salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 5.3 years of household income. Most homes (76.6%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $140,040 a year. That is $67 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 601 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Seal Beach?
Share of households by yearly income. 36.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Seal Beach
| Size | Seal Beach | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,390 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,501 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,925 | $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 Seal Beach 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 Seal Beach, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Seal Beach
Life in Seal Beach
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Seal Beach?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $123 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $486,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $48,680 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Seal Beach, CA?
Renting in Seal Beach costs a median of about $3,500+ a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Seal Beach?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Seal Beach cheap or expensive?
Seal Beach is rated Expensive: rent takes 45.3% of the typical household income of $92,712. It ranks 601st cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Seal Beach?
The median homeowner in Seal Beach pays $3,154 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of the median home value.
Is Seal Beach 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 Seal Beach?
The median home value in Seal Beach is $486,800, about 5.3 times the typical yearly household income.
24,722 people live in Seal Beach. Numbers are typical (middle) values.