How much rent can you afford in San Mateo, CA?
Run your salary against San Mateo's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in San Mateo
At a median rent of $3,821/mo, San Mateo is moderately stretched when measured against San Mateo median household income of $153,504/yr. Rent would consume roughly 30% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $152,840 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How San Mateo compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in San Mateo?
On a $153,504 salary (the San Mateo median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $3,838/mo. San Mateo's median rent is $3,821/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in San Mateo?
To keep San Mateo's $3,821/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $152,840/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is San Mateo affordable on the median California income?
San Mateo is moderately stretched on a $153,504 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".