Cost of Living in San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
San Bernardino County ranks #3,035 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 3%)
Sourced county brief
San Bernardino County Median Gross Rent Percentage Reaches 34.3 Percent
In San Bernardino County, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 34.3 percent, according to official U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25071 data. This figure is 2.6 percentage points higher than California's unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 31.7 percent. The median gross rent for the county is $1,801 per month, which is above the unweighted county mean of $1,691 across California. Among owner-occupied housing units, the median monthly owner cost was estimated at $1,844, while the state's unweighted county mean is $1,881. The median home value in the county is $505,000, compared to a California unweighted county mean of $604,112. Median renter-household income for the 2020-2024 period was $61,041. These figures describe the specific financial environment for different housing-tenure groups within the jurisdiction based on the five-year estimate period. Data for this report are drawn from ACS tables B25064, B25071, B25077, B25088, and B25119. 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: San Bernardino County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.3% of renter household income in San Bernardino 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 $1,801 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,844. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $72,040 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. San Bernardino County's $1,801 median is 6.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in San Bernardino County
Rent Burden
25.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,994
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.9%
of gross income
The median home in San Bernardino County may be a stretch
Median home value is $505,000. Estimated monthly cost: $4,032 vs. your max of $1,994.
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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