salaryRent is higher than in 86% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 100% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.8 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 70.2% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $101,160 a year. That is $49 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 393 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in San Carlos?
Share of households by yearly income. 71.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in San Carlos
| Size | San Carlos | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,262 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,632 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,484 | $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 Carlos 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 Carlos, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in San Carlos
Life in San Carlos
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Carlos?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $11,348 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $2,000,000+ home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $200,000 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Carlos, CA?
Renting in San Carlos costs a median of about $2,529 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in San Carlos?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $101,160 a year, or $49 an hour at a full-time job.
Is San Carlos cheap or expensive?
San Carlos is rated Cheap: rent takes 11.8% of the typical household income of $256,111. It ranks 393rd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in San Carlos?
The median homeowner in San Carlos pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.50% of the median home value.
Is San Carlos 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 Carlos?
The median home value in San Carlos is $2,000,000+, about 7.8 times the typical yearly household income.
29,614 people live in San Carlos. Numbers are typical (middle) values.