salaryRent is higher than in 63% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.7 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 35.8 minutes each way. Most homes (89.3%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $75,640 a year. That is $36 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 183 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Calimesa?
Share of households by yearly income. 37.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Calimesa
| Size | Calimesa | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedrooms | $1,837 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,078 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Calimesa 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 Calimesa, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Calimesa
Life in Calimesa
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Calimesa?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,206 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $446,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $44,630 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Calimesa, CA?
Renting in Calimesa costs a median of about $1,891 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Calimesa?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $75,640 a year, or $36 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Calimesa cheap or expensive?
Calimesa is rated OK: rent takes 24.1% of the typical household income of $94,025. It ranks 183rd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Calimesa?
The median homeowner in Calimesa pays $3,347 a year in property taxes, about 0.75% of the median home value.
Is Calimesa 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 Calimesa?
The median home value in Calimesa is $446,300, about 4.7 times the typical yearly household income.
10,902 people live in Calimesa. Numbers are typical (middle) values.