Home › California › Riverside County

What does it cost to live in Riverside County, CA?

Rent, median, 1 month
$1,901/mo1
California$2,036US$1,413

Riverside County renters pay a median $1,901 a month1, 7% under California, while the median household earns $93,0742, 6% less than California. The median home is worth $557,3003, or 6.0 years of household income against 7.4 in California. Unemployment averaged 5.3% in 2024, level with California's 5.3%4.

Riverside: $1,914Moreno Valley: $2,135Corona: $2,228Murrieta: $2,388Temecula: $2,347Menifee: $2,110Jurupa Valley: $1,741Indio: $1,437Hemet: $1,575Perris: $1,876Lake Elsinore: $2,078Eastvale: $3,252Beaumont: $1,681San Jacinto: $1,615Cathedral City: $1,601Palm Desert: $1,778French Valley: $3,119Palm Springs: $1,562Coachella: $1,144La Quinta: $1,785Wildomar: $2,003Desert Hot Springs: $1,412Banning: $1,650Temescal Valley: $2,938Norco: $1,925East Hemet: $1,655Mead Valley: $1,926Valle Vista: $1,738Rancho Mirage: $1,510Blythe: $938Woodcrest: $2,909El Sobrante CDP (Riverside County): $2,880Lakeland Village: $1,858Canyon Lake: $2,608Calimesa: $1,783Home Gardens: $2,065Good Hope: $1,528Highgrove: $1,463Bermuda Dunes: $1,693Homeland: $1,635Garnet: $1,907Mecca: $916Cherry Valley: $1,399
Each bar is one of 43 places in the county, by population. Highest rent $3,252 in Eastvale, lowest $916 in Mecca.1
Household income, median
$93,074/yr2
California$99,122US$80,734
Home value, median
$557,3003
California$734,700US$332,700
Property tax, median
$4,348/yr5
California$5,124US$3,119
Unemployment, 2024
5.3%4
California5.3%
Aisle 1

Rent by bedrooms

The widest gap with California is on 1 bedroom units: $1,440 here against $1,780, $340 a month less6.

Riverside CountyCaliforniaUS
  • Studio$1,372-14% vs CA
  • 1 bedroom$1,440-19% vs CA
  • 2 bedrooms$1,810-14% vs CA
  • 3 bedrooms$2,166-8% vs CA
  • 4 bedrooms$2,666-5% vs CA
  • 5+ bedrooms$3,157+1% vs CA
59%of renters spend 30% or more of income on rent. California 55%7
30%of renters spend half or more of their income on rent7
$36.56/hrfull-time pay needed to keep median rent at 30% of income1
$2,103HUD fair market rent, 2 bedroom, Riverside County, FY2027 (effective 2026-10-01)8
24.5%of median household income goes to median rent12
31%of households rent their home9
Aisle 2

Owning a home

Property tax works out to about 0.78% of home value a year here, above California's 0.70%53. California's base rate is 1% of assessed value under Prop 13, and homes bought years ago are assessed below market, which is why the effective rate on today's value comes in lower.

Riverside CountyCaliforniaUS
  • Home value$557,300-24% vs CA
  • Monthly owner cost, with mortgage$2,583-12% vs CA
  • Monthly owner cost, no mortgage$781-6% vs CA
  • Property tax a year$4,348-15% vs CA

Owner costs and taxes105

+1.32%home price change in 2025, Riverside County, FHFA repeat-sales index11
3.7xhome prices in Riverside County compared with 200011
69%of households own their home9
Aisle 3

Work and pay

The typical job in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro pays $23.27 an hour, 17% less than California. 10 of the 12 jobs below pay less here than statewide; child care workers come closest at 0%12.

MetroCaliforniaUS
  • All jobs$23.27-17% vs CA
  • Electricians$35.00-4% vs CA
  • Plumbers$30.73-12% vs CA
  • HVAC techs$30.92-11% vs CA
  • Roofers$29.83-2% vs CA
  • Auto technicians$30.87-1% vs CA
  • Truck drivers$29.13+1% vs CA
  • Registered nurses$64.40-5% vs CA
  • Nursing assistants$22.32-3% vs CA
  • Child care workers$19.330% vs CA
  • Restaurant cooks$20.41-5% vs CA
  • Retail sales$17.66-4% vs CA
  • Housekeepers$18.84-8% vs CA

Median hourly wage, May 2025.

$1,149average weekly wage, all covered jobs in Riverside County, 2024. California $1,77213
10.6%of people live below the poverty line14
$38,317income per person15
$16.90/hrCalifornia minimum wage, effective 2026-01-0116
Aisle 4

Everyday costs

Prices in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area rose 3.6% in the year to September 2026; services rose 2.6% and food 3.0%17.

