States › California › Pismo Beach

Is Pismo Beach, CA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 22 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,36735% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$127,341about $10,612/month · 46% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$1,021,300207% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 82% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 8.0 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 $94,680 a year. That is $46 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 335 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Pismo Beach
$2,367
Midway City
$1,708
Bermuda Dunes
$1,795
Interlaken
$2,058
Gold River
$2,596
South San Gabriel
$2,278
Rolling Hills Estates
$3,500+

How much do households earn in Pismo Beach?

Under $25k
6.0%
$25k–50k
13.1%
$50k–100k
31.4%
$100k–150k
20.6%
$150k+
24.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 44.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Pismo Beach

SizePismo BeachU.S. average
Studio$1,300$1,338
1 bedroom$1,584$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,687$1,509
3 bedrooms$3,308$1,698

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

How expensive is Pismo Beach 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 Pismo Beach, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Pismo Beach

🏛️ Property tax$7,023a year · 0.69% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$98a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Pismo Beach

Commute to work23 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree51.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home64.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line6.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Pismo Beach?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $4,719 a month less.

Renting
$2,367
Owning
$7,086

Owning assumes a typical $1,021,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $102,130 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Pismo Beach, CA?

Renting in Pismo Beach costs a median of about $2,367 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Pismo Beach?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $94,680 a year, or $46 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Pismo Beach cheap or expensive?

Pismo Beach is rated OK: rent takes 22.3% of the typical household income of $127,341. It ranks 335th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Pismo Beach?

The median homeowner in Pismo Beach pays $7,023 a year in property taxes, about 0.69% of the median home value.

Is Pismo Beach 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 Pismo Beach?

The median home value in Pismo Beach is $1,021,300, about 8.0 times the typical yearly household income.

8,014 people live in Pismo Beach. Numbers are typical (middle) values.