California Rent Prices: A Financial Guide for Generation X
Generation X members seeking to spend a year in California should start saving, especially if their income falls below the median salary. The state’s rental costs could be quite surprising.
GOBankingRates recently studied rental prices in major U.S. cities, highlighting that California lacks any cities in the cheapest 40 for rent. Out of 16 California cities reviewed, only five have average monthly rents below $2,000. Nonetheless, median incomes generally make these rents manageable.
Cost of Living by City: California’s Average Rent Rankings
Here are the average monthly rents from most to least expensive across California’s 16 cities.
1. Irvine
- Average monthly rent: $2,986
- 1 bedroom average rent: $2,534
- 2 bedroom average rent: $3,106
- Total cost of living (monthly): $5,090
- Median household income: $122,948
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2. San Jose
- Average monthly rent: $2,679
- 1 bedroom average rent: $2,331
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,766
- Total cost of living (monthly): $5,117
- Median household income: $136,010
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3. Fremont
- Average monthly rent: $2,626
- 1 bedroom average rent: $2,183
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,645
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,955
- Median household income: $169,023
4. San Francisco
- Average monthly rent: $2,620
- 1 bedroom average rent: $2,645
- 2 bedroom average rent: $3,135
- Total cost of living (monthly): $5,157
- Median household income: $136,689
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5. Santa Clarita
- Average monthly rent: $2,470
- 1 bedroom average rent: $2,007
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,442
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,637
- Median household income: $116,186
6. Chula Vista
- Average monthly rent: $2,360
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,734
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,269
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,567
- Median household income: $101,984
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7. San Diego
- Average monthly rent: $2,274
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,938
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,429
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,445
- Median household income: $98,657
8. Anaheim
- Average monthly rent: $2,271
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,948
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,404
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,397
- Median household income: $88,538
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Rent Prices and Living Costs in California’s Major Cities
9. Santa Ana: A Breakdown of Living Expenses
- Average monthly rent: $2,215
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,942
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,290
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,309
- Median household income: $84,210
10. Los Angeles: Major City, Major Costs
- Average monthly rent: $2,067
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,849
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,357
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,426
- Median household income: $76,244
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11. Oakland: Keeping Up with the Bay Area
- Average monthly rent: $2,021
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,850
- 2 bedroom average rent: $2,220
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,324
- Median household income: $94,389
12. Moreno Valley: Rising Costs and Income
- Average monthly rent: $1,897
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,568
- 2 bedroom average rent: $1,784
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,187
- Median household income: $82,637
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13. Riverside: Scenic Views and Living Costs
- Average monthly rent: $1,783
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,478
- 2 bedroom average rent: $1,776
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,029
- Median household income: $83,448
14. Long Beach: Coastal Living and Financials
- Average monthly rent: $1,737
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,552
- 2 bedroom average rent: $1,901
- Total cost of living (monthly): $4,039
- Median household income: $78,995
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15. Sacramento: A Capital’s Cost of Living
- Average monthly rent: $1,643
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,347
- 2 bedroom average rent: $1,702
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,830
- Median household income: $78,954
16. Fresno: Affordability Amidst Rising Prices
- Average monthly rent: $1,326
- 1 bedroom average rent: $1,050
- 2 bedroom average rent: $1,295
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,359
- Median household income: $63,001
Methodology: This analysis from GOBankingRates focused on average costs of rent and living in major U.S. cities, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Sperling’s BestPlaces, ApartmentList, Zillow, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data was last updated on September 13, 2024.
Additional Insights from GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Earnings vs. Costs: Rent in 16 California Cities
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