salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 92% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 9.8 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Most households rent (58%), so there are plenty of rental options. It is a highly educated city: 62.7% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $120,200 a year. That is $58 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 497 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in El Segundo?
Share of households by yearly income. 57.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in El Segundo
| Size | El Segundo | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,516 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,060 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,017 | $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 El Segundo 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 Segundo, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in El Segundo
Life in El Segundo
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in El Segundo?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $8,010 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,587,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $158,750 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in El Segundo, CA?
Renting in El Segundo costs a median of about $3,005 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in El Segundo?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $120,200 a year, or $58 an hour at a full-time job.
Is El Segundo cheap or expensive?
El Segundo is rated OK: rent takes 22.2% of the typical household income of $162,570. It ranks 497th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in El Segundo?
The median homeowner in El Segundo pays $8,056 a year in property taxes, about 0.51% of the median home value.
Is El Segundo 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 Segundo?
The median home value in El Segundo is $1,587,500, about 9.8 times the typical yearly household income.
16,769 people live in El Segundo. Numbers are typical (middle) values.