Average Rent in Riverside, CA (2026)

Typical asking rent in Riverside is $2,388. Across the 7 ZIP codes with data it runs from $2,342 to $2,945, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of September 2026.

Comparing locations? The California rent guide compares coastal and inland ZIP benchmarks, shows coverage dates and tests rent savings against added travel costs.

Median rent
$2,388
Average rent
$2,516
Lowest ZIP
$2,342
Highest ZIP
$2,945

Rent by ZIP code in Riverside

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
92506Riverside County$2,945+23%
92508Riverside County$2,721+14%
92501Riverside County$2,489+4%
92503Riverside County$2,3880%
92504Riverside County$2,3830%
92507Riverside County$2,346-2%
92505Riverside County$2,342-2%

Rent by bedroom count in Riverside

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 Riverside 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$1,605-5.1%
1 bedroom$1,705-4.1%
2 bedroom$2,103-4.5%
3 bedroom$2,771-4.8%
4 bedroom$3,336-5.1%

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

Is rent going up or down in Riverside?

Typical rent across Riverside County is $2,585 as of September 2026. That is up 2.9% from a year earlier and up 19.0% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Riverside CountyChange
2021$2,234+18.0%
2022$2,373+6.2%
2023$2,434+2.5%
2024$2,502+2.8%
2025$2,527+1.0%
2026 (through September)$2,585+2.3%

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.

Riverside rent questions

What is the average rent in Riverside, CA?
Typical asking rent in Riverside is $2,388 a month as of September 2026, across 7 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $2,342 to $2,945.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Riverside?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Riverside County is $2,103 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,705 and a three bedroom is $2,771. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Riverside?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Riverside County is $2,585 as of September 2026, up 2.9% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Riverside?
ZIP 92505 has the lowest typical asking rent in Riverside at $2,342 a month, compared with $2,388 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Riverside?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Riverside rent of $2,388, that is about $7,164 a month, or $85,968 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. Riverside sits in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area.

Other California cities

Would a rental in Riverside cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Riverside median rent of $2,388 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.