salaryRent is higher than in 73% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 8.8 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Most households rent (60%), so there are plenty of rental options.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $84,080 a year. That is $40 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 253 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in El Monte?
Share of households by yearly income. 22.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in El Monte
| Size | El Monte | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,198 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,449 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,910 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,265 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,392 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is El Monte 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 Monte, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in El Monte
Life in El Monte
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in El Monte?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,366 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $644,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $64,400 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in El Monte, CA?
Renting in El Monte costs a median of about $2,102 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in El Monte?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $84,080 a year, or $40 an hour at a full-time job.
Is El Monte cheap or expensive?
El Monte is rated Expensive: rent takes 34.4% of the typical household income of $73,370. It ranks 253rd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in El Monte?
The median homeowner in El Monte pays $4,681 a year in property taxes, about 0.73% of the median home value.
Is El Monte 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 Monte?
The median home value in El Monte is $644,000, about 8.8 times the typical yearly household income.
106,109 people live in El Monte. Numbers are typical (middle) values.