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Compass
540 South Coast Highway, Ste 202 Laguna Beach, CA 92651
CA DRE# 01429647 -
Alcove Collective
As of mid-2026, the median home sale price in Laguna Beach, CA sits around $3,100,000. That number alone tells you a lot about why renting is the primary path to living near the ocean here. With homes spending a median of 77 days on the market and only about 35 homes sold recently, the purchase side of the Laguna Beach housing market is both expensive and slow-moving - and that pressure flows directly into rental demand.
Rental prices span a wide range depending on property type, proximity to the water, and which neighborhood you're targeting. A small coastal studio and a large single-family home are practically different markets. The data also shows clear differences between inland neighborhoods and oceanfront communities, so knowing current rates by unit size and location will save you from budgeting against the wrong number.
The first thing to understand is that no two platforms agree on what "average rent" means here, and the gap between them is substantial. Apartments.com recently reported an average around $2,923 per month. RentHop tracks closer to $5,200. Redfin data from late 2025 placed the median rent at $3,919. Older data from Zillow Rental Manager showed medians as high as $8,500 back in 2022.
That's a wide spread, and it's not a data error - it's a small-market problem. Laguna Beach doesn't have hundreds of identical apartment complexes averaging out the numbers. A handful of multi-million dollar seasonal leases can easily pull these figures upward, so treat any single platform's number as one data point, not the whole picture.
Renting here costs noticeably more than the broader California average. Laguna Beach is a premium coastal market in Orange County, not a mid-sized inland city, and the pricing reflects that.
The limited housing supply keeps rates elevated. With only about 162 homes currently available for sale, buyers who can't or won't purchase at these prices move into the rental pool instead - and that sustained demand is part of what keeps monthly rents where they are.
The number of bedrooms is the single biggest driver of what you'll pay each month. Studio and one-bedroom units offer the lowest entry point; large single-family homes are in a different category entirely. Because housing here ranges from older downtown apartments to custom hillside builds, the spread between unit sizes is wide. Review rates by bedroom count before you start touring.
A one-bedroom in Laguna Beach typically starts just under $3,000 per month. ApartmentFinder reports average rates around $2,983, while Apartments.com shows estimates closer to $2,826. Other platforms run higher - Rentable.co places one-bedroom units at roughly $3,290, and RentHop lists them around $3,700. If you're working with a tighter budget, one-bedroom units are where you'll find the most accessible entry point in this market.
Two-bedroom units generally land between $3,700 and $6,000 per month. Apartments.com lists them at approximately $3,706, and ApartmentFinder shows a slightly higher average of $4,034. Move into ocean-view or luxury territory and the numbers climb further - Rent.com reports an average of $5,400, while RentHop tracks two-bedroom rentals closer to $5,988.
This is where the range gets serious. Apartments.com and ApartmentFinder cite starting averages around $3,919 to $4,013 for standard three-bedroom units. RentHop, which captures more high-end single-family homes, lists three-bedroom average rents at $11,000 per month. Ocean views and premium lot sizes account for much of that gap.
Laguna Beach runs on two primary ZIP codes: 92651 and 92652. The 92651 ZIP code covers the main residential and business areas - downtown, North Laguna, and South Laguna. The 92652 ZIP code exists exclusively for PO Boxes within 92651, so it won't show up in your rental search.
One thing to watch: some third-party sites loosely associate 92653 with Laguna Beach, but 92653 belongs to neighboring Laguna Hills. When you're filtering listings, stick to neighborhoods within 92651 to get accurate pricing data.
According to Rent.com, Victoria Beach and South Laguna Village offer some of the lower rental rates in the city. A one-bedroom in Victoria Beach averages around $2,800; South Laguna Village sits near $2,860. Upper Victoria Beach is another relatively affordable pocket, with one-bedroom units averaging $3,195. Apartments.com has also noted Laguna Cliffs as an affordable option, though pricing in these smaller neighborhoods fluctuates throughout the year.
Rent.com identifies Laguna Terrace as one of the priciest areas, with one-bedroom rates around $4,300. The Village and Upper Diamond both average $3,995 for a one-bedroom. At the top end, Redfin's neighborhood data shows median rents of $10,500 for Top of the World and Temple Hills. The exclusive Crystal Cove area reached $24,900 in August 2025 - a number that illustrates just how much a single luxury enclave can distort citywide averages.
According to August 2026 data from Zumper, rent prices in Laguna Beach dropped 34.9% year-over-year. That's a dramatic figure, but it comes with an important caveat: when your total rental inventory is small, a few expensive leases moving in or out of the data set can swing the percentages significantly from one month to the next. Don't read that number as a market-wide collapse.
What you'll actually find as of mid-2026 is a split market - some unit sizes getting cheaper, others getting more expensive.
