salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 99% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 8.0 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Most homes (81.7%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 88.1% 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 596 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Los Altos?
Share of households by yearly income. 77.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Los Altos
| Size | Los Altos | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,500+ | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,484 | $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 Los Altos 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 Los Altos, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Los Altos
Life in Los Altos
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Los Altos?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $10,376 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $2,000,000+ home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $200,000 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Los Altos, CA?
Renting in Los Altos 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 Los Altos?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Los Altos cheap or expensive?
Los Altos is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.8% of the typical household income of $250,000+. It ranks 596th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Los Altos?
The median homeowner in Los Altos pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.50% of the median home value.
Is Los Altos 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 Los Altos?
The median home value in Los Altos is $2,000,000+, about 8.0 times the typical yearly household income.
30,698 people live in Los Altos. Numbers are typical (middle) values.