salaryRent is higher than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 9.4 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Most households rent (59%), so there are plenty of rental options.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $92,800 a year. That is $45 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 313 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in El Cajon?
Share of households by yearly income. 23.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in El Cajon
| Size | El Cajon | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,730 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,749 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,069 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,514 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,903 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is El Cajon 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 El Cajon, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in El Cajon
Life in El Cajon
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in El Cajon?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,410 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $681,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $68,170 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in El Cajon, CA?
Renting in El Cajon costs a median of about $2,320 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in El Cajon?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $92,800 a year, or $45 an hour at a full-time job.
Is El Cajon cheap or expensive?
El Cajon is rated Expensive: rent takes 38.2% of the typical household income of $72,811. It ranks 313th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in El Cajon?
The median homeowner in El Cajon pays $4,533 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of the median home value.
Is El Cajon 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 El Cajon?
The median home value in El Cajon is $681,700, about 9.4 times the typical yearly household income.
104,449 people live in El Cajon. Numbers are typical (middle) values.