Recent California College Grads See Relief as Rents Become More Affordable, Job Wages Increase

Similarly, in San Francisco and Sacramento, rents have become more manageablePhoto byAnna DelionUnsplash

Recent college graduates in the Bay Area are experiencing a welcome shift in rental affordability. According to a new Redfin report, the typical graduate now spends less of their income on rent compared to last year. In San Jose, renting a median-priced two-bedroom apartment now requires 27.8% of a graduate's income, down from 30.9% in 2023. Similarly, in San Francisco and Sacramento, rents have become more manageable, with recent grads spending 26.9% and 27.8% of their income, respectively. This change comes as rents have softened and salaries for recent grads have risen, though the Bay Area remains one of the priciest places to live in the U.S.