Rental Investing in San Diego, CA
2026 Market Data & Investment Analysis
Gross Yield
4%
Annual rent / price
Median Home Price
$820,000
As of 2026-Q1
Median Monthly Rent
$2,700
Per month
Population
1,386,932
+0.5% / yr (5y avg)
Calculate Your Return in San Diego
Pre-filled with San Diego's median values. Adjust to match your specific property.
Property Details
Total acquisition cost before taxes
HOA, insurance, property management
% of time the property is empty
% of purchase price (e.g. 2% = 2)
Rule of thumb: 1% of purchase price/yr
Results
Gross Rental Yield
3.95%
Net Rental Yield
2.46%
Cap Rate
2.46%
Monthly Cash Flow
$1,681.67
Annual Cash Flow
$20,180.00
Market Overview
Median Home Price — 5-Year Trend
Median Monthly Rent — 5-Year Trend
While San Diego's rental yields of 4% are below average, investors may benefit from strong long-term appreciation potential in this market.
Modest population growth of 0.5% per year indicates a stable but slowly growing rental market.
The vacancy rate of 3.2% is healthy, indicating strong rental demand and limited downtime between tenants.
Investment Profile
San Diego presents challenges with both modest rental yields and limited population growth. Investors need to carefully analyze specific neighborhoods and property types to find opportunities that outperform the market average.
✓ Strengths
- •Lower entry prices may reduce downside risk
- •Select neighborhoods and value-add properties can outperform the average
! Risks
- •Below-average gross yield of 4% limits income potential
- •Limited population growth reduces long-term rental demand
- •Higher due diligence required to identify strong-performing assets
Key Metrics
How San Diego Compares
San Diego vs Los Angeles: 0.0 percentage point difference in gross yield.
| City | Median Price | Median Rent | Gross Yield | Pop. Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $850,000 | $2,800 | 4% | -0.3% |
| San Francisco, CA | $1,200,000 | $3,500 | 3.5% | -1.2% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $380,000 | $1,750 | 5.5% | +1.4% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $380,000 | $1,700 | 5.4% | +1.9% |
| Austin, TX | $450,000 | $1,800 | 4.8% | +1.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rental investing profitable in San Diego?▾
What is the average rental yield in San Diego?▾
How does San Diego compare to Los Angeles for investors?▾
Ready to Analyse a Specific Property in San Diego?
Use our free rental yield calculator to model any property — not just the median.
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Data source: Zillow Research / U.S. Census Bureau. Last updated: 2026-Q1. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.