Apartments.com reported a 7% year-over-year decrease in rent as of June 2025. For context, Zillow Rental Manager data from 2022 showed a $1,500 year-over-year increase during that specific period - so the direction of the market has shifted meaningfully since then.
RentHop breaks the recent trend down by bedroom count, and the split is worth paying attention to. One-bedroom units dropped 3.44% and two-bedroom units fell 2.10% year-over-year. Three-bedroom rents rose 20.24% and four-bedroom rents increased 12.87%. If you need a smaller unit, you have some leverage right now. If you need a larger home, you don't.
The median household income in Laguna Beach reached $143,843 in 2024, up from $140,508 the prior year. Other data sources cite a similar 2024 median of $142,531, while the average household income sits much higher at $237,787. Those two numbers - median and average - are far enough apart to tell you something about the income distribution here. Use your own take-home pay, not a citywide average, when you're running the math.
The 30% rule is a standard guideline: spend no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on rent, leaving room for taxes, groceries, utilities, and savings. If you earn the local median income of $143,843, your gross monthly pay is roughly $11,986. At 30%, your maximum monthly rent budget works out to about $3,595 - which aligns reasonably well with average pricing for a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment in the area.
To comfortably afford a $5,400 two-bedroom apartment under the 30% rule, a household needs a gross annual income of $216,000. Renters targeting the more affordable $2,800 units in Victoria Beach need an annual salary closer to $112,000. Coastal California has a high cost of living, and some renters do stretch beyond the 30% threshold - but before you do that, account for your specific debt obligations and daily expenses. Committing to the top of your range based on a guideline, not your actual budget, is how people end up house-poor.
The median home sale price sits at approximately $3,100,000 as of May 2026. With an average sale-to-list ratio of 98.1%, buyers aren't finding much negotiating room either. For anyone who wants to live in this community without tying up millions in capital, the rental market is the practical path to residency.
The purchase data varies by source but consistently points in the same direction. PropertyShark reported a median sale price of $2.9 million in Q1 2026. Houzeo cited a slightly higher median of $2,999,575 around the same time. Movoto reported a May 2026 median sale price of $3.75 million, and Zillow's Home Value Index stood at $2,949,835 in March 2026. At those purchase prices, paying $3,000 to $5,000 a month in rent requires far less upfront capital than a standard 20% down payment - and for a lot of people, that math is straightforward.
Laguna Beach is among the highest-priced housing markets in Orange County. Inland cities offer lower median home prices and cheaper rent, but they don't offer beach access and ocean views. Renters who choose Laguna Beach are paying a direct premium for that. Those priced out of the local market often look to surrounding communities for lower monthly rates while staying within driving distance of the water.
With about 162 homes currently available for sale, this is a tight inventory market on the purchase side - and that tightness carries into rentals. Good units move. Monitoring listings frequently isn't optional here; it's how you actually land something.
Check multiple platforms. Apartments.com, Rent.com, and RentHop each capture different segments of the market, and since their data varies, using only one means you're working with an incomplete picture.
Many landlords in Orange County accept pets, but expect additional pet deposits or monthly pet rent on top of your base rent. Clarify those fees before you submit an application - not after you've fallen in love with a unit.
Long-term rentals of 12 months or more offer the most pricing stability. Laguna Beach has a significant short-term and seasonal rental market, and if you're on an annual lease, you're protected from the summer price spikes that can affect month-to-month tenants. If stability matters to you, a 12-month lease is worth pursuing.
Estimates for a one-bedroom apartment range from around $2,826 to $3,700 per month. Apartments.com reports the lower end near $2,826, while RentHop tracks closer to $3,700. Your final price depends on the neighborhood and proximity to the ocean.
It depends on the unit you're targeting. If you apply the standard 30% rule to a $3,595 monthly rent, you need a gross household income of roughly $143,843 per year. Landlords typically require proof of income showing you earn two to three times the monthly rent.
It depends on the lease type. Laguna Beach is a small luxury market, and seasonal leases can skew averages upward during peak times. Long-term annual leases provide more stability against those seasonal fluctuations.
According to Rent.com, Victoria Beach and South Laguna Village are among the most affordable areas. One-bedroom units in Victoria Beach average roughly $2,800, and South Laguna Village averages around $2,860. Upper Victoria Beach is also relatively affordable at $3,195 for a one-bedroom.
It depends on the specific neighborhoods being compared, but Laguna Beach is a premium coastal market in Orange County. Its limited housing supply keeps prices elevated, with a one-bedroom typically starting around $2,826 to $3,700.
Expect standard move-in costs: first month's rent and a security deposit at minimum. If you're bringing a pet, landlords often require additional pet deposits or monthly pet rent. Always review the lease terms to see which utilities are included in your monthly rate.
Compass
540 South Coast Highway, Ste 202 Laguna Beach, CA 92651
CA DRE# 01429647
Alcove Collective