States › California › Buellton

Is Buellton, CA expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 37 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$3,29488% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$107,781about $8,982/month · 24% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$837,400152% higher than U.S. average

Rent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 7.8 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 $131,760 a year. That is $63 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 550 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Buellton
$3,294
$1,515
$1,336

How much do households earn in Buellton?

Under $25k
5.4%
$25k–50k
13.8%
$50k–100k
36.8%
$100k–150k
25.5%
$150k+
17.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 43.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Buellton

SizeBuelltonU.S. average
Studio$1,145$1,338
1 bedroom$1,629$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,317$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,411$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,396$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Buellton overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Buellton, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Buellton

🏛️ Property tax$5,761a year · 0.69% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$110a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Buellton

Commute to work28.4 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree39.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home58.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line4.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Buellton?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,516 a month less.

Renting
$3,294
Owning
$5,810

Owning assumes a typical $837,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $83,740 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Buellton, CA?

Renting in Buellton costs a median of about $3,294 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Buellton?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $131,760 a year, or $63 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Buellton cheap or expensive?

Buellton is rated Expensive: rent takes 36.7% of the typical household income of $107,781. It ranks 550th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Buellton?

The median homeowner in Buellton pays $5,761 a year in property taxes, about 0.69% of the median home value.

Is Buellton 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 Buellton?

The median home value in Buellton is $837,400, about 7.8 times the typical yearly household income.

5,074 people live in Buellton. Numbers are typical (middle) values.