Rent Affordability for A Software Developer in California
A typical software developer in California earns about $162,970 a year, which supports approximately $4,074 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. 192 of 200 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 8 are rent-burdened on this salary.
| City↕ | Median rent↕ | % of income↑ | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porterville, CA | $1,377/mo | 10.1% | very comfortable |
| Chico, CA | $1,577/mo | 11.6% | very comfortable |
| Redding, CA | $1,642/mo | 12.1% | very comfortable |
| El Centro, CA | $1,719/mo | 12.7% | very comfortable |
| Carmichael, CA | $1,795/mo | 13.2% | very comfortable |
| Huntington Park, CA | $1,820/mo | 13.4% | very comfortable |
| Tulare, CA | $1,849/mo | 13.6% | very comfortable |
| Bakersfield, CA | $1,865/mo | 13.7% | very comfortable |
| Apple Valley, CA | $1,868/mo | 13.8% | very comfortable |
| Ceres, CA | $1,884/mo | 13.9% | very comfortable |
| Visalia, CA | $1,909/mo | 14.1% | very comfortable |
| Citrus Heights, CA | $1,931/mo | 14.2% | very comfortable |
| Colton, CA | $1,929/mo | 14.2% | very comfortable |
| Hemet, CA | $1,939/mo | 14.3% | very comfortable |
| Fresno, CA | $1,954/mo | 14.4% | very comfortable |
| Merced, CA | $1,964/mo | 14.5% | very comfortable |
| Yuba City, CA | $1,967/mo | 14.5% | very comfortable |
| Stockton, CA | $1,989/mo | 14.6% | very comfortable |
| Modesto, CA | $1,986/mo | 14.6% | very comfortable |
| San Bernardino, CA | $1,994/mo | 14.7% | very comfortable |
| South Gate, CA | $2,002/mo | 14.7% | very comfortable |
| Lynwood, CA | $2,035/mo | 15% | very comfortable |
| Hanford, CA | $2,053/mo | 15.1% | very comfortable |
| Sacramento, CA | $2,071/mo | 15.2% | very comfortable |
| Turlock, CA | $2,083/mo | 15.3% | very comfortable |
| Yucaipa, CA | $2,095/mo | 15.4% | very comfortable |
| Florin, CA | $2,111/mo | 15.5% | very comfortable |
| Hawthorne, CA | $2,138/mo | 15.7% | very comfortable |
| Lodi, CA | $2,137/mo | 15.7% | very comfortable |
| Pico Rivera, CA | $2,169/mo | 16% | very comfortable |
| Vallejo, CA | $2,181/mo | 16.1% | very comfortable |
| Palm Springs, CA | $2,201/mo | 16.2% | very comfortable |
| Victorville, CA | $2,227/mo | 16.4% | very comfortable |
| Hesperia, CA | $2,224/mo | 16.4% | very comfortable |
| West Sacramento, CA | $2,228/mo | 16.4% | very comfortable |
| El Cajon, CA | $2,277/mo | 16.8% | very comfortable |
| Montebello, CA | $2,289/mo | 16.9% | very comfortable |
| Downey, CA | $2,312/mo | 17% | very comfortable |
| East Los Angeles, CA | $2,319/mo | 17.1% | very comfortable |
| Clovis, CA | $2,341/mo | 17.2% | very comfortable |
| Madera, CA | $2,344/mo | 17.3% | very comfortable |
| Long Beach, CA | $2,364/mo | 17.4% | very comfortable |
| Moreno Valley, CA | $2,364/mo | 17.4% | very comfortable |
| Gardena, CA | $2,363/mo | 17.4% | very comfortable |
| Los Banos, CA | $2,363/mo | 17.4% | very comfortable |
| El Monte, CA | $2,381/mo | 17.5% | very comfortable |
| Covina, CA | $2,372/mo | 17.5% | very comfortable |
| Antelope, CA | $2,379/mo | 17.5% | very comfortable |
| Pomona, CA | $2,385/mo | 17.6% | very comfortable |
| Whittier, CA | $2,388/mo | 17.6% | very comfortable |
| Pittsburg, CA | $2,396/mo | 17.6% | very comfortable |
| Cathedral City, CA | $2,390/mo | 17.6% | very comfortable |
| Lancaster, CA | $2,403/mo | 17.7% | very comfortable |
| Upland, CA | $2,408/mo | 17.7% | very comfortable |
| Riverside, CA | $2,420/mo | 17.8% | very comfortable |
| Rancho Cordova, CA | $2,412/mo | 17.8% | very comfortable |
| Redlands, CA | $2,418/mo | 17.8% | very comfortable |
| Lake Elsinore, CA | $2,436/mo | 17.9% | very comfortable |
| Fairfield, CA | $2,446/mo | 18% | very comfortable |
| Highland, CA | $2,459/mo | 18.1% | very comfortable |
| San Leandro, CA | $2,468/mo | 18.2% | very comfortable |
