The Cost of Renting in Southern California: A Comparison of Affordability and Quality of Life in 18 Cities
The cost of renting in Southern California continues to skyrocket, with a recent study revealing the staggering price differences between the region’s top and bottom cities for renters. According to WalletHub’s rankings, the best cities in Southern California for renters are 12% more expensive on average than the lower-ranked cities.
The study compared the affordability and quality of life in 18 Southern California cities, with Irvine coming out on top as the most expensive rental market in the region. Despite its high cost, Irvine was also ranked as the 10th-highest city in the nation for quality of life. On the other end of the spectrum, San Bernardino was deemed the worst city for renters in Southern California, with rents that are 45% lower than Irvine’s.
Other notable rankings include Huntington Beach at No. 35 nationally, San Diego at No. 57, and Los Angeles at No. 133. The study also found that renters in the top nine Southern California cities pay an average of $236 more per month than those in the bottom nine cities.
Overall, the study highlights the growing disparity in rental prices across Southern California and the challenges that renters face in finding affordable housing in the region.