salaryRent is higher than in 70% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.8 years of household income.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $80,840 a year. That is $39 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 233 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
Compare San Bernardino with other big cities
Compare San Bernardino to 149 other cities →
How much do households earn in San Bernardino?
Share of households by yearly income. 20.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in San Bernardino
| Size | San Bernardino | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,270 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,272 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,659 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,032 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,296 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is San Bernardino overall?
Everyday prices in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area are 6% above the U.S. average (index 106.4, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in San Bernardino
Life in San Bernardino
What jobs pay in San Bernardino
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $169,920 | 14.3% |
| Physician Assistant | $165,490 | 14.7% |
| Pharmacist | $161,870 | 15.0% |
| Registered Nurse | $133,940 | 18.1% |
| Software Developer | $133,270 | 18.2% |
| Civil Engineer | $115,120 | 21.1% |
| Dental Hygienist | $105,730 | 22.9% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,030 | 23.1% |
| Operations Manager | $102,260 | 23.7% |
| Police Officer | $101,870 | 23.8% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $98,520 | 24.6% |
| Accountant | $83,920 | 28.9% |
| Firefighter | $79,160 | 30.6% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $76,970 | 31.5% |
| Electrician | $72,790 | 33.3% |
| Carpenter | $70,880 | 34.2% |
| Market Research Analyst | $69,840 | 34.7% |
| HVAC Technician | $64,300 | 37.7% |
| Plumber | $63,920 | 37.9% |
| Truck Driver | $60,580 | 40.0% |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,150 | 51.4% |
| Medical Assistant | $46,700 | 51.9% |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,430 | 52.2% |
| Warehouse Worker | $46,060 | 52.7% |
| Restaurant Cook | $42,450 | 57.1% |
| Retail Salesperson | $36,720 | 66.0% |
| Cashier | $35,700 | 67.9% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $34,800 | 69.7% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Bernardino?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $909 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $422,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $42,230 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Bernardino, CA?
Renting in San Bernardino costs a median of about $2,021 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in San Bernardino?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $80,840 a year, or $39 an hour at a full-time job.
Is San Bernardino cheap or expensive?
San Bernardino is rated Expensive: rent takes 33.4% of the typical household income of $72,707. It ranks 233rd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in San Bernardino?
The median homeowner in San Bernardino pays $2,594 a year in property taxes, about 0.61% of the median home value.
Is San Bernardino more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in San Bernardino?
The median home value in San Bernardino is $422,300, about 5.8 times the typical yearly household income.
222,724 people live in San Bernardino. Numbers are typical (middle) values.