| Bellflower, CA | $2,472/mo | 18.2% | very comfortable |
| Rocklin, CA | $2,469/mo | 18.2% | very comfortable |
| Woodland, CA | $2,467/mo | 18.2% | very comfortable |
| National City, CA | $2,472/mo | 18.2% | very comfortable |
| Salinas, CA | $2,498/mo | 18.4% | very comfortable |
| Escondido, CA | $2,504/mo | 18.4% | very comfortable |
| Compton, CA | $2,500/mo | 18.4% | very comfortable |
| Richmond, CA | $2,509/mo | 18.5% | very comfortable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $2,520/mo | 18.6% | very comfortable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $2,534/mo | 18.7% | very comfortable |
| Monterey Park, CA | $2,545/mo | 18.7% | very comfortable |
| Jurupa Valley, CA | $2,556/mo | 18.8% | very comfortable |
| Vacaville, CA | $2,562/mo | 18.9% | very comfortable |
| Concord, CA | $2,584/mo | 19% | very comfortable |
| Antioch, CA | $2,575/mo | 19% | very comfortable |
| Alhambra, CA | $2,592/mo | 19.1% | very comfortable |
| Baldwin Park, CA | $2,598/mo | 19.1% | very comfortable |
| Oakland, CA | $2,614/mo | 19.2% | very comfortable |
| Murrieta, CA | $2,610/mo | 19.2% | very comfortable |
| Inglewood, CA | $2,605/mo | 19.2% | very comfortable |
| Buena Park, CA | $2,603/mo | 19.2% | very comfortable |
| Hayward, CA | $2,615/mo | 19.3% | very comfortable |
| Indio, CA | $2,616/mo | 19.3% | very comfortable |
| Manteca, CA | $2,624/mo | 19.3% | very comfortable |
| Azusa, CA | $2,626/mo | 19.3% | very comfortable |
| Ontario, CA | $2,635/mo | 19.4% | very comfortable |
| Westminster, CA | $2,629/mo | 19.4% | very comfortable |
| Palm Desert, CA | $2,638/mo | 19.4% | very comfortable |
| Roseville, CA | $2,645/mo | 19.5% | very comfortable |
| Folsom, CA | $2,655/mo | 19.5% | very comfortable |
| Rohnert Park, CA | $2,649/mo | 19.5% | very comfortable |
| La Mesa, CA | $2,662/mo | 19.6% | very comfortable |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,674/mo | 19.7% | very comfortable |
| Garden Grove, CA | $2,679/mo | 19.7% | very comfortable |
| Corona, CA | $2,682/mo | 19.7% | very comfortable |
| Vista, CA | $2,682/mo | 19.7% | very comfortable |
| Elk Grove, CA | $2,688/mo | 19.8% | very comfortable |
| West Covina, CA | $2,683/mo | 19.8% | very comfortable |
| Florence-Graham, CA | $2,683/mo | 19.8% | very comfortable |
| Daly City, CA | $2,706/mo | 19.9% | very comfortable |
| Davis, CA | $2,706/mo | 19.9% | very comfortable |
| Beaumont, CA | $2,705/mo | 19.9% | very comfortable |
| Fountain Valley, CA | $2,698/mo | 19.9% | very comfortable |
| Palmdale, CA | $2,720/mo | 20% | affordable |
| Simi Valley, CA | $2,717/mo | 20% | affordable |
| Tracy, CA | $2,717/mo | 20% | affordable |
| Glendale, CA | $2,732/mo | 20.1% | affordable |
| Paramount, CA | $2,723/mo | 20.1% | affordable |
| Rialto, CA | $2,740/mo | 20.2% | affordable |
| La Habra, CA | $2,745/mo | 20.2% | affordable |
| Norwalk, CA | $2,757/mo | 20.3% | affordable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,773/mo | 20.4% | affordable |
| Castro Valley, CA | $2,767/mo | 20.4% | affordable |
| Santa Ana, CA | $2,785/mo | 20.5% | affordable |
| Napa, CA | $2,781/mo | 20.5% | affordable |
| Santee, CA | $2,790/mo | 20.5% | affordable |
| San Jacinto, CA | $2,793/mo | 20.6% | affordable |
| Placentia, CA | $2,796/mo | 20.6% | affordable |
| Rowland Heights, CA | $2,799/mo | 20.6% | affordable |
| Santa Clarita, CA | $2,806/mo | 20.7% | affordable |
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $2,813/mo | 20.7% | affordable |
| Menifee, CA | $2,824/mo | 20.8% | affordable |
| Perris, CA | $2,833/mo | 20.9% | affordable |
| Rosemead, CA | $2,848/mo | 21% | affordable |
| Fullerton, CA | $2,872/mo | 21.1% | affordable |
| Union City, CA | $2,867/mo | 21.1% | affordable |
| Glendora, CA | $2,869/mo | 21.1% | affordable |
