San Mateo County, CA at a glance
Median household income
$158,855$13,238 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in San Mateo 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 Mateo County, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for San Francisco, 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 | $2,485 | $29,820 | $99,400 | 18.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,977 | $35,724 | $119,080 | 22.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $3,604 | $43,248 | $144,160 | 27.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $4,604 | $55,248 | $184,160 | 34.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,772 | $57,264 | $190,880 | 36% |
Rent in San Mateo County, CA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in San Mateo County, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $158,855 a year ($13,238 a month before tax).
What $158,855 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 Mateo County, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in San Mateo County, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in San Mateo County, CA is $158,855 per year (approximately $13,238 per month).
What is the average rent in San Mateo County, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $2,485 for a studio, $2,977 for one bedroom, $3,604 for two, $4,604 for three and $4,772 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 Mateo County, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 15.6% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 115.6, 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 Mateo County, CA?
To keep a $3,604 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $144,160 a year, or $12,013 a month. That is 91% of what the typical household in San Mateo County, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in San Mateo County, CA?
On the local median income of $158,855 ($13,238 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $6,619 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $3,971 for everything else and $2,648 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $3,604 takes 54% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in San Mateo 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.