salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 8.4 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $119,480 a year. That is $57 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 495 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
Compare Huntington Beach with other big cities
Compare Huntington Beach to 149 other cities →
How much do households earn in Huntington Beach?
Share of households by yearly income. 48.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Huntington Beach
| Size | Huntington Beach | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,321 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,356 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,696 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,381 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Huntington Beach
Life in Huntington Beach
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Huntington Beach?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $4,645 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,100,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $110,000 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Huntington Beach, CA?
Renting in Huntington Beach costs a median of about $2,987 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Huntington Beach?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $119,480 a year, or $57 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Huntington Beach cheap or expensive?
Huntington Beach is rated OK: rent takes 27.5% of the typical household income of $130,411. It ranks 495th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Huntington Beach?
The median homeowner in Huntington Beach pays $6,234 a year in property taxes, about 0.57% of the median home value.
Is Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach?
The median home value in Huntington Beach is $1,100,000, about 8.4 times the typical yearly household income.
195,240 people live in Huntington Beach. Numbers are typical (middle) values.