salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 86% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.1 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Most homes (81%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $148,440 a year. That is $71 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 653 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in San Juan Capistrano?
Share of households by yearly income. 51.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in San Juan Capistrano
| Size | San Juan Capistrano | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,479 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,999 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,546 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,802 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is San Juan Capistrano 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 Juan Capistrano, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in San Juan Capistrano
Life in San Juan Capistrano
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Juan Capistrano?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,185 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $993,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $99,380 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Juan Capistrano, CA?
Renting in San Juan Capistrano costs a median of about $3,711 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in San Juan Capistrano?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $148,440 a year, or $71 an hour at a full-time job.
Is San Juan Capistrano cheap or expensive?
San Juan Capistrano is rated Expensive: rent takes 31.9% of the typical household income of $139,619. It ranks 653rd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in San Juan Capistrano?
The median homeowner in San Juan Capistrano pays $6,603 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of the median home value.
Is San Juan Capistrano 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 Juan Capistrano?
The median home value in San Juan Capistrano is $993,800, about 7.1 times the typical yearly household income.
35,095 people live in San Juan Capistrano. Numbers are typical (middle) values.