salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 90% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 8.7 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 56.6% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $140,040 a year. That is $67 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 595 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Dana Point?
Share of households by yearly income. 56.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Dana Point
| Size | Dana Point | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,220 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,715 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,172 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Dana Point 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 Dana Point, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Dana Point
Life in Dana Point
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dana Point?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $5,660 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,320,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $132,030 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Dana Point, CA?
Renting in Dana Point costs a median of about $3,500+ a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Dana Point?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Dana Point cheap or expensive?
Dana Point is rated OK: rent takes 27.5% of the typical household income of $152,629. It ranks 595th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Dana Point?
The median homeowner in Dana Point pays $9,432 a year in property taxes, about 0.71% of the median home value.
Is Dana Point 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 Dana Point?
The median home value in Dana Point is $1,320,300, about 8.7 times the typical yearly household income.
32,790 people live in Dana Point. Numbers are typical (middle) values.