San Luis Obispo, CA at a glance
Median household income
$73,685$6,140 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in San Luis Obispo, 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 Luis Obispo, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, 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 | $1,842 | $22,104 | $73,680 | 30% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,036 | $24,432 | $81,440 | 33.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,671 | $32,052 | $106,840 | 43.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $3,584 | $43,008 | $143,360 | 58.4% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,105 | $49,260 | $164,200 | 66.9% |
Rent in San Luis Obispo, CA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in San Luis Obispo, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $73,685 a year ($6,140 a month before tax).
What $73,685 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 Luis Obispo, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in San Luis Obispo, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in San Luis Obispo, CA is $73,685 per year (approximately $6,140 per month).
What is the average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,842 for a studio, $2,036 for one bedroom, $2,671 for two, $3,584 for three and $4,105 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 Luis Obispo, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.6% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 108.6, 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 Luis Obispo, CA?
To keep a $2,671 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $106,840 a year, or $8,903 a month. That is 145% of what the typical household in San Luis Obispo, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in San Luis Obispo, CA?
On the local median income of $73,685 ($6,140 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,070 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,842 for everything else and $1,228 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,671 takes 87% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in San Luis Obispo, 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.