San Mateo, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for San Mateo, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in San Mateo →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
San Mateo's population is about 104,165. On income, the typical household clears $149,152 a year, running above the median household income across the cities we cover (+107%).
Expect a median home value of $1,508,900 in San Mateo, which runs above what we see across other cities (+362%). Median rent lands at $2,971/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
At roughly 10.1 times median income, San Mateo's home values rank among the more stretched we track — buying here takes a larger share of local pay. Home prices around San Mateo have pulled back slightly over the past year, down about 0.61%. Natural-hazard exposure in San Mateo is rated Relatively High by FEMA, on the elevated end — something to check with insurers before buying.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $2,971/mo in San Mateo would take 23.9% of your income.
$758/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($1,508,900) would take 64.8% of your income toward principal & interest.
$4,575/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in San Mateo
Median home value is $1,508,900 and median gross rent is $2,971/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for San Mateo fell 0.61% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $3,604/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates San Mateo's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
San Mateo reported a violent crime rate of 168 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to San Mateo
Planning a move to San Mateo? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in San Mateo, CA?
- Cost of living in San Mateo centers on housing: median home value runs $1,508,900, median rent runs $2,971/month, and the typical household earns $149,152 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in San Mateo?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in San Mateo, where median rent runs $2,971/month, you'd want to earn about $118,840 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for San Mateo.
- Is it better to rent or buy in San Mateo?
- With a median home value of $1,508,900 and median rent of $2,971/month, renting comfortably in San Mateo takes about $118,840/year (the 30% guideline), while buying at the median price takes roughly $345,229/year in principal-and-interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates). The right call depends on how long you plan to stay and your down payment.
- Is San Mateo safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 168 per 100,000 residents in San Mateo.
See the full salary breakdown for San Mateo →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of San Mateo's.