salaryRent is higher than in 75% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 91% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.9 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 64% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $85,680 a year. That is $41 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 268 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Sierra Madre?
Share of households by yearly income. 57.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Sierra Madre
| Size | Sierra Madre | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,343 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,994 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,397 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,407 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Sierra Madre 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 Sierra Madre, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Sierra Madre
Life in Sierra Madre
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sierra Madre?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $6,370 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,226,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $122,680 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Sierra Madre, CA?
Renting in Sierra Madre costs a median of about $2,142 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Sierra Madre?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $85,680 a year, or $41 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Sierra Madre cheap or expensive?
Sierra Madre is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.6% of the typical household income of $154,815. It ranks 268th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Sierra Madre?
The median homeowner in Sierra Madre pays $8,344 a year in property taxes, about 0.68% of the median home value.
Is Sierra Madre 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 Sierra Madre?
The median home value in Sierra Madre is $1,226,800, about 7.9 times the typical yearly household income.
10,940 people live in Sierra Madre. Numbers are typical (middle) values.