7.75%sales tax in unincorporated county areas, effective 2026-10-01. State base 7.25%18
$6.10California regular gas, week of 2026-10-12. US $4.3319
$436/moCovered California Silver premium, Anthem HMO, age 25, before subsidy, Riverside County, 2026 plan year20
18.4%of workers commute an hour or more each way21
12.3%of workers work from home22
4.3%of households have no car23
94%of households have broadband internet24
Aisle 5

What services cost

Real prices, not estimates: what Riverside County drivers paid us for repairs, what cities charge for permits and trash, what Medicare pays local doctors, and what funeral homes list. The same water heater permit costs $60 in Moreno Valley and $274.30 in unincorporated county, 4.6 times as much26.

Car repair, paid in Riverside County

Diagnostic
$15025
Middle half $125 to $197247 jobs
Brakes
$32025
Middle half $210 to $55751 jobs
Pre-purchase inspection
$17725
Middle half $144 to $22516 jobs
Battery
$37225
Middle half $184 to $52616 jobs
Starter
$49025
Middle half $225 to $59115 jobs

Amounts collected on real Supercanic jobs in the county, parts and labor together25.

Water heater permit, by city

  1. Moreno Valley$60
  2. Riverside$74
  3. Menifee$162.75
  4. Corona$164
  5. Temecula$171
  6. Hemet$247
  7. Unincorporated county$274.30
  8. 26

Rooftop solar permits run $385 in Moreno Valley to $568 in Temecula26.

Trash, 3-cart home, per month

  1. Beaumont$28.42
  2. Corona$31.79
  3. Murrieta$32.52
  4. Moreno Valley$34.23
  5. Norco$36.13
  6. County areas (WM)$36.86
  7. Riverside$42.33
  8. 27

What Medicare pays doctors here

Riverside areaLos AngelesUS
  • Doctor visit, 20 min$100.21-4% vs LA
  • Doctor visit, 30 min$142.49-4% vs LA
  • ER visit, moderate$119.61-1% vs LA
  • Brain MRI$209.59-6% vs LA
  • Lower back MRI$205.56-6% vs LA

Medicare's local rates run about 4% under Los Angeles and 5% over the national rate for these five services28. These are what Medicare pays, not cash prices.

$2,402.50median lowest direct cremation price across 10 funeral homes' price lists, $1,469 to $2,99329
$214.30spread between the cheapest and priciest water heater permit26
$13.91/motrash bill gap, Riverside vs Beaumont27
Aisle 6

43 places in Riverside County, by rent

The ± is the Census margin of error on median rent; a wide one means a rougher number1.

