Rent here is among the highest 10% in the country. 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 $113,920 a year. That is $55 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 473 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Cotati?
Share of households by yearly income. 42.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Cotati
| Size | Cotati | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,208 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,452 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,766 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Cotati 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 Cotati, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Cotati
Life in Cotati
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cotati?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,334 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $746,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $74,680 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Cotati, CA?
Renting in Cotati costs a median of about $2,848 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Cotati?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $113,920 a year, or $55 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Cotati cheap or expensive?
Cotati is rated OK: rent takes 28.6% of the typical household income of $119,444. It ranks 473rd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Cotati?
The median homeowner in Cotati pays $5,514 a year in property taxes, about 0.74% of the median home value.
Is Cotati 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 Cotati?
The median home value in Cotati is $746,800, about 6.3 times the typical yearly household income.
7,489 people live in Cotati. Numbers are typical (middle) values.