salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 8.3 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 $119,120 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 492 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Novato?
Share of households by yearly income. 46.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Novato
| Size | Novato | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,550 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,892 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,711 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,268 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Novato 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 Novato, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Novato
Life in Novato
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Novato?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $4,186 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,032,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $103,250 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Novato, CA?
Renting in Novato costs a median of about $2,978 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Novato?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $119,120 a year, or $57 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Novato cheap or expensive?
Novato is rated OK: rent takes 28.6% of the typical household income of $124,821. It ranks 492nd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Novato?
The median homeowner in Novato pays $8,101 a year in property taxes, about 0.78% of the median home value.
Is Novato 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 Novato?
The median home value in Novato is $1,032,500, about 8.3 times the typical yearly household income.
52,546 people live in Novato. Numbers are typical (middle) values.