Biggest Rent Increases in California — FY2026

Metro areas where the 2-bedroom FMR rose the most year-over-year in California. Largest year-over-year 2BR increase first, based on official HUD data. · View national rankings →

Most Expensive Metros for Rent Least Expensive Metros for Rent Biggest Rent Increases Highest Income Limits
# Metro Area State FY2025 2BR FY2026 2BR Change
1 Napa, CA MSA CA $2,792 $3,315 +$523 (+18.7%)
2 Modesto, CA MSA CA $1,566 $1,758 +$192 (+12.3%)
3 Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA HUD Metro FMR Area CA $2,903 $3,236 +$333 (+11.5%)
4 Chico, CA MSA CA $1,466 $1,625 +$159 (+10.8%)
5 San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area CA $2,623 $2,902 +$279 (+10.6%)
6 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area CA $2,625 $2,903 +$278 (+10.6%)
7 Fresno, CA MSA CA $1,505 $1,664 +$159 (+10.6%)
8 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA MSA CA $2,434 $2,671 +$237 (+9.7%)
9 San Francisco, CA HUD Metro FMR Area CA $3,318 $3,604 +$286 (+8.6%)
10 Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area CA $2,682 $2,912 +$230 (+8.6%)
11 Bakersfield, CA MSA CA $1,380 $1,483 +$103 (+7.5%)
12 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA CA $2,569 $2,693 +$124 (+4.8%)
13 San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA CA $2,881 $3,001 +$120 (+4.2%)
14 Santa Rosa, CA MSA CA $2,740 $2,827 +$87 (+3.2%)
15 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA CA $3,028 $3,124 +$96 (+3.2%)
16 Visalia-Porterville, CA MSA CA $1,429 $1,474 +$45 (+3.1%)
17 Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area CA $2,206 $2,255 +$49 (+2.2%)
18 Yuba City, CA MSA CA $1,522 $1,550 +$28 (+1.8%)
19 Hanford-Corcoran, CA MSA CA $1,445 $1,469 +$24 (+1.7%)
20 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA HUD Metro FMR Area CA $3,446 $3,483 +$37 (+1.1%)
21 Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA CA $1,736 $1,742 +$6 (+0.3%)
22 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA CA $4,223 $4,214 +$-9 (+-0.2%)
23 Merced, CA MSA CA $1,509 $1,503 +$-6 (+-0.4%)
24 Yolo, CA HUD Metro FMR Area CA $2,116 $2,104 +$-12 (+-0.6%)
25 El Centro, CA MSA CA $1,371 $1,362 +$-9 (+-0.7%)
26 Redding, CA MSA CA $1,613 $1,590 +$-23 (+-1.4%)
27 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA CA $2,306 $2,201 +$-105 (+-4.6%)
28 Salinas, CA MSA CA $2,982 $2,684 +$-298 (+-10%)
29 Vallejo-Fairfield, CA MSA CA $2,420 $2,178 +$-242 (+-10%)