salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 6.4 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are long, about 31 minutes each way.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $139,640 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 577 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Signal Hill?
Share of households by yearly income. 41.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Signal Hill
| Size | Signal Hill | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,507 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,690 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,192 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,497 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,035 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Signal Hill 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 Signal Hill, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Signal Hill
Life in Signal Hill
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Signal Hill?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,944 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $783,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $78,330 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Signal Hill, CA?
Renting in Signal Hill costs a median of about $3,491 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Signal Hill?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $139,640 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Signal Hill cheap or expensive?
Signal Hill is rated Expensive: rent takes 34.3% of the typical household income of $122,192. It ranks 577th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Signal Hill?
The median homeowner in Signal Hill pays $6,954 a year in property taxes, about 0.89% of the median home value.
Is Signal Hill 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 Signal Hill?
The median home value in Signal Hill is $783,300, about 6.4 times the typical yearly household income.
11,468 people live in Signal Hill. Numbers are typical (middle) values.