Rent Affordability for A Waiter or Waitress in California
A typical waiter or waitress in California earns about $43,105 a year, which supports approximately $1,078 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked California city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.
As of May 2026. 0 of 200 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 200 are rent-burdened on this salary.
| City↕ | Median rent↕ | % of income↑ | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porterville, CA | $1,425/mo | 39.7% | stretched |
| Chico, CA | $1,541/mo | 42.9% | rent-burdened |
| El Centro, CA | $1,631/mo | 45.4% | rent-burdened |
| Redding, CA | $1,694/mo | 47.2% | rent-burdened |
| Carmichael, CA | $1,781/mo | 49.6% | rent-burdened |
| Huntington Park, CA | $1,800/mo | 50.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Visalia, CA | $1,829/mo | 50.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Apple Valley, CA | $1,833/mo | 51% | severely rent-burdened |
| Tulare, CA | $1,852/mo | 51.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Bakersfield, CA | $1,875/mo | 52.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Hemet, CA | $1,896/mo | 52.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Citrus Heights, CA | $1,910/mo | 53.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Colton, CA | $1,936/mo | 53.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Ceres, CA | $1,960/mo | 54.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Fresno, CA | $1,967/mo | 54.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Stockton, CA | $1,990/mo | 55.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Hanford, CA | $1,989/mo | 55.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Bernardino, CA | $2,013/mo | 56% | severely rent-burdened |
| Modesto, CA | $2,015/mo | 56.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| South Gate, CA | $2,020/mo | 56.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Florin, CA | $2,018/mo | 56.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Yuba City, CA | $2,046/mo | 57% | severely rent-burdened |
| Merced, CA | $2,059/mo | 57.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Sacramento, CA | $2,064/mo | 57.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Palm Springs, CA | $2,069/mo | 57.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Turlock, CA | $2,091/mo | 58.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Lynwood, CA | $2,130/mo | 59.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Yucaipa, CA | $2,140/mo | 59.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Hawthorne, CA | $2,145/mo | 59.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Lodi, CA | $2,170/mo | 60.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Vallejo, CA | $2,184/mo | 60.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Hesperia, CA | $2,186/mo | 60.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Madera, CA | $2,196/mo | 61.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| East Los Angeles, CA | $2,204/mo | 61.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Pico Rivera, CA | $2,225/mo | 61.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| West Sacramento, CA | $2,253/mo | 62.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| El Cajon, CA | $2,275/mo | 63.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Victorville, CA | $2,283/mo | 63.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| El Monte, CA | $2,316/mo | 64.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Cathedral City, CA | $2,321/mo | 64.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Downey, CA | $2,346/mo | 65.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Compton, CA | $2,344/mo | 65.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Clovis, CA | $2,354/mo | 65.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Whittier, CA | $2,353/mo | 65.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Los Banos, CA | $2,362/mo | 65.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Gardena, CA | $2,366/mo | 65.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Bellflower, CA | $2,372/mo | 66% | severely rent-burdened |
| Pomona, CA | $2,378/mo | 66.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Moreno Valley, CA | $2,381/mo | 66.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Pittsburg, CA | $2,388/mo | 66.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Covina, CA | $2,396/mo | 66.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Antelope, CA | $2,400/mo | 66.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Fairfield, CA | $2,403/mo | 66.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Upland, CA | $2,406/mo | 67% | severely rent-burdened |
| Rancho Cordova, CA | $2,410/mo | 67.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Indio, CA | $2,413/mo | 67.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Lake Elsinore, CA | $2,414/mo | 67.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Lancaster, CA | $2,438/mo | 67.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Riverside, CA | $2,441/mo | 68% | severely rent-burdened |
| Long Beach, CA | $2,448/mo | 68.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| National City, CA | $2,448/mo | 68.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Woodland, CA | $2,462/mo | 68.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Redlands, CA | $2,467/mo | 68.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Salinas, CA | $2,472/mo | 68.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Rocklin, CA | $2,497/mo | 69.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Leandro, CA | $2,509/mo | 69.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Escondido, CA | $2,518/mo | 70.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Inglewood, CA | $2,526/mo | 70.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Montebello, CA | $2,526/mo | 70.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Florence-Graham, CA | $2,559/mo | 71.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santa Maria, CA | $2,562/mo | 71.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $2,574/mo | 71.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Richmond, CA | $2,577/mo | 71.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Roseville, CA | $2,579/mo | 71.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Jurupa Valley, CA | $2,585/mo | 72% | severely rent-burdened |
| Rohnert Park, CA | $2,591/mo | 72.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Alhambra, CA | $2,597/mo | 72.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Rowland Heights, CA | $2,596/mo | 72.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Concord, CA | $2,599/mo | 72.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Vacaville, CA | $2,599/mo | 72.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Azusa, CA | $2,602/mo | 72.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Ontario, CA | $2,605/mo | 72.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Manteca, CA | $2,611/mo | 72.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Palm Desert, CA | $2,615/mo | 72.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| West Covina, CA | $2,625/mo | 73.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Highland, CA | $2,626/mo | 73.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Glendora, CA | $2,628/mo | 73.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Hayward, CA | $2,635/mo | 73.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Buena Park, CA | $2,641/mo | 73.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Monterey Park, CA | $2,649/mo | 73.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Corona, CA | $2,669/mo | 74.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Folsom, CA | $2,670/mo | 74.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Antioch, CA | $2,679/mo | 74.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Murrieta, CA | $2,681/mo | 74.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Oakland, CA | $2,691/mo | 74.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Elk Grove, CA | $2,689/mo | 74.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| La Mesa, CA | $2,689/mo | 74.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Jacinto, CA | $2,692/mo | 74.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Rosemead, CA | $2,699/mo | 75.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Davis, CA | $2,702/mo | 75.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Vista, CA | $2,708/mo | 75.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Paramount, CA | $2,716/mo | 75.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Westminster, CA | $2,724/mo | 75.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Simi Valley, CA | $2,730/mo | 76% | severely rent-burdened |
