salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 98% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 8.6 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 73.8% 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 594 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Foster City?
Share of households by yearly income. 69.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Foster City
| Size | Foster City | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,334 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,478 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $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 Foster City 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 Foster City, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Foster City
Life in Foster City
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Foster City?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $9,254 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,838,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $183,820 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Foster City, CA?
Renting in Foster City 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 Foster City?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Foster City cheap or expensive?
Foster City is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.6% of the typical household income of $214,776. It ranks 594th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Foster City?
The median homeowner in Foster City pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.54% of the median home value.
Is Foster City 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 Foster City?
The median home value in Foster City is $1,838,200, about 8.6 times the typical yearly household income.
32,792 people live in Foster City. Numbers are typical (middle) values.