Apartments For Rent in San Luis Obispo, CA
351 rentals
- SPECIAL OFFER$579 - $949/mo1 Bed1 BathThe SLO Student Living Apartments | 1050 E Foothill Blvd #0f763d91b,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - SPECIAL OFFERPET FRIENDLY$2,895 - $3,895/mo1-2 Beds1-3 BathsVintage at SLO | 3554 Ranch House Rd #101,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - SENIOR HOUSINGPET FRIENDLY$1,975 - $2,200/moStudio-1 Bed1 BathAvila Apartments in Downtown SLO | 475 Marsh St #155,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - PET FRIENDLY
- PET FRIENDLY$2,775 - $4,200/mo1-2 Beds1-3 Bathsde Tolosa Ranch Apartments | 1704 Tonini Dr #1630-28,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - NEW - 12 HRS AGOPET FRIENDLY
- $2,100 - $3,000/mo1-2 Beds1 Bath0199 738 Grand & 1885 Garfield | 738 Grand Ave #f6863a7fa,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - $1,655 - $1,680/mo4-5 Beds2 BathsPalomar at SLO | 71 Palomar Ave #2-1117265,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - Contact for priceStudio-2 Beds1 BathThe Downtown Terrace (550 Higuera Street) | 550 Higuera St #22,
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What Locals Say about San Luis Obispo
Review Highlights
San Luis Obispo: sun-kissed, easygoing hub for bikes, hikes, downtown eats, and beach day trips. People love the safe vibe, walk/bike ease, lively Thursday market, trails, and great food. They gripe about scarce parking, slow buses, spread-out trips, traffic, high rents, and noise.
AI-generated summary of moderated reviews.
Types of apartment in San Luis Obispo, CA
San Luis Obispo apartments change a lot by area. Near Downtown, Railroad Square, and Monterey Street, many apartments sit in older low-rise buildings with stucco walls, small balconies, and shaded entries. A few converted houses for rent have wood siding, front porches, and narrow stairways. Interiors in these spots often include compact kitchens, built-in storage, and smaller living rooms. Parking can be limited, and shared laundry is still common in some apartments.On the south side near Broad Street and Orcutt Road, apartments often look newer, with larger parking lots, simple stucco exteriors, and three-story layouts. Near Laguna Lake and the Madonna Road area, many complexes have wider floor plans, central air in some units, and more surface parking. In the hills above town and toward Foothill, houses for rent can have garages, sloped driveways, and yards, but street access can be tighter. Across San Luis Obispo, apartments range from older walk-ups to newer mixed-use buildings near Mission Plaza and Marsh Street, so the tradeoffs usually come down to parking, stairs, storage, and how close you want to be to downtown.
Getting around San Luis Obispo, CA
SLO Transit, the local bus service, covers key parts of the city, including Downtown, Foothill, Broad Street, and Madonna Road. The Amtrak station by Railroad Square adds regional rail and bus links. Driving across town is usually straightforward, but parking near Downtown and Mission Plaza can be tighter than in south SLO. Many renters walk for short trips in the center city. Biking works well on flatter routes near Marsh Street, Broad, and Laguna Lake.Living in San Luis Obispo, CA
San Luis Obispo is known for hiking, cycling, and a compact downtown with practical errands close together. You can spend time around Mission Plaza, shop along Higuera Street, or use trails near Cerro San Luis and Laguna Lake Park. Work is tied to health care, government, retail, hospitality, and light manufacturing. Where you rent can shape how close you are to downtown services, office areas, and Highway 101 connections.Average Rent Trends in San Luis Obispo, CA
Rent in San Luis Obispo, CA varies by number of bedrooms and home type. Use these charts to quickly see how rent changes.
Average rent decreased in May 2026 compared to the previous month. Rent previously peaked in Feb 2025.
| Month | Average rent |
|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | $2,750 |
| Jul 2025 | $2,900 |
| Aug 2025 | $2,800 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,750 |
| Oct 2025 | $2,700 |
| Nov 2025 | $2,600 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,950 |
| Jan 2026 | $2,950 |
| Feb 2026 | $3,700 |
| Mar 2026 | $3,600 |
| Apr 2026 | $3,400 |
| May 2026 | $3,300 |
Average Rent By Bedroom and Home Type
In May 2026, Apartments and Condos were the most affordable home type to rent compared with Townhomes and Houses.
| 1 bed | 2 beds | 3 beds | 4 beds | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All home types | $2,200 | $2,975 | $4,200 | $5,800 | $3,133 |
| Townhomes | — | $2,911 | $4,089 | $6,611 | $3,700 |
| Apartments and Condos | $2,163 | $3,000 | $4,500 | $5,767 | $2,900 |
| Houses | $2,200 | $3,100 | $4,200 | $5,800 | $4,200 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Rentals in San Luis Obispo, CA
- What is the average rent of an apartment in San Luis Obispo, CA?The average rent of an apartment in San Luis Obispo, CA is $2,499 per month. This is about 30% higher than the national average.
- What is the average rent of a house in San Luis Obispo, CA?The average rent of a house in San Luis Obispo, CA is $4,200 per month. This is about 118% higher than the national average.
- What is the average rent of a townhome in San Luis Obispo, CA?The average rent of a townhome in San Luis Obispo, CA is $3,700 per month. This is about 92% higher than the national average.
- When is the average rent cheapest in San Luis Obispo, CA?In the last year, the average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA was lowest in Nov 2025 when it was $2,600 per month.
- When is the average rent most expensive in San Luis Obispo, CA?In the last year, the average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA was highest in Feb 2025 when it was $3,250 per month.
- How does the rent of a 1 bedroom apartment compare to a studio apartment in San Luis Obispo, CA?The average rent of a 1 bedroom apartment in San Luis Obispo, CA is $2,200 per month. That is about $350 more than the cost of a studio apartment.
- How many available rental listings are in San Luis Obispo, CA?There are 371 available rental listings in San Luis Obispo, CA.
- What are some zip codes in San Luis Obispo, CA?
- What are some cities near San Luis Obispo, CA?Some nearby cities include: Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Los Osos, Grover Beach, Morro Bay. These cities may have more rental options to explore.