States › California › Salton City

Is Salton City, CA expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 34 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,45517% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$51,581about $4,298/month · 41% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$200,60040% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 60% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.9 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 32.7 minutes each way. Most homes (87.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $58,200 a year. That is $28 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 72 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Salton City
$1,455
Cambria
$2,040
West Modesto
$1,518
Lucerne Valley
$1,252
Happy Valley
$1,359
Solvang
$1,983
Crescent City
$1,306

How much do households earn in Salton City?

Under $25k
35.2%
$25k–50k
28.6%
$50k–100k
27.8%
$100k–150k
7.5%
$150k+
0.3%

Share of households by yearly income. 7.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Salton City 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 Salton City, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Salton City

🏛️ Property tax$2,123a year · 1.06% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$186a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Salton City

Commute to work32.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree7.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home87.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment12.8%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Salton City?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $63 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,455
Owning
$1,392

Owning assumes a typical $200,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $20,060 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Salton City, CA?

Renting in Salton City costs a median of about $1,455 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Salton City?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $58,200 a year, or $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Salton City cheap or expensive?

Salton City is rated Expensive: rent takes 33.8% of the typical household income of $51,581. It ranks 72nd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Salton City?

The median homeowner in Salton City pays $2,123 a year in property taxes, about 1.06% of the median home value.

Is Salton City 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 Salton City?

The median home value in Salton City is $200,600, about 3.9 times the typical yearly household income.

5,988 people live in Salton City. Numbers are typical (middle) values.