Rent vs Buy in California
Compare 117 cities across California. Find out whether renting or buying makes more financial sense in your area.
117cities analyzed
Avg Home:$707,222
Avg Rent:$2,691/mo
Avg Price/Rent:22.1
California Housing Market Summary
117
Cities Analyzed
1
Favor Buying
55
Favor Renting
61
Toss-Up
Across California's 117 analyzed cities, the results are mixed with no clear winner statewide. Your decision depends heavily on which city you're considering.
The average home price in California is $707,222, with average rents at $2,691/month. This gives an average price-to-rent ratio of 22.1.
$Most Affordable Cities
$$Most Expensive Cities
All California Cities
Sorted by population. Click any city for detailed analysis.
| City | Median Price | Median Rent | Price/Rent | Break-even | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $770,000 | $2,850 | 22.5 | 13 yrs | Rent |
| San Diego | $840,000 | $2,900 | 24.1 | 10 yrs | Rent |
| San Jose | $740,000 | $2,900 | 21.3 | 6 yrs | Toss-up |
| San Francisco | $795,000 | $2,750 | 24.1 | 12 yrs | Rent |
| Fresno | $745,000 | $3,000 | 20.7 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Sacramento | $780,000 | $2,650 | 24.5 | 13 yrs | Rent |
| Long Beach | $780,000 | $2,450 | 26.5 | 14 yrs | Rent |
| Oakland | $655,000 | $2,450 | 22.3 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| Bakersfield | $710,000 | $2,500 | 23.7 | 11 yrs | Rent |
| Anaheim | $825,000 | $3,150 | 21.8 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Stockton | $655,000 | $3,200 | 17.1 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Riverside | $860,000 | $2,600 | 27.6 | 17 yrs | Rent |
| Santa Ana | $750,000 | $2,650 | 23.6 | 10 yrs | Rent |
| Irvine | $770,000 | $2,850 | 22.5 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| Chula Vista | $755,000 | $2,900 | 21.7 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Fremont | $800,000 | $2,450 | 27.2 | 15 yrs | Rent |
| Santa Clarita | $855,000 | $3,000 | 23.8 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| San Bernardino | $675,000 | $3,150 | 17.9 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Modesto | $735,000 | $3,250 | 18.8 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Fontana | $740,000 | $3,250 | 19.0 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Moreno Valley | $830,000 | $2,500 | 27.7 | 11 yrs | Rent |
| Oxnard | $825,000 | $2,800 | 24.6 | 12 yrs | Rent |
| Huntington Beach | $625,000 | $2,700 | 19.3 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Glendale | $790,000 | $3,000 | 21.9 | 6 yrs | Toss-up |
| Santa Rosa | $625,000 | $2,950 | 17.7 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Rancho Cucamonga | $820,000 | $2,450 | 27.9 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| Oceanside | $710,000 | $2,550 | 23.2 | 12 yrs | Rent |
| Elk Grove | $795,000 | $3,050 | 21.7 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Ontario | $760,000 | $3,050 | 20.8 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Lancaster | $625,000 | $2,450 | 21.3 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Garden Grove | $665,000 | $3,100 | 17.9 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Palmdale | $750,000 | $2,950 | 21.2 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Salinas | $800,000 | $2,300 | 29.0 | 9 yrs | Rent |
| Hayward | $750,000 | $2,900 | 21.6 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Corona | $710,000 | $2,350 | 25.2 | 17 yrs | Rent |
| Sunnyvale | $740,000 | $2,500 | 24.7 | 14 yrs | Rent |
| Pomona | $785,000 | $2,450 | 26.7 | 11 yrs | Rent |
| Escondido | $715,000 | $2,750 | 21.7 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Roseville | $755,000 | $2,850 | 22.1 | 15 yrs | Rent |
| Torrance | $640,000 | $2,550 | 20.9 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Visalia | $675,000 | $2,500 | 22.5 | 13 yrs | Rent |
| Fullerton | $680,000 | $2,850 | 19.9 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Pasadena | $705,000 | $2,900 | 20.3 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Victorville | $750,000 | $3,100 | 20.2 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Concord | $725,000 | $2,950 | 20.5 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Thousand Oaks | $670,000 | $2,450 | 22.8 | 13 yrs | Rent |
| Simi Valley | $705,000 | $2,400 | 24.5 | 13 yrs | Rent |
| Berkeley | $670,000 | $2,850 | 19.6 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Vallejo | $680,000 | $3,100 | 18.3 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Clovis | $630,000 | $2,550 | 20.6 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Fairfield | $675,000 | $2,750 | 20.5 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Antioch | $700,000 | $2,600 | 22.4 | 14 yrs | Rent |
| Carlsbad | $615,000 | $3,100 | 16.5 | 5 yrs | Buy |
| El Monte | $635,000 | $2,550 | 20.8 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Murrieta | $790,000 | $2,700 | 24.4 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| Jurupa Valley | $625,000 | $2,850 | 18.3 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Costa Mesa | $820,000 | $2,500 | 27.3 | 12 yrs | Rent |
| Downey | $700,000 | $3,100 | 18.8 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Temecula | $820,000 | $3,150 | 21.7 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Santa Maria | $630,000 | $3,050 | 17.2 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Ventura | $775,000 | $3,050 | 21.2 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Inglewood | $750,000 | $2,500 | 25.0 | 11 yrs | Rent |
| Burbank | $690,000 | $2,700 | 21.3 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| El Cajon | $820,000 | $2,800 | 24.4 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| West Covina | $735,000 | $2,950 | 20.8 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| San Mateo | $810,000 | $2,400 | 28.1 | 14 yrs | Rent |
| Norwalk | $790,000 | $3,000 | 21.9 | 6 yrs | Toss-up |
| Daly City | $680,000 | $2,450 | 23.1 | 17 yrs | Rent |
| Rialto | $710,000 | $3,000 | 19.7 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Vacaville | $760,000 | $2,400 | 26.4 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| Menifee | $815,000 | $2,800 | 24.3 | 17 yrs | Rent |
| Vista | $670,000 | $2,600 | 21.5 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Chico | $745,000 | $2,550 | 24.3 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| Hesperia | $650,000 | $2,800 | 19.3 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Compton | $630,000 | $2,850 | 18.4 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| San Marcos | $745,000 | $2,500 | 24.8 | 17 yrs | Rent |
| Carson | $715,000 | $2,800 | 21.3 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Mission Viejo | $620,000 | $2,950 | 17.5 | 6 yrs | Toss-up |
| South Gate | $775,000 | $2,900 | 22.3 | 12 yrs | Rent |
| Tracy | $710,000 | $2,500 | 23.7 | 13 yrs | Rent |
| Indio | $650,000 | $2,200 | 24.6 | 15 yrs | Rent |
| Redding | $590,000 | $2,450 | 20.1 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| San Leandro | $585,000 | $2,350 | 20.7 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Chino | $590,000 | $2,450 | 20.1 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Westminster | $680,000 | $2,400 | 23.6 | 15 yrs | Rent |
| Hemet | $710,000 | $2,600 | 22.8 | 17 yrs | Rent |
| Livermore | $730,000 | $2,300 | 26.4 | 15 yrs | Rent |
| Hawthorne | $725,000 | $2,300 | 26.3 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| Citrus Heights | $630,000 | $2,250 | 23.3 | 12 yrs | Rent |
| Whittier | $620,000 | $2,250 | 23.0 | 17 yrs | Rent |
| Merced | $595,000 | $2,850 | 17.4 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Lake Forest | $605,000 | $2,350 | 21.5 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Newport Beach | $655,000 | $2,650 | 20.6 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| San Ramon | $665,000 | $2,500 | 22.2 | 13 yrs | Rent |
| Redwood City | $695,000 | $2,750 | 21.1 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Chino Hills | $640,000 | $2,850 | 18.7 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Alhambra | $740,000 | $2,400 | 25.7 | 9 yrs | Rent |
| Mountain View | $620,000 | $2,850 | 18.1 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Folsom | $705,000 | $2,250 | 26.1 | 11 yrs | Rent |
| Buena Park | $705,000 | $2,600 | 22.6 | 10 yrs | Rent |
| Milpitas | $640,000 | $2,300 | 23.2 | 10 yrs | Rent |
| Pleasanton | $600,000 | $2,900 | 17.2 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Tustin | $655,000 | $2,500 | 21.8 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Bellflower | $685,000 | $2,400 | 23.8 | 17 yrs | Rent |
| Alameda | $605,000 | $2,600 | 19.4 | 9 yrs | Toss-up |
| Napa | $680,000 | $2,250 | 25.2 | 10 yrs | Rent |
| Upland | $705,000 | $2,650 | 22.2 | 15 yrs | Rent |
| Baldwin Park | $645,000 | $2,750 | 19.5 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Pittsburg | $645,000 | $2,700 | 19.9 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Redlands | $670,000 | $2,400 | 23.3 | 11 yrs | Rent |
| Lynwood | $690,000 | $2,850 | 20.2 | 6 yrs | Toss-up |
| Camarillo | $775,000 | $2,350 | 27.5 | 10 yrs | Rent |
| Walnut Creek | $630,000 | $2,450 | 21.4 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
| Palo Alto | $605,000 | $2,450 | 20.6 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| Yorba Linda | $710,000 | $2,600 | 22.8 | 16 yrs | Rent |
| South San Francisco | $600,000 | $2,750 | 18.2 | 7 yrs | Toss-up |
| San Clemente | $625,000 | $2,700 | 19.3 | 8 yrs | Toss-up |
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