salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 90% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.4 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 40 minutes each way. Most homes (82.2%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $128,400 a year. That is $62 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 540 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Brentwood?
Share of households by yearly income. 55.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Brentwood
| Size | Brentwood | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,687 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,294 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,447 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,128 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,665 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Brentwood 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 Brentwood, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Brentwood
Life in Brentwood
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brentwood?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,595 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $836,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $83,660 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Brentwood, CA?
Renting in Brentwood costs a median of about $3,210 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Brentwood?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $128,400 a year, or $62 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Brentwood cheap or expensive?
Brentwood is rated OK: rent takes 25.1% of the typical household income of $153,680. It ranks 540th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Brentwood?
The median homeowner in Brentwood pays $8,257 a year in property taxes, about 0.99% of the median home value.
Is Brentwood 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 Brentwood?
The median home value in Brentwood is $836,600, about 5.4 times the typical yearly household income.
65,208 people live in Brentwood. Numbers are typical (middle) values.