Modesto, CA at a glance
Median household income
$79,891$6,658 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Modesto, 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 Modesto, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Modesto, 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 | $1,255 | $15,060 | $50,200 | 18.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,356 | $16,272 | $54,240 | 20.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,758 | $21,096 | $70,320 | 26.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,442 | $29,304 | $97,680 | 36.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,823 | $33,876 | $112,920 | 42.4% |
What a typical income covers in Modesto, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $79,891 a year ($6,658 a month before tax).
What $79,891 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 Modesto, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Modesto, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Modesto, CA is $79,891 per year (approximately $6,658 per month).
What is the average rent in Modesto, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,255 for a studio, $1,356 for one bedroom, $1,758 for two, $2,442 for three and $2,823 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 Modesto, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 4.1% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 104.1, 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 Modesto, CA?
To keep a $1,758 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $70,320 a year, or $5,860 a month. That is 88% of what the typical household in Modesto, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Modesto, CA?
On the local median income of $79,891 ($6,658 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,329 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,997 for everything else and $1,332 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,758 takes 53% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Modesto, 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.