  1. Eastvalecity · 70,633 people$3,252±$105$160,069 income · $831,900 home
  2. French Valleycommunity · 45,269 people$3,119±$221$148,520 income · $679,800 home
  3. Temescal Valleycommunity · 30,069 people$2,938±$821$122,051 income · $710,400 home
  4. Woodcrestcommunity · 17,368 people$2,909±$540$153,731 income · $786,300 home
  5. El Sobrante CDP (Riverside County)city · 13,129 people$2,880±$243$165,682 income · $836,300 home
  6. Canyon Lakecity · 11,119 people$2,608±$190$126,926 income · $699,600 home
  7. Murrietacity · 112,064 people$2,388±$70$114,081 income · $639,800 home
  8. Temeculacity · 111,167 people$2,347±$50$121,063 income · $679,700 home
  9. Coronacity · 159,670 people$2,228±$65$109,242 income · $700,700 home
  10. Moreno Valleycity · 211,666 people$2,135±$38$93,222 income · $503,700 home
  11. Menifeecity · 110,305 people$2,110±$91$93,454 income · $537,300 home
  12. Lake Elsinorecity · 72,461 people$2,078±$119$101,888 income · $566,000 home
  13. Home Gardenscommunity · 10,506 people$2,065±$255$96,342 income · $538,700 home
  14. Wildomarcity · 37,277 people$2,003±$232$103,506 income · $552,400 home
  15. Mead Valleycommunity · 19,286 people$1,926±$294$86,795 income · $446,200 home
  16. Norcocity · 25,054 people$1,925±$222$127,566 income · $782,400 home
  17. Riversidecity · 319,069 people$1,914±$33$91,045 income · $584,800 home
  18. Garnetcommunity · 7,382 people$1,907±$349$72,694 income · $267,900 home
  19. Perriscity · 80,511 people$1,876±$126$88,911 income · $474,700 home
  20. Lakeland Villagecommunity · 12,236 people$1,858±$135$85,748 income · $463,500 home
  21. La Quintacity · 38,707 people$1,785±$141$99,250 income · $661,600 home
  22. Calimesacity · 10,902 people$1,783±$156$87,181 income · $446,300 home
  23. Palm Desertcity · 51,990 people$1,778±$53$77,513 income · $542,000 home
  24. Jurupa Valleycity · 107,011 people$1,741±$58$97,550 income · $574,600 home
  25. Valle Vistacommunity · 18,602 people$1,738±$187$66,825 income · $336,200 home
  26. Bermuda Dunescommunity · 7,971 people$1,693±$163$90,818 income · $596,300 home
  27. Beaumontcity · 56,266 people$1,681±$252$107,118 income · $503,500 home
  28. East Hemetcommunity · 20,257 people$1,655±$244$82,096 income · $419,700 home
  29. Banningcity · 31,093 people$1,650±$130$61,764 income · $352,100 home
  30. Homelandcommunity · 7,584 people$1,635±$271$60,404 income · $238,200 home
  31. San Jacintocity · 55,180 people$1,615±$233$80,647 income · $433,700 home
  32. Cathedral Citycity · 52,267 people$1,601±$90$73,572 income · $453,100 home
  33. Hemetcity · 91,326 people$1,575±$71$57,719 income · $352,200 home
  34. Palm Springscity · 45,070 people$1,562±$61$73,119 income · $604,000 home
  35. Good Hopecommunity · 8,816 people$1,528±$274$56,981 income · $391,700 home
  36. Rancho Miragecity · 17,563 people$1,510±$322$107,364 income · $807,200 home
  37. Highgrovecommunity · 8,366 people$1,463±$283$114,125 income · $625,800 home
  38. Indiocity · 91,950 people$1,437±$53$77,167 income · $458,400 home
  39. Desert Hot Springscity · 33,200 people$1,412±$125$52,761 income · $354,800 home
  40. Cherry Valleycommunity · 6,668 people$1,399±$215$76,895 income · $408,000 home
  41. Coachellacity · 43,307 people$1,144±$76$68,596 income · $367,600 home
  42. Blythecity · 17,396 people$938±$107$56,625 income · $225,000 home
  43. Meccacommunity · 7,184 people$916±$87$48,312 income · $224,300 home

Need a real price, not a median?

Tell us the job. We send it free to the best-reviewed local pro near you, and they call you with a price.

Receipt

Every number on this page, and where it came from.

  1. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25064, Median Gross Rent (Dollars)source
  2. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013, Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)source
  3. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25077, Median Value (Dollars)source
  4. BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2024 annualsource
  5. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25103, Mortgage Status by Median Real Estate Taxes Paid (Dollars)source
  6. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25031, Median Gross Rent by Bedroomssource
  7. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25070, Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Monthssource
  8. HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027 (effective 2026-10-01)source
  9. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25003, Tenuresource
  10. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25088, Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs (Dollars) by Mortgage Statussource
  11. FHFA House Price Index, 2025 annualsource
  12. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025source
  13. BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annualsource
  14. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B17001, Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Agesource
  15. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B19301, Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)source
  16. California minimum wage, effective 2026-01-01source
  17. BLS Consumer Price Index, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, 2026-09source
  18. California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, sales and use tax rates, effective 2026-10-01source
  19. U.S. Energy Information Administration, retail gasoline prices, week of 2026-10-12source
  20. Covered California plan rates by county, 2026 plan year (preliminary, as of 2025-08-01)source
  21. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B08303, Travel Time to Worksource
  22. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B08301, Means of Transportation to Worksource
  23. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B08201, Household Size by Vehicles Availablesource
  24. Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B28002, Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Householdsource
  25. Supercanic paid auto repair jobs in Riverside County, 2025-08-18 to 2026-10-18, our own records. Cash collected per job, job types with 15+ paid jobs only
  26. City and county building permit fee schedules, Riverside County
    12 documents
  27. City and county residential refuse rate sheets, Riverside County
    7 documents
  28. CMS Physician Fee Schedule CY2026 (RVU26D) with 2026 GPCIs, Medicare allowed amounts, non-facilitysource
  29. General Price Lists posted by 10 Riverside County funeral homes (CA Bus. & Prof. Code 7685)
    10 documents

Ratios such as rent share, tax rate and price differences are our math on the published figures above. ACS figures noisier than a 20% coefficient of variation are left out. How we count.