States › California › Magalia

Is Magalia, CA expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 31 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,56711% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$61,388about $5,116/month · 29% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$280,60016% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 54% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.6 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 37.3 minutes each way. Most homes (83.2%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $62,680 a year. That is $30 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other California cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 100 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Magalia
$1,567
Franklin
$1,483
Paradise
$1,224
Garnet
$2,022
Cottonwood
$1,475
Alta Sierra
$2,390
Ladera Heights
$3,048

How much do households earn in Magalia?

Under $25k
13.9%
$25k–50k
32.3%
$50k–100k
33.5%
$100k–150k
6.2%
$150k+
8.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 14.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Magalia

SizeMagaliaU.S. average
2 bedrooms$1,523$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,631$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Magalia overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Magalia, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Magalia

🏛️ Property tax$1,856a year · 0.66% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$201a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Magalia

Commute to work37.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree17.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home83.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line11.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment10.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Magalia?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $380 a month less.

Renting
$1,567
Owning
$1,947

Owning assumes a typical $280,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $28,060 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Magalia, CA?

Renting in Magalia costs a median of about $1,567 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Magalia?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $62,680 a year, or $30 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Magalia cheap or expensive?

Magalia is rated Expensive: rent takes 30.6% of the typical household income of $61,388. It ranks 100th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Magalia?

The median homeowner in Magalia pays $1,856 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of the median home value.

Is Magalia 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 Magalia?

The median home value in Magalia is $280,600, about 4.6 times the typical yearly household income.

7,389 people live in Magalia. Numbers are typical (middle) values.