salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 90% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 9.3 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 $122,440 a year. That is $59 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 516 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in San Clemente?
Share of households by yearly income. 53.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in San Clemente
| Size | San Clemente | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,821 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,259 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,727 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,599 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is San Clemente 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 Clemente, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in San Clemente
Life in San Clemente
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Clemente?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $6,642 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,398,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $139,840 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Clemente, CA?
Renting in San Clemente costs a median of about $3,061 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in San Clemente?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $122,440 a year, or $59 an hour at a full-time job.
Is San Clemente cheap or expensive?
San Clemente is rated OK: rent takes 24.3% of the typical household income of $151,057. It ranks 516th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in San Clemente?
The median homeowner in San Clemente pays $8,160 a year in property taxes, about 0.58% of the median home value.
Is San Clemente 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 Clemente?
The median home value in San Clemente is $1,398,400, about 9.3 times the typical yearly household income.
63,273 people live in San Clemente. Numbers are typical (middle) values.