvine

  • % of population 65+: 10.4%
  • Overall average rent: $2,986
  • 1-bedroom average rent: $2,534
  • 2-bedroom average rent: $3,106
Chula Vista is the second-largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fifteenth largest city in the state of California.

Chula Vista

  • % of population 65+: 12.2%
  • Overall average rent: $2,360
  • 1-bedroom average rent: $1,734
  • 2-bedroom average rent: $2,269
Aerial view of a residential neighborhood on a sunny day, Fremont, east San Francisco bay area, California.

Fremont

  • % of population 65+: 13.0%
  • Overall average rent: $2,626
  • 1-bedroom average rent: $2,183
  • 2-bedroom average rent: $2,645
Aerial of tract housing and American suburban development in Southern California at sunset.

Santa Clarita

  • % of population 65+: 12.4%
  • Overall average rent: $2,470
  • 1-bedroom average rent: $2,007
  • 2-bedroom average rent: $2,442
Aerial of tract housing and American suburban development in Southern California at sunset.

Moreno Valley

  • % 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.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What It Costs Retirees To Rent in San Diego and 15 Other California Cities

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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