El Centro, CA at a glance
Median household income
$53,082$4,424 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in El Centro, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in El Centro, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for El Centro, CA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $939 | $11,268 | $37,560 | 21.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,038 | $12,456 | $41,520 | 23.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,362 | $16,344 | $54,480 | 30.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,845 | $22,140 | $73,800 | 41.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,285 | $27,420 | $91,400 | 51.7% |
What a typical income covers in El Centro, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $53,082 a year ($4,424 a month before tax).
What $53,082 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in El Centro, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in El Centro, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in El Centro, CA is $53,082 per year (approximately $4,424 per month).
What is the average rent in El Centro, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $939 for a studio, $1,038 for one bedroom, $1,362 for two, $1,845 for three and $2,285 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is El Centro, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 4.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 95.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in El Centro, CA?
To keep a $1,362 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $54,480 a year, or $4,540 a month. That is 103% of what the typical household in El Centro, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in El Centro, CA?
On the local median income of $53,082 ($4,424 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,212 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,327 for everything else and $885 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,362 takes 62% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in El Centro, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.