Good news, Southern California tenants: rents are down in roughly two-thirds of the region.<\/p>\n
My trusty spreadsheet<\/a> reviewed April\u2019s rent report from ApartmentList<\/a>, which primarily tracks apartment costs in 54 cities across the region, with cost estimates combining government stats and listing data from its own website.<\/p>\n The results show rents fell in the past year in 34 or 63% of the region\u2019s cities. The median decline was 1.5% in markets where one-bedroom units run $1,823 and it costs $2,278 for two bedrooms.<\/p>\n April\u2019s one-year declines in ApartmentList\u2019s overall rent indexes were more likely found in lower-cost cities across Southern California. It\u2019s another sign that the current economic turmoil is centered where paychecks are smaller.<\/p>\n In the 20 cities with rising rents, the median one-year gain was 0.9%, with one-bedroom units running $2,157 \u2013 18% more than in cities with falling rents \u2013 and $2,640 for two-bedroom units \u2013 16% more than in cities with falling rents.<\/p>\n Across all 54 cities, rents fell by a median 0.7% over the year, with one-bedroom units costing $1,952 and two-bedroom units costing $2,370.<\/p>\n Landlords scramble to fill their units as the local job market is wobbly, rising inflation strips money from tenants\u2019 budgets, and newly built units intensify competition for renters.<\/p>\n City math<\/p>\n Looking at the five cities with the largest rent declines, three are near the January 2025 wildfires. That\u2019s a hint that whatever post-fire demand was created by the widespread housing destruction has largely evaporated.<\/p>\n Santa Monica: 8.8% drop, where it costs $2,179 for a typical one-bedroom unit and $2,612 for two.<\/p>\n Pomona: 6.9% drop with $1,475 one-bedroom units and $1,861 for two.<\/p>\n Chula Vista: 4.7% drop with $1,710 one-bedroom units and $2,237 for two.<\/p>\n Pasadena: 4.5% drop with $2,112 one-bedroom units and $2,717 for two.<\/p>\n Glendale: 4.3% drop with $1,833 one-bedroom units and $2,359 for two.<\/p>\n Inside the five cities with the largest rent increases, you see the hot spot for price hikes: three are from Orange County.<\/p>\n Aliso Viejo: 6.9% increase, where it costs for a typical $2,799 one-bedroom unit and $3,305 for two.<\/p>\n Newport Beach: 3.7% increase with $2,851 one-bedroom units and $3,540 for two.<\/p>\n Oceanside: 2.4% increase with $2,020 one-bedroom units and $2,510 for two.<\/p>\n Mission Viejo: 2.2% increase with $2,389 one-bedroom units and $2,873 for two.<\/p>\n West Hollywood: 1.9% increase with $2,039 one-bedroom units and $2,647 for two.<\/p>\n Counting counties<\/p>\n Contemplate median rent swings in local metros. Four of the five have declining rents, with Orange County the exception.<\/p>\n Los Angeles County<\/a>: 2.2% one-year drop in a market with median rents of $1,837 for one-bedroom units and $2,369 for two.<\/p>\n San Diego County<\/a>: 1.3% drop with $1,857 one-bedroom units and $2,246 for two.<\/p>\n Inland Empire<\/a>: 1.1% drop with $1,702 one-bedroom units and $1,975 for two.<\/p>\n Ventura County<\/a>: 0.6% drop with $2,124 one-bedroom units and $2,556 for two.<\/p>\n Orange County<\/a>: 0.4% gain with $2,269 one-bedroom units and $2,681 for two.<\/p>\n Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com<\/a><\/p>\n