| Oxnard, CA | $2,882/mo | 21.2% | affordable |
| Camarillo, CA | $2,885/mo | 21.2% | affordable |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | $2,910/mo | 21.4% | affordable |
| Pasadena, CA | $2,939/mo | 21.6% | affordable |
| Petaluma, CA | $2,927/mo | 21.6% | affordable |
| Berkeley, CA | $2,941/mo | 21.7% | affordable |
| Carson, CA | $2,953/mo | 21.7% | affordable |
| Alameda, CA | $2,948/mo | 21.7% | affordable |
| Temecula, CA | $2,954/mo | 21.8% | affordable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $2,966/mo | 21.8% | affordable |
| Brea, CA | $2,960/mo | 21.8% | affordable |
| Oceanside, CA | $2,974/mo | 21.9% | affordable |
| San Rafael, CA | $2,992/mo | 22% | affordable |
| Chula Vista, CA | $3,008/mo | 22.1% | affordable |
| Torrance, CA | $2,997/mo | 22.1% | affordable |
| Walnut Creek, CA | $3,003/mo | 22.1% | affordable |
| Chino Hills, CA | $3,010/mo | 22.2% | affordable |
| San Diego, CA | $3,038/mo | 22.4% | affordable |
| Fontana, CA | $3,042/mo | 22.4% | affordable |
| La Mirada, CA | $3,036/mo | 22.4% | affordable |
| Huntington Beach, CA | $3,078/mo | 22.7% | affordable |
| Livermore, CA | $3,082/mo | 22.7% | affordable |
| Gilroy, CA | $3,082/mo | 22.7% | affordable |
| Poway, CA | $3,103/mo | 22.8% | affordable |
| Costa Mesa, CA | $3,113/mo | 22.9% | affordable |
| Cypress, CA | $3,132/mo | 23.1% | affordable |
| Tustin, CA | $3,151/mo | 23.2% | affordable |
| El Dorado Hills, CA | $3,156/mo | 23.2% | affordable |
| Orange, CA | $3,181/mo | 23.4% | affordable |
| Pleasanton, CA | $3,180/mo | 23.4% | affordable |
| Dublin, CA | $3,233/mo | 23.8% | affordable |
| San Marcos, CA | $3,258/mo | 24% | affordable |
| Hacienda Heights, CA | $3,254/mo | 24% | affordable |
| Watsonville, CA | $3,257/mo | 24% | affordable |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | $3,274/mo | 24.1% | affordable |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | $3,289/mo | 24.2% | affordable |
| Lake Forest, CA | $3,299/mo | 24.3% | affordable |
| Diamond Bar, CA | $3,301/mo | 24.3% | affordable |
| Fremont, CA | $3,308/mo | 24.4% | affordable |
| Arcadia, CA | $3,325/mo | 24.5% | affordable |
| San Ramon, CA | $3,352/mo | 24.7% | affordable |
| Brentwood, CA | $3,365/mo | 24.8% | affordable |
| Newark, CA | $3,371/mo | 24.8% | affordable |
| Oakley, CA | $3,369/mo | 24.8% | affordable |
| Chino, CA | $3,388/mo | 24.9% | affordable |
| Irvine, CA | $3,390/mo | 25% | affordable |
| Lakewood, CA | $3,430/mo | 25.3% | affordable |
| San Clemente, CA | $3,442/mo | 25.3% | affordable |
| San Jose, CA | $3,479/mo | 25.6% | affordable |
| Santa Monica, CA | $3,517/mo | 25.9% | affordable |
| Redondo Beach, CA | $3,543/mo | 26.1% | affordable |
| Carlsbad, CA | $3,560/mo | 26.2% | affordable |
| Eastvale, CA | $3,567/mo | 26.3% | affordable |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | $3,594/mo | 26.5% | affordable |
| Cerritos, CA | $3,600/mo | 26.5% | affordable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $3,649/mo | 26.9% | affordable |
| San Mateo, CA | $3,667/mo | 27% | affordable |
| Milpitas, CA | $3,676/mo | 27.1% | affordable |
| Morgan Hill, CA | $3,772/mo | 27.8% | affordable |
| Sunnyvale, CA | $3,821/mo | 28.1% | affordable |
| Novato, CA | $3,857/mo | 28.4% | affordable |
| Santa Clara, CA | $3,890/mo | 28.6% | affordable |
| Redwood City, CA | $3,949/mo | 29.1% | affordable |
| Santa Barbara, CA | $3,967/mo | 29.2% | affordable |
| Yorba Linda, CA | $4,083/mo | 30.1% | stretched |
| South San Francisco, CA | $4,084/mo | 30.1% | stretched |
| Cupertino, CA | $4,267/mo | 31.4% | stretched |
| Newport Beach, CA | $4,285/mo | 31.6% | stretched |
| Palo Alto, CA | $4,299/mo | 31.7% | stretched |
| Mountain View, CA | $4,334/mo | 31.9% | stretched |
| San Francisco, CA | $4,401/mo | 32.4% | stretched |
| Encinitas, CA | $4,498/mo | 33.1% | stretched |