| Fountain Valley, CA | $2,738/mo | 76.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,745/mo | 76.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Palmdale, CA | $2,745/mo | 76.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Baldwin Park, CA | $2,744/mo | 76.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Tracy, CA | $2,748/mo | 76.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Norwalk, CA | $2,753/mo | 76.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Daly City, CA | $2,765/mo | 77% | severely rent-burdened |
| Garden Grove, CA | $2,768/mo | 77.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,773/mo | 77.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santa Ana, CA | $2,781/mo | 77.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Glendale, CA | $2,779/mo | 77.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Rialto, CA | $2,779/mo | 77.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Beaumont, CA | $2,791/mo | 77.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $2,802/mo | 78% | severely rent-burdened |
| Castro Valley, CA | $2,807/mo | 78.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Napa, CA | $2,808/mo | 78.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santa Clarita, CA | $2,816/mo | 78.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| La Habra, CA | $2,824/mo | 78.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Placentia, CA | $2,823/mo | 78.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santee, CA | $2,847/mo | 79.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Berkeley, CA | $2,861/mo | 79.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Oxnard, CA | $2,864/mo | 79.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Perris, CA | $2,911/mo | 81% | severely rent-burdened |
| Camarillo, CA | $2,909/mo | 81% | severely rent-burdened |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | $2,912/mo | 81.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Carson, CA | $2,917/mo | 81.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Torrance, CA | $2,921/mo | 81.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Menifee, CA | $2,921/mo | 81.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Oceanside, CA | $2,940/mo | 81.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Union City, CA | $2,941/mo | 81.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Fullerton, CA | $2,945/mo | 82% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $2,948/mo | 82.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Alameda, CA | $2,961/mo | 82.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Walnut Creek, CA | $2,969/mo | 82.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Brea, CA | $2,980/mo | 83% | severely rent-burdened |
| Pasadena, CA | $2,984/mo | 83.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Chula Vista, CA | $2,996/mo | 83.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Petaluma, CA | $2,996/mo | 83.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Chino Hills, CA | $3,016/mo | 84% | severely rent-burdened |
| Temecula, CA | $3,030/mo | 84.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Diego, CA | $3,054/mo | 85% | severely rent-burdened |
| Huntington Beach, CA | $3,076/mo | 85.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Rafael, CA | $3,100/mo | 86.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Livermore, CA | $3,115/mo | 86.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Orange, CA | $3,122/mo | 86.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Costa Mesa, CA | $3,136/mo | 87.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Fontana, CA | $3,142/mo | 87.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| El Dorado Hills, CA | $3,157/mo | 87.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Cypress, CA | $3,156/mo | 87.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Poway, CA | $3,157/mo | 87.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Tustin, CA | $3,172/mo | 88.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Watsonville, CA | $3,192/mo | 88.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Diamond Bar, CA | $3,244/mo | 90.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Pleasanton, CA | $3,264/mo | 90.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Gilroy, CA | $3,273/mo | 91.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Dublin, CA | $3,305/mo | 92% | severely rent-burdened |
| Oakley, CA | $3,304/mo | 92% | severely rent-burdened |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | $3,307/mo | 92.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Ramon, CA | $3,315/mo | 92.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Lake Forest, CA | $3,337/mo | 92.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Marcos, CA | $3,346/mo | 93.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Chino, CA | $3,345/mo | 93.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Fremont, CA | $3,358/mo | 93.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| La Mirada, CA | $3,357/mo | 93.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | $3,372/mo | 93.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Lakewood, CA | $3,391/mo | 94.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Brentwood, CA | $3,416/mo | 95.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Clemente, CA | $3,420/mo | 95.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Irvine, CA | $3,465/mo | 96.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Arcadia, CA | $3,483/mo | 97% | severely rent-burdened |
| Cerritos, CA | $3,488/mo | 97.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santa Monica, CA | $3,493/mo | 97.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Redondo Beach, CA | $3,500/mo | 97.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Jose, CA | $3,527/mo | 98.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $3,560/mo | 99.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Hacienda Heights, CA | $3,568/mo | 99.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | $3,576/mo | 99.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Newark, CA | $3,578/mo | 99.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Carlsbad, CA | $3,617/mo | 100.7% | severely rent-burdened |
| Eastvale, CA | $3,641/mo | 101.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Milpitas, CA | $3,715/mo | 103.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Mateo, CA | $3,821/mo | 106.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Novato, CA | $3,822/mo | 106.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santa Barbara, CA | $3,849/mo | 107.2% | severely rent-burdened |
| Morgan Hill, CA | $3,893/mo | 108.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Sunnyvale, CA | $3,899/mo | 108.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Santa Clara, CA | $3,935/mo | 109.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| Yorba Linda, CA | $4,060/mo | 113% | severely rent-burdened |
| Redwood City, CA | $4,077/mo | 113.5% | severely rent-burdened |
| South San Francisco, CA | $4,088/mo | 113.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Newport Beach, CA | $4,267/mo | 118.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Cupertino, CA | $4,359/mo | 121.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Encinitas, CA | $4,398/mo | 122.4% | severely rent-burdened |
| Mountain View, CA | $4,416/mo | 122.9% | severely rent-burdened |
| Palo Alto, CA | $4,501/mo | 125.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| San Francisco, CA | $4,539/mo | 126.4% | severely rent-burdened |