Santa Cruz, CA at a glance
Median household income
$115,475$9,623 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Santa Cruz, 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 Cruz, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 | $3,179 | $38,148 | $127,160 | 33% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $3,298 | $39,576 | $131,920 | 34.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $4,214 | $50,568 | $168,560 | 43.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $5,377 | $64,524 | $215,080 | 55.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $5,659 | $67,908 | $226,360 | 58.8% |
What a typical income covers in Santa Cruz, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $115,475 a year ($9,623 a month before tax).
What $115,475 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 Cruz, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Santa Cruz, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Santa Cruz, CA is $115,475 per year (approximately $9,623 per month).
What is the average rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $3,179 for a studio, $3,298 for one bedroom, $4,214 for two, $5,377 for three and $5,659 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 Cruz, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 9.9% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 109.9, 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 Cruz, CA?
To keep a $4,214 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $168,560 a year, or $14,047 a month. That is 146% of what the typical household in Santa Cruz, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Santa Cruz, CA?
On the local median income of $115,475 ($9,623 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,811 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,887 for everything else and $1,925 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $4,214 takes 88% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Santa Cruz, 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.