salaryRent is higher than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 10.5 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 $92,000 a year. That is $44 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 309 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in San Rafael?
Share of households by yearly income. 47.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in San Rafael
| Size | San Rafael | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,025 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,186 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,825 | $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 Rafael overall?
Everyday prices in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area are 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in San Rafael
Life in San Rafael
What jobs pay in San Rafael
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $219,080 | 12.6% |
| Lawyer | $212,500 | 13.0% |
| Software Developer | $186,640 | 14.8% |
| Registered Nurse | $186,610 | 14.8% |
| Physician Assistant | $184,380 | 15.0% |
| Pharmacist | $177,410 | 15.6% |
| Operations Manager | $149,990 | 18.4% |
| Dental Hygienist | $146,760 | 18.8% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $134,460 | 20.5% |
| Police Officer | $132,000 | 20.9% |
| Civil Engineer | $130,160 | 21.2% |
| Market Research Analyst | $123,250 | 22.4% |
| Firefighter | $113,700 | 24.3% |
| Accountant | $110,730 | 24.9% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $101,860 | 27.1% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $94,310 | 29.3% |
| Electrician | $92,830 | 29.7% |
| Carpenter | $89,200 | 30.9% |
| HVAC Technician | $78,490 | 35.2% |
| Plumber | $77,880 | 35.4% |
| Truck Driver | $66,450 | 41.5% |
| Medical Assistant | $59,790 | 46.2% |
| Customer Service Representative | $57,830 | 47.7% |
| Nursing Assistant | $56,080 | 49.2% |
| Warehouse Worker | $48,400 | 57.0% |
| Restaurant Cook | $46,030 | 60.0% |
| Retail Salesperson | $43,850 | 62.9% |
| Cashier | $41,270 | 66.9% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $38,860 | 71.0% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Rafael?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $7,106 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,355,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $135,560 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Rafael, CA?
Renting in San Rafael costs a median of about $2,300 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in San Rafael?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $92,000 a year, or $44 an hour at a full-time job.
Is San Rafael cheap or expensive?
San Rafael is rated OK: rent takes 21.4% of the typical household income of $128,811. It ranks 309th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in San Rafael?
The median homeowner in San Rafael pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.74% of the median home value.
Is San Rafael more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 16% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in San Rafael?
The median home value in San Rafael is $1,355,600, about 10.5 times the typical yearly household income.
60,433 people live in San Rafael. Numbers are typical (middle) values.