salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 89% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.4 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are long, about 32.4 minutes each way. Most homes (75.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 58% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $124,720 a year. That is $60 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 528 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Cerritos?
Share of households by yearly income. 54.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Cerritos
| Size | Cerritos | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,290 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,939 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,772 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,186 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Cerritos 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 Cerritos, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Cerritos
Life in Cerritos
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cerritos?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,372 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $935,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $93,530 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Cerritos, CA?
Renting in Cerritos costs a median of about $3,118 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Cerritos?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $124,720 a year, or $60 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Cerritos cheap or expensive?
Cerritos is rated OK: rent takes 25.6% of the typical household income of $146,071. It ranks 528th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Cerritos?
The median homeowner in Cerritos pays $5,711 a year in property taxes, about 0.61% of the median home value.
Is Cerritos 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 Cerritos?
The median home value in Cerritos is $935,300, about 6.4 times the typical yearly household income.
47,867 people live in Cerritos. Numbers are typical (middle) values.