Murrieta, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Murrieta, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Murrieta →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 111,899, Murrieta, California sits above the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $106,925 per year (+48% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in Murrieta run a median $567,700, above the benchmark across cities in our dataset (+74%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $2,150. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
Murrieta's home-price-to-income ratio of about 5.3× is fairly typical — housing costs track reasonably in line with local pay. Home values near Murrieta rose 1.32% in the past year, a pace most would call steady rather than hot. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Murrieta runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Very High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $2,150/mo in Murrieta would take 24.1% of your income.
$523/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($567,700) would take 34.0% of your income toward principal & interest.
$536/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Murrieta
Median home value is $567,700 and median gross rent is $2,150/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Riverside rose 1.32% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,201/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Murrieta's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Murrieta reported a violent crime rate of 186.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Murrieta
Planning a move to Murrieta? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Murrieta, CA?
- In Murrieta, the median home value is $567,700 and median rent is $2,150 per month, against a median household income of $106,925. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Murrieta?
- Comfortably affording rent in Murrieta — where the median runs $2,150/month — typically means earning about $86,000 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Murrieta.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Murrieta?
- Renting in Murrieta at the median $2,150/month calls for about $86,000 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $567,700 takes roughly $129,887 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Murrieta safe?
- Murrieta's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 186.9 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Murrieta →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Murrieta's.