salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 6.2 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 $111,760 a year. That is $54 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of California. It is number 455 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Benicia?
Share of households by yearly income. 48.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Benicia
| Size | Benicia | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,562 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,867 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,429 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,522 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,671 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Benicia 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 Benicia, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Benicia
Life in Benicia
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Benicia?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,826 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $810,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $81,000 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Benicia, CA?
Renting in Benicia costs a median of about $2,794 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Benicia?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $111,760 a year, or $54 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Benicia cheap or expensive?
Benicia is rated OK: rent takes 25.6% of the typical household income of $130,719. It ranks 455th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Benicia?
The median homeowner in Benicia pays $5,288 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of the median home value.
Is Benicia 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 Benicia?
The median home value in Benicia is $810,000, about 6.2 times the typical yearly household income.
26,749 people live in Benicia. Numbers are typical (middle) values.