salaryRent is lower than in 50% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.7 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 33.1 minutes each way.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $65,920 a year. That is $32 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 118 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Clearlake?
Share of households by yearly income. 10.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Clearlake
| Size | Clearlake | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,213 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $964 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,120 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,694 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,936 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Clearlake 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 Clearlake, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Clearlake
Life in Clearlake
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clearlake?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $162 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $214,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $21,420 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Clearlake, CA?
Renting in Clearlake costs a median of about $1,648 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Clearlake?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $65,920 a year, or $32 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Clearlake cheap or expensive?
Clearlake is rated Expensive: rent takes 43.8% of the typical household income of $45,154. It ranks 118th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Clearlake?
The median homeowner in Clearlake pays $1,457 a year in property taxes, about 0.68% of the median home value.
Is Clearlake 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 Clearlake?
The median home value in Clearlake is $214,200, about 4.7 times the typical yearly household income.
16,659 people live in Clearlake. Numbers are typical (middle) values.