States › California › Westminster

Is Westminster, CA expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 33 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,52144% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$92,256about $7,688/month · 6% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$858,300158% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 86% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 9.3 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 $100,840 a year. That is $48 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 391 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Westminster
$2,521
Manteca
$2,555
Santa Monica
$3,295
Hemet
$1,783
South Gate
$1,849
San Leandro
$2,321
Indio
$2,287

How much do households earn in Westminster?

Under $25k
15.1%
$25k–50k
16.5%
$50k–100k
28.5%
$100k–150k
19.6%
$150k+
14.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 34.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Westminster

SizeWestminsterU.S. average
Studio$1,975$1,338
1 bedroom$1,756$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,341$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,602$1,698
4 bedrooms$3,320$2,098

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

How expensive is Westminster 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 Westminster, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Westminster

🏛️ Property tax$5,217a year · 0.61% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$120a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Westminster

Commute to work27 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree25.9%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home53.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Westminster?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,434 a month less.

Renting
$2,521
Owning
$5,955

Owning assumes a typical $858,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $85,830 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Westminster, CA?

Renting in Westminster costs a median of about $2,521 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $100,840 a year, or $48 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Westminster cheap or expensive?

Westminster is rated Expensive: rent takes 32.8% of the typical household income of $92,256. It ranks 391st cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Westminster?

The median homeowner in Westminster pays $5,217 a year in property taxes, about 0.61% of the median home value.

Is Westminster 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 Westminster?

The median home value in Westminster is $858,300, about 9.3 times the typical yearly household income.

89,860 people live in Westminster. Numbers are typical (middle) values.