salaryRent is higher than in 83% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 96% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 8.4 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are long, about 30.2 minutes each way. It is a highly educated city: 70.6% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $95,840 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 344 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in San Anselmo?
Share of households by yearly income. 61.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in San Anselmo
| Size | San Anselmo | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,743 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,515 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,524 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is San Anselmo 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 San Anselmo, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in San Anselmo
Life in San Anselmo
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Anselmo?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $8,544 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,576,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $157,670 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Anselmo, CA?
Renting in San Anselmo costs a median of about $2,396 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in San Anselmo?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $95,840 a year, or $46 an hour at a full-time job.
Is San Anselmo cheap or expensive?
San Anselmo is rated Cheap: rent takes 15.4% of the typical household income of $187,272. It ranks 344th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in San Anselmo?
The median homeowner in San Anselmo pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.63% of the median home value.
Is San Anselmo 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 San Anselmo?
The median home value in San Anselmo is $1,576,700, about 8.4 times the typical yearly household income.
12,679 people live in San Anselmo. Numbers are typical (middle) values.