Analysis

San Diego, CA Rent Report: Market Rent vs. HUD Fair Market Rent by ZIP

Sep 24, 20263 min read

The median of the 33 tracked ZIP-level rent indices for San Diego is $3,012 a month; the newest ZIP observation is July 2026. This is an unweighted summary of ZIP indices, not a citywide rent estimate. ZIP 92105 has the lowest index at $2,121 and ZIP 92014 the highest at $5,653. Unit mix, observation dates and coverage can differ.

Across San Diego County, typical rent is $2,994 as of August 2026. That is up 2.2% from a year earlier and up 26.1% over five years.

HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in San Diego County is $2,823. HUD marks this area for Small Area FMRs; check the applicable ZIP and housing authority schedule. In 19 of 33 tracked San Diego ZIPs, the two-bedroom HUD reference exceeds the all-size rent index. This comparison does not establish what a voucher tenancy will pay for a particular unit.

This report compares ZIP-level rent indices and bedroom-specific HUD references for San Diego, CA. The tables read our loaded Zillow and HUD data. Neither measure establishes an individual property's market rent or an approved voucher rent.

Market rent and voucher rent by ZIP code in San Diego

Each row is one tracked ZIP code. The last column compares a two-bedroom HUD reference with Zillow's all-size rent index. A positive number is not a matched-unit premium or proof that a voucher tenancy can support more rent. Check bedroom-matched comparable rentals and the authority's adopted schedule separately.

ZIP codeAll-size ZORIZORI monthHUD 2BR referenceHUD 3BR referenceHUD basis / year2BR reference vs ZORI
92014$5,653July 2026$4,170$5,530ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-26.2%
92037$4,147July 2026$3,380$4,480ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-18.5%
92101$2,949July 2026$4,090$5,420ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+38.7%
92102$2,318July 2026$2,700$3,580ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+16.5%
92103$2,733July 2026$3,210$4,260ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+17.5%
92104$2,565July 2026$2,910$3,860ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+13.5%
92105$2,121July 2026$2,290$3,040ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+8.0%
92106$3,158July 2026$2,930$3,880ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-7.2%
92107$2,820July 2026$3,170$4,200ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+12.4%
92108$3,093July 2026$4,120$5,460ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+33.2%
92109$3,364July 2026$3,480$4,610ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+3.4%
92110$2,992July 2026$3,250$4,310ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+8.6%
92111$3,075July 2026$2,820$3,740ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-8.3%
92113$2,336July 2026$2,240$2,970ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-4.1%
92114$2,713July 2026$2,420$3,210ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-10.8%
92115$2,469July 2026$2,650$3,510ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+7.3%
92116$2,486July 2026$2,860$3,790ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+15.0%
92117$2,942July 2026$2,810$3,730ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-4.5%
92119$2,555July 2026$2,940$3,900ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+15.1%
92120$2,748July 2026$3,110$4,120ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+13.2%
92121$4,096July 2026$3,290$4,360ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-19.7%
92122$3,314July 2026$3,700$4,910ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+11.6%
92123$3,183July 2026$3,590$4,760ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+12.8%
92124$3,012July 2026$4,010$5,320ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+33.1%
92126$3,084July 2026$3,480$4,610ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+12.8%
92127$4,005July 2026$3,410$4,520ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-14.9%
92128$3,064July 2026$3,610$4,790ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+17.8%
92129$3,908July 2026$3,090$4,100ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-20.9%
92130$4,353July 2026$4,230$5,610ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-2.8%
92131$3,671July 2026$3,950$5,240ZIP SAFMR / FY2027+7.6%
92139$3,443July 2026$2,730$3,620ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-20.7%
92154$2,997July 2026$2,770$3,670ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-7.6%
92173$2,661July 2026$2,310$3,060ZIP SAFMR / FY2027-13.2%

Market rent is the Zillow Observed Rent Index, which covers all unit sizes. Dates and HUD geography are shown for each row.The percentage compares a bedroom-specific HUD reference with an all-size index; it is not a matched-unit premium, an adopted payment standard or an approved rent. Check bedroom-matched comps, the authority's schedule and utility allowance before underwriting.

For the plain average and the full ZIP list, see average rent in San Diego by ZIP code.

HUD Fair Market Rents for San Diego County

HUD Fair Market Rent is a gross-rent reference that includes tenant-paid utilities. It is not the housing authority's adopted payment standard or an approval for a particular unit. Confirm the applicable schedule, utility allowance and rent-reasonableness review with the administering authority.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$2,192-4.2%
1 bedroom$2,335-5.0%
2 bedroom$2,823-5.9%
3 bedroom$3,743-6.4%
4 bedroom$4,526-6.6%

San Diego County, HUD fiscal year 2027. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. These are the latest figures loaded into RentalCalcs, not an authority's adopted payment standards or a rent approval.

If you have not worked with these numbers before, how Section 8 rent is calculated walks through payment standards, utility allowances and the tenant's share.

How rents in San Diego County have moved

Observation monthAll-home-types ZORIChange from prior row
December 2015$1,730Not available
December 2016$1,819+5.2%
December 2017$1,927+5.9%
December 2018$2,020+4.8%
December 2019$2,096+3.8%
December 2020$2,160+3.0%
December 2021$2,524+16.9%
December 2022$2,765+9.5%
December 2023$2,843+2.8%
December 2024$2,910+2.4%
December 2025$2,946+1.2%
August 2026$2,994+1.6%

San Diego County typical rent, last published month of each year. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (all home types, smoothed and seasonally adjusted), refreshed monthly. A partial-year observation compared with the prior December is not a same-month year-over-year change.

What this means if you own a rental in San Diego

  • Check the local comparison set. The highest tracked ZIP index is 2.7 times the lowest. Check unit type and bedroom-matched comps before using that spread to price a property.
  • Verify the voucher calculation independently. HUD references and all-size ZORI describe different things. Obtain the housing authority's payment standard and utility allowance, then check rent reasonableness for the actual unit. The table cannot determine a voucher premium, turnover rate or collection outcome.
  • Test the deal without future rent increases. County rents are up 2.2% from a year ago. That observation does not establish the increase available on a particular lease. Compare a flat-rent case before choosing a growth assumption.

To test a specific property, run it through the Section 8 rent analyzer, which compares voucher rent and market rent for your ZIP and unit size. The California HUD-to-rent-index comparison provides broader research context; its ratios do not establish property-level premiums.

Where these numbers come from

  • Market rent: the Zillow Observed Rent Index by ZIP code, refreshed monthly. It blends all unit sizes, so compare it with voucher figures as a guide and not as a like for like two bedroom rent.
  • Fair Market Rents and Small Area FMRs: HUD User, published each fiscal year.
  • County rent history: Zillow rent data, last reading of each calendar year.

Confirm the current payment standard, utility allowance and applicable rules with the administering housing authority before underwriting a voucher tenancy. Use matched comparable rentals for the market-rent assumption.

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