salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 3.7 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 18.6 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $113,320 a year. That is $54 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 470 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Imperial?
Share of households by yearly income. 27.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Imperial
| Size | Imperial | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,573 | $1,338 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,178 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,856 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,851 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Imperial 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 Imperial, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Imperial
Life in Imperial
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Imperial?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $329 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $360,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $36,090 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Imperial, CA?
Renting in Imperial costs a median of about $2,833 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Imperial?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $113,320 a year, or $54 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Imperial cheap or expensive?
Imperial is rated Expensive: rent takes 34.9% of the typical household income of $97,275. It ranks 470th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Imperial?
The median homeowner in Imperial pays $3,605 a year in property taxes, about 1.00% of the median home value.
Is Imperial 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 Imperial?
The median home value in Imperial is $360,900, about 3.7 times the typical yearly household income.
21,430 people live in Imperial. Numbers are typical (middle) values.