Towns Near the Most Expensive Places to Rent in California
For September 2021, five cities in California were listed in the top 10 most expensive places to rent in the U.S. If these prices make you want to turn away purchasing a home, don’t worry! We have compiled a list of nearby affordable towns to these high rental rate cities where you may want to consider as your new town.
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Bay Area
With more flexibility for work from home, public transportation, and new developments further from the valley, there are more potential towns outside of the Bay Area to move to. This is great, as the Bay Area hosts three of the top ten most expensive places to rent in the nation for a single bedroom.
San Francisco
- Ranking: 2
- Average Rent Price: $2,800
- Alternative Places to Purchase:
- Petaluma: Average Home Price- $866,509
- Rohnert Park: Average Home Price- $675,787
- Santa Rosa: Average Home Price- $685,915
- Typical Mortgage Payment*: $2,647 – $3,394
San Jose
Ranking: 5- Average Rent Price: $2,200
- Alternative Places to Purchase:
- Hayward: Average Home Price- $872,860
- Hollister: Average Home Price- $799,842
- Salinas: Average Home Price- $663,431
- Typical Mortgage Payment: $2,599 – $3,419
Oakland
- Ranking: 8
- Average Rent Price: $2,000
- Alternative Places to Purchase:
- Concord: Average Home Price- $634,332
- Antioch: Average Home Price- $653,607
- San Pablo: Average Home Price- $582,496
- Typical Mortgage Payment: $2,282 – $2,560
Southern California
Although you may not get the beach proximity you want, there are still tons of great commuter towns that offer new developments. The weather also can’t be beat in any of these towns and perhaps the quieter side will please you more.
Los Angeles
- Ranking: 6
- Average Rent Price: $2,100
- Alternative Places to Purchase:
- Long Beach: Average Home Price- $752,110
- Corona: Average Home Price- $667,047
- Ontario: Average Home Price- $574,560
- Typical Mortgage Payment: $2,250 – $2,946
San Diego
- Ranking: 7 (tied for 6)
- Average Rent Price: $2,100
- Alternative Places to Purchase:
- Chula Vista: Average Home Price- $731,417
- Santee: Average Home Price- $712,520
- Vista: Average Home Price- $736,062
- Typical Mortgage Payment: $2,791 – $2,883
Interested in learning how to make your money work for you? Our CEO explains the difference between renting vs buying below! Get the breakdown now:
Any of these towns spark your interest? Get pre-approved to purchase today!
*Principal + Interest only. Assumptions: 10% down payment, good credit (720+ score), 3.25% avg interest rate may fluctuate daily, does not include property taxes, home insurance, or private mortgage insurance
Sources: Zumper, NerdWallet Mortgage Calculator, Zillow