States › California › Soquel

Is Soquel, CA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,40337% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$128,101about $10,675/month · 47% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$957,300188% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 83% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.5 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 $96,120 a year. That is $46 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 350 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Soquel
$2,403
Sonoma
$2,818
Garden Acres
$1,436
Morro Bay
$3,505
Lake Arrowhead
$3,154
Fairview
$2,803
Placerville
$1,308

How much do households earn in Soquel?

Under $25k
10.2%
$25k–50k
6.9%
$50k–100k
34.0%
$100k–150k
20.7%
$150k+
23.3%

Share of households by yearly income. 44.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Soquel

SizeSoquelU.S. average
1 bedroom$2,000$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,468$1,509
3 bedrooms$3,500+$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Soquel overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Soquel, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Soquel

🏛️ Property tax$7,025a year · 0.73% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$127a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Soquel

Commute to work23 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree48%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home72.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line9.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Soquel?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $4,239 a month less.

Renting
$2,403
Owning
$6,642

Owning assumes a typical $957,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $95,730 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Soquel, CA?

Renting in Soquel costs a median of about $2,403 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Soquel?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $96,120 a year, or $46 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Soquel cheap or expensive?

Soquel is rated OK: rent takes 22.5% of the typical household income of $128,101. It ranks 350th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Soquel?

The median homeowner in Soquel pays $7,025 a year in property taxes, about 0.73% of the median home value.

Is Soquel 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 Soquel?

The median home value in Soquel is $957,300, about 7.5 times the typical yearly household income.

10,679 people live in Soquel. Numbers are typical (middle) values.