Last updated: October 31, 2026. By the Apartments Club Editorial Team.
California State University, Long Beach occupies a large campus in east Long Beach, close to the Orange County line. Most students commute, and the neighborhoods around campus have a mix of student-heavy complexes, older apartments and pricier homes near the water. This guide compares rents in the ZIP codes closest to campus and explains how to get there without a car.
Rents in ZIP codes near CSULB
| ZIP | Area | Zillow ZORI (Sep 2026) | ZORI change vs Sep 2025 | HUD SAFMR studio (FY2027) | HUD SAFMR 1BR | HUD SAFMR 2BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90815 | Los Altos / east Long Beach | $2,877 | +0.6% | $2,480 | $2,770 | $3,420 |
| 90803 | Belmont Shore / Naples | $2,538 | +3.0% | $2,840 | $3,180 | $3,920 |
| 90804 | Zaferia / east-central Long Beach | $2,225 | -0.2% | $2,160 | $2,410 | $2,970 |
| 90808 | Lakewood Village / Bixby Knolls edge | $2,949 | +7.7% | $2,610 | $2,910 | $3,590 |
| 90814 | Belmont Heights / Alamitos Heights | $2,489 | +3.4% | $2,370 | $2,640 | $3,260 |
Sources: Zillow ZORI (September 2026) and HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026). See methodology below.
ZIP-by-ZIP notes
- 90815 (Los Altos / east Long Beach): The area around campus has many apartment complexes along Bellflower Boulevard and Atherton Street. It is the closest option. The typical Zillow asking rent rose over the past year (+0.6%) to $2,877; from August to September 2026 it moved +1.1%. HUD’s one-bedroom SAFMR is $2,770 for FY2027, up from $2,660 in FY2026.
- 90803 (Belmont Shore / Naples): Belmont Shore and Naples are on the water, with Second Street’s restaurants. Many renters share older units near the beach. The typical Zillow asking rent rose over the past year (+3.0%) to $2,538; from August to September 2026 it moved -0.3%. HUD’s one-bedroom SAFMR is $3,180 for FY2027, up from $3,040 in FY2026.
- 90804 (Zaferia / east-central Long Beach): This central ZIP has the lowest typical rent of this group and many older buildings. The typical Zillow asking rent was roughly flat over the past year (-0.2%) to $2,225; from August to September 2026 it moved -0.1%. HUD’s one-bedroom SAFMR is $2,410 for FY2027, up from $2,250 in FY2026.
- 90808 (Lakewood Village / Bixby Knolls edge): This mostly single-family area north of campus has a higher typical rent due to houses. The typical Zillow asking rent rose over the past year (+7.7%) to $2,949; from August to September 2026 it moved +3.2%. HUD’s one-bedroom SAFMR is $2,910 for FY2027, up from $2,730 in FY2026.
- 90814 (Belmont Heights / Alamitos Heights): Belmont Heights and Alamitos Heights are close to the beach and Bluff Park, with older apartments. The typical Zillow asking rent rose over the past year (+3.4%) to $2,489; from August to September 2026 it moved -1.0%. HUD’s one-bedroom SAFMR is $2,640 for FY2027, up from $2,510 in FY2026.
Getting to CSULB
Long Beach Transit runs many routes to the CSULB campus, and the university has offered students transit pass programs; check the current program. The A Line’s stations in central and downtown Long Beach are some distance away, so most car-free students rely on buses or bikes. Long Beach has an extensive bike network, including routes along the beach.
Which area fits your budget?
Ranked by typical Zillow asking rent, from lowest to highest:
- Zaferia / east-central Long Beach (90804): $2,225 typical; at 30% of income that is about $89,000 a year.
- Belmont Heights / Alamitos Heights (90814): $2,489 typical; at 30% of income that is about $100,000 a year.
- Belmont Shore / Naples (90803): $2,538 typical; at 30% of income that is about $102,000 a year.
- Los Altos / east Long Beach (90815): $2,877 typical; at 30% of income that is about $115,000 a year.
- Lakewood Village / Bixby Knolls edge (90808): $2,949 typical; at 30% of income that is about $118,000 a year.
How to use HUD Small Area FMRs
For voucher holders, HUD’s FY2027 one-bedroom Small Area FMR near CSULB runs from $2,410 in 90804 (Zaferia / east-central Long Beach) to $3,180 in 90803 (Belmont Shore / Naples); housing authorities set Section 8 payment standards from these figures (HUD USER).
Rent vs. local income in these ZIP codes
Our own cut of the data for CSULB: in 90808 (Lakewood Village / Bixby Knolls edge) typical rent equals 25.7% of the local median household income, while in 90804 (Zaferia / east-central Long Beach) it reaches 37.3% (City of LA overall: 40.6%; 30% is the usual benchmark).
| ZIP | Typical rent, Sep 2026 | Median household income | Rent-to-income | Move-in cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90803 | $2,538 | $114,656 | 26.6% | $5,076 |
| 90804 | $2,225 | $71,614 | 37.3% | $4,450 |
| 90808 | $2,949 | $137,855 | 25.7% | $5,898 |
| 90814 | $2,489 | $104,650 | 28.5% | $4,978 |
| 90815 | $2,877 | $119,716 | 28.8% | $5,754 |
Rent: Zillow ZORI, Sep 2026, for 90803, 90804, 90808, 90814, 90815. Income: Census ACS 2020–2024 median household income (B19013) for the same ZIPs. *First month plus a one-month deposit (AB 12 cap). Full method: LA Rent Report.
Checklist before you sign
- 90804 (Zaferia / east-central Long Beach) carries a Long Beach mailing address, so confirm which city the building is legally in: outside the City of LA the LA RSO does not apply, and local rules or the statewide AB 1482 cap (8.7% in LA County) may.
- Budget for the move itself: at 90804 (Zaferia / east-central Long Beach)’s typical $2,225 you need about $4,450 upfront; in 90808 (Lakewood Village / Bixby Knolls edge) it is closer to $5,898. That excludes utilities, parking and movers, so ask each landlord what the rent covers.
- Time the trip from 90803 (Belmont Shore / Naples) to CSULB on a weekday at the hour you would actually travel before you commit.
- For viewings around CSULB, use the apartment tour checklist; a listing priced far under $2,225 is a reason to check our rental scam guide.
Related guides
- Long Beach Neighborhood Guide
- Cheapest Long Beach and South LA Neighborhoods
- Shoreline Gateway building profile
- 200 West Ocean building profile
- Los Angeles Rent Report (October 2026)
- LA Renting Guide hub
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest area to rent near CSULB?
Of the ZIP codes in this guide, Zaferia / east-central Long Beach (90804) had the lowest typical Zillow asking rent in September 2026, at $2,225.
What is the most expensive area near CSULB?
Lakewood Village / Bixby Knolls edge (90808) had the highest typical asking rent, $2,949.
Sources and methodology
The CSULB figures cover ZIPs 90803, 90804, 90808, 90814, 90815: Zillow ZORI (September 2026), HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs and Census ACS 2020–2024 incomes. How we compile and update these numbers is explained in the LA Rent Report and Editorial Standards; transit details change, so confirm on metro.net.
Featured image: Air Force vs. Long Beach State (32518412704) (illustrative area photo). Photo by United States Air Force Academy via Wikimedia Commons, licensed Public domain.
Featured photo: Photo: Summum / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5