Southern California Rents Rise in Most Cities
Landlords raised rents in 35 of 52 Southern California cities in October 2026, according to Apartment List's rent report.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Apartments
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Rents rose in 35 of 52 Southern California cities in October 2026, with the median regional rent up 1.2% for the month. The shift follows an April 2026 period when median rent fell 1.5% and rents rose in only 37% of cities.
Why it matters
The reversal from April's decline shows the regional rental market moving toward higher costs for many Californians, with rent changes varying sharply from city to city. Renters across the state face uneven conditions depending on where they live.
Apartment List's index shows 35 of 52 Southern California cities saw rent increases in October 2026, with the median regional rent up 1.2%. The data does not identify the specific causes behind the monthly shifts.
The players
Apartment List
Apartment List is a national online rental listings platform that publishes monthly rent reports tracking changes across U.S. metropolitan areas.
The details
Apartment List's analysis combines government statistics with its own website listing data to estimate rent changes across 52 Southern California cities. In Orange County, Laguna Niguel saw rents rise 7.2% over the year, with one-bedroom units averaging $2,787, while Monrovia's rents fell 6.5% to $1,669 for one-bedroom homes.
Timeline
April 2026: Rents rose in 37% of Southern California cities, and the median regional rent fell 1.5%.
October 2026: Rents rose in 35 of 52 cities, and the median regional rent increased 1.2%.
Market Pulse
The October 2026 rent increases reverse the April 2026 decline recorded in Apartment List's monthly Southern California rent series, marking a shift in the direction of the regional median. The month-to-month swings in that series show that rent trends in the state's largest housing market can change direction within a few months.
With rents rising in two-thirds of the measured Southern California cities, renters in those areas may face higher monthly housing costs when leases renew. Tenants in cities where rents fell, such as Monrovia and Santa Monica, may have more room to negotiate.
The takeaway
Renters and homebuyers in Southern California should check current rents in their specific city, since regional medians can mask large local differences.
Further reading
For more on how rent trends are shifting across the state, see Apartments in California housing coverage.
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In your area, are rents getting higher or lower than a year ago?
