San Benito County, CA at a glance
Median household income
$114,394$9,533 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in San Benito County, 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 San Benito County, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area, 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 | $2,205 | $26,460 | $88,200 | 23.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,212 | $26,544 | $88,480 | 23.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,902 | $34,824 | $116,080 | 30.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $3,944 | $47,328 | $157,760 | 41.4% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,190 | $50,280 | $167,600 | 44% |
Rent in San Benito County, CA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in San Benito County, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $114,394 a year ($9,533 a month before tax).
What $114,394 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 San Benito County, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in San Benito County, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in San Benito County, CA is $114,394 per year (approximately $9,533 per month).
What is the average rent in San Benito County, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $2,205 for a studio, $2,212 for one bedroom, $2,902 for two, $3,944 for three and $4,190 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 San Benito County, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 10.4% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 110.4, 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 San Benito County, CA?
To keep a $2,902 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $116,080 a year, or $9,673 a month. That is 101% of what the typical household in San Benito County, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in San Benito County, CA?
On the local median income of $114,394 ($9,533 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,766 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,860 for everything else and $1,907 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,902 takes 61% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in San Benito County, 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.