What It Costs to Rent in Coronado: Rent, Deposits and Move-In Costs

Zillow's rent index for the City of Coronado was $5,122 a month in September 2026, about 1.7 times the San Diego metro figure, though any single home can rent well above or below that. To move in, most renters pay the first month's rent plus a security deposit that California generally caps at one month's rent, a screening fee limited by state law, and the cost of renters insurance if the lease requires it. Utilities, parking and pet costs depend on the lease.

Key takeaways

• As of September 2026, Zillow's Observed Rent Index was $5,122 for the City of Coronado and $2,967 for the San Diego metro.
• Since July 1, 2024, California landlords generally may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, on top of the first month's rent, furnished or not (Civ. Code § 1950.5).
• Pet deposits, cleaning fees and key deposits all count toward that cap, and no deposit may be labeled "nonrefundable."
• Application screening fees are capped at $30 per applicant, adjustable for inflation since 1998, and must be refunded in some cases (Civ. Code § 1950.6).
• Landlords may require renters insurance; the owner's policy does not cover your belongings.

Rent: what the public numbers say

Source: Zillow Research public data, downloaded October 19, 2026. The index tracks typical asking rents across all home types and sizes, so it is not the rent for a specific bedroom count.

HUD also publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents by ZIP code. For ZIP 92118, the fiscal year 2026 figures are $3,430 for an efficiency, $3,690 for one bedroom, $4,500 for two, $5,990 for three and $7,270 for four bedrooms. These are payment benchmarks HUD uses for the Housing Choice Voucher program in the San Diego area, not market medians.

Vouchers are a protected source of income in California. Landlords may not refuse an applicant because part of the rent is paid by a Section 8 or HUD-VASH voucher, and any income requirement must be based on the tenant's share of the rent (Gov. Code § 12955).

The security deposit

California's rules as of October 2026:

• The cap. A landlord may collect security of no more than one month's rent, in addition to the first month's rent, whether or not the home is furnished. This applies to deposits collected on or after July 1, 2024 (Civ. Code § 1950.5, AB 12).
• What counts. "Security" means any payment, fee, deposit or charge collected at the start of the tenancy other than the screening fee, so a pet deposit, cleaning fee or key deposit is part of the one-month total.
• The small-landlord exception. A landlord who is a natural person (or an LLC of natural persons) and owns no more than two rental properties with no more than four units in total may collect up to two months. That exception does not apply if the tenant is a service member.
• Nothing nonrefundable. A lease may not call any part of the security "nonrefundable."
• Getting it back. Within 21 calendar days after you move out, the landlord must send an itemized statement and return the balance. If you paid the deposit or rent electronically, the balance must come back electronically unless you agree in writing to another method (AB 414, effective January 1, 2026).

You can request a pre-move-out inspection, held no earlier than two weeks before you leave, to see proposed deductions and fix them yourself. For tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025, the landlord must photograph the unit at or just before move-in.

Application and screening fees

As of October 2026, under Civ. Code § 1950.6:

1. A screening fee can't exceed the landlord's actual costs and is capped at $30 per applicant, adjustable each year for inflation since 1998. There is no official 2026 figure, so amounts vary.
2. Guarantors and cosigners count as applicants.
3. No fee may be charged if the landlord knows no unit is or will soon be available.
4. The landlord must either consider applications in the order they are completed and approve the first qualified applicant, or refund every applicant not selected (AB 2493).
5. You are entitled to an itemized receipt and a copy of any credit report within 7 days of the landlord receiving it.

If you have a reusable tenant screening report prepared within the past 30 days, a landlord may choose to accept it; if it does, it can't charge you a screening fee (Civ. Code § 1950.1). Our guide on how to apply for a Coronado rental explains the documents to gather.

Renters insurance

California's Department of Insurance tells renters plainly: "Your landlord does not provide insurance for your personal property." Many landlords also require renters insurance with liability coverage and set minimum terms, according to the California Department of Real Estate's 2026 tenant guide. Earthquake coverage is sold separately: the California Earthquake Authority offers renters policies through participating insurers, and you buy it from the same company that writes your renters policy.

Every lease signed on or after July 1, 2018 must include a flood disclosure that, among other things, tells you the owner's insurance does not cover your possessions and recommends renters and flood insurance (Gov. Code § 8589.45).

Other monthly and move-in costs

Late fees are set by the lease. California has no statutory dollar cap, but a residential late fee clause is valid only where the actual damage from late payment would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix (Civ. Code § 1671). For what happens after you sign, see your first 30 days in a Coronado rental, and for the bigger picture, renting in Coronado.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm the details for your situation with a California attorney or tax professional.

The security deposit calculator shows the most a landlord can collect at move-in.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the security deposit in Coronado?

Generally no more than one month's rent, in addition to the first month's rent, under California Civil Code § 1950.5 as of October 2026. A small landlord (an individual, or an LLC whose members are all individuals) who owns no more than two rental properties with four or fewer units in total may charge up to two months, but not to a service member. Pet deposits and cleaning fees count toward the cap.

Can a landlord charge a bigger deposit for a furnished rental?

No. California's one-month cap applies "however denominated," and the statute makes no exception for furnished homes. Our guide to furnished and seasonal rentals in Coronado covers how those leases differ.

What is the maximum application fee in California?

The statute sets $30 per applicant, adjustable annually for inflation since 1998, and the fee can't exceed the landlord's actual screening costs (Civ. Code § 1950.6). The state publishes no official adjusted amount for 2026, so the fee you see may be somewhat higher than $30.

Do I need renters insurance in Coronado?

It depends on your lease. Many landlords require renters insurance with liability coverage and set the minimum terms, according to the California Department of Real Estate's 2026 tenant guide. Either way, the owner's insurance does not cover your belongings.

Is rent in Coronado higher than in San Diego?

Yes. Zillow's rent index was $5,122 for the City of Coronado and $2,967 for the San Diego metro in September 2026. The index mixes all home types, so compare specific listings before drawing conclusions.

Next step: compare real listings

McKee Properties has managed rentals from its Coronado office since 1989. See current homes, schedule showings and apply online on our Properties for Rent page, or return to the Coronado Rental Guide.