What Could You Earn?
Estimated gross income for a typical 3-bedroom house in California, based on median values. These are starting points. In the dashboard you can adjust everything to match your own property and circumstances.
Key Takeaways
- California's high property prices mean lower percentage yields, but absolute rental income is among the highest in the country.
- Many cities have strict STR regulations: Los Angeles limits to 120 nights, San Francisco to 90 nights for unhosted stays.
- Coastal and wine country areas command premium nightly rates but face the most regