salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 6.9 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are short, about 19.3 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $132,720 a year. That is $64 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 554 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Los Osos?
Share of households by yearly income. 39.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Los Osos
| Size | Los Osos | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,483 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,250 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,798 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Los Osos 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 Osos, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Los Osos
Life in Los Osos
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Los Osos?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,273 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $805,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $80,580 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Los Osos, CA?
Renting in Los Osos costs a median of about $3,318 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Los Osos?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $132,720 a year, or $64 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Los Osos cheap or expensive?
Los Osos is rated Expensive: rent takes 33.9% of the typical household income of $117,483. It ranks 554th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Los Osos?
The median homeowner in Los Osos pays $6,278 a year in property taxes, about 0.78% of the median home value.
Is Los Osos 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 Osos?
The median home value in Los Osos is $805,800, about 6.9 times the typical yearly household income.
14,166 people live in Los Osos. Numbers are typical (middle) values.