salaryRent is higher than in 76% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 88% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.6 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $87,320 a year. That is $42 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 275 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Aptos?
Share of households by yearly income. 54.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Aptos
| Size | Aptos | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $2,298 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,535 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Aptos overall?
Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Aptos, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Aptos
Life in Aptos
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Aptos?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $5,403 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,093,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $109,330 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Aptos, CA?
Renting in Aptos costs a median of about $2,183 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Aptos?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $87,320 a year, or $42 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Aptos cheap or expensive?
Aptos is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.1% of the typical household income of $144,571. It ranks 275th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Aptos?
The median homeowner in Aptos pays $6,860 a year in property taxes, about 0.63% of the median home value.
Is Aptos more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Aptos?
The median home value in Aptos is $1,093,300, about 7.6 times the typical yearly household income.
6,404 people live in Aptos. Numbers are typical (middle) values.