How much rent can you afford in Mill Valley, CA?
Run your salary against Mill Valley's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Mill Valley
At a median rent of $5,230/mo, Mill Valley is moderately stretched when measured against Mill Valley median household income of $206,212/yr. Rent would consume roughly 30% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $209,200 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Mill Valley compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Mill Valley?
On a $206,212 salary (the Mill Valley median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $5,155/mo. Mill Valley's median rent is $5,230/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Mill Valley?
To keep Mill Valley's $5,230/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $209,200/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Mill Valley affordable on the median California income?
Mill Valley is moderately stretched on a $206,212 income. Rent would take 30% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".