Average Rent in Novato, CA (2026)

Typical asking rent in Novato is $3,882. Across the 3 ZIP codes with data it runs from $3,821 to $4,165, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of July 2026.

Median rent
$3,882
Average rent
$3,956
Lowest ZIP
$3,821
Highest ZIP
$4,165

Rent by ZIP code in Novato

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
94945Marin County$4,165+7%
94949Marin County$3,8820%
94947Marin County$3,821-2%

Rent by bedroom count in Novato

Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Marin County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$2,574+3.6%
1 bedroom$3,003+0.9%
2 bedroom$3,697+2.6%
3 bedroom$4,832+5.0%
4 bedroom$5,439+14.0%

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.

Is rent going up or down in Novato?

Typical rent across Marin County is $3,880 as of August 2026. That is up 7.6% from a year earlier and up 22.5% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Marin CountyChange
2021$3,259+7.8%
2022$3,360+3.1%
2023$3,458+2.9%
2024$3,547+2.6%
2025$3,666+3.4%
2026 (through August)$3,880+5.9%

Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.

Novato rent questions

What is the average rent in Novato, CA?
Typical asking rent in Novato is $3,882 a month as of July 2026, across 3 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $3,821 to $4,165.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Novato?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Marin County is $3,697 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $3,003 and a three bedroom is $4,832. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Novato?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Marin County is $3,880 as of August 2026, up 7.6% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Novato?
ZIP 94947 has the lowest typical asking rent in Novato at $3,821 a month, compared with $3,882 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Novato?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Novato rent of $3,882, that is about $11,646 a month, or $139,752 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.

How to use these numbers

These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.

If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Novato sits in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA metro area.

Other California cities

Would a rental in Novato cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Novato median rent of $3,882 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.