Santa Clara County, CA at a glance
Median household income
$164,281$13,690 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 | $2,621 | $31,452 | $104,840 | 19.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,982 | $35,784 | $119,280 | 21.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $3,483 | $41,796 | $139,320 | 25.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $4,602 | $55,224 | $184,080 | 33.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $5,010 | $60,120 | $200,400 | 36.6% |
Rent in Santa Clara County, CA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Santa Clara County, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $164,281 a year ($13,690 a month before tax).
What $164,281 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 Santa Clara County, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Santa Clara County, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Santa Clara County, CA is $164,281 per year (approximately $13,690 per month).
What is the average rent in Santa Clara County, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $2,621 for a studio, $2,982 for one bedroom, $3,483 for two, $4,602 for three and $5,010 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 Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, CA?
To keep a $3,483 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $139,320 a year, or $11,610 a month. That is 85% of what the typical household in Santa Clara County, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Santa Clara County, CA?
On the local median income of $164,281 ($13,690 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $6,845 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $4,107 for everything else and $2,738 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $3,483 takes 51% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Santa Clara 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.