States › California › Carmichael

Is Carmichael, CA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 25 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,8928% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$92,658about $7,722/month · 6% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$579,50074% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 63% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.3 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 $75,680 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 185 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Carmichael
$1,892
Pleasanton
$3,277
Bellflower
$2,129
Alameda
$2,823
Pittsburg
$2,622
Chino Hills
$3,351
Napa
$3,551

How much do households earn in Carmichael?

Under $25k
11.4%
$25k–50k
19.0%
$50k–100k
32.7%
$100k–150k
18.1%
$150k+
14.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 32.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Carmichael

SizeCarmichaelU.S. average
Studio$1,564$1,338
1 bedroom$1,590$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,826$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,281$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,645$2,098

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

How expensive is Carmichael 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 Carmichael, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Carmichael

🏛️ Property tax$3,784a year · 0.65% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$141a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Carmichael

Commute to work27.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree36.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home52.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carmichael?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,129 a month less.

Renting
$1,892
Owning
$4,021

Owning assumes a typical $579,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $57,950 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Carmichael, CA?

Renting in Carmichael costs a median of about $1,892 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $75,680 a year, or $36 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Carmichael cheap or expensive?

Carmichael is rated OK: rent takes 24.5% of the typical household income of $92,658. It ranks 185th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Carmichael?

The median homeowner in Carmichael pays $3,784 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of the median home value.

Is Carmichael 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 Carmichael?

The median home value in Carmichael is $579,500, about 6.3 times the typical yearly household income.

76,948 people live in Carmichael. Numbers are typical (middle) values.