salaryRent is higher than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.7 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are long, about 31.2 minutes each way.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $92,840 a year. That is $45 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 314 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in San Leandro?
Share of households by yearly income. 39.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in San Leandro
| Size | San Leandro | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,749 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,921 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,568 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,049 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,268 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is San Leandro 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 Leandro, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in San Leandro
Life in San Leandro
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Leandro?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,537 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $844,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $84,420 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Leandro, CA?
Renting in San Leandro costs a median of about $2,321 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in San Leandro?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $92,840 a year, or $45 an hour at a full-time job.
Is San Leandro cheap or expensive?
San Leandro is rated OK: rent takes 25.5% of the typical household income of $109,381. It ranks 314th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in San Leandro?
The median homeowner in San Leandro pays $6,133 a year in property taxes, about 0.73% of the median home value.
Is San Leandro 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 Leandro?
The median home value in San Leandro is $844,200, about 7.7 times the typical yearly household income.
87,826 people live in San Leandro. Numbers are typical (middle) values.