Cost of Living in Monterey County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Monterey County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Monterey County ranks #3,087 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 2%)
Sourced county brief
Monterey County Median Gross Rent Reaches $2,055 Per Month
Median gross rent in Monterey County is $2,055 per month. This amount is higher than the California unweighted county mean of $1,691. The official GRAPI, or median gross rent as a percentage of household income, was estimated at 32.7%. This figure is 1.0 percentage point higher than the state unweighted county mean of 31.7%. For owner-occupied properties, the median home value was $781,000, while the state unweighted county mean was $604,112. Selected monthly owner costs were $2,101, which is $220 above the state unweighted mean of $1,881. The median renter-household income in the county was $73,346 during the 2020-2024 period. These figures are derived from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Monterey County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.7% of renter household income in Monterey County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,055 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,101. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $82,200 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Monterey County's $2,055 median is 21.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Monterey County
Rent Burden
25.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,269
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.9%
of gross income
The median home in Monterey County may be a stretch
Median home value is $781,000. Estimated monthly cost: $6,235 vs. your max of $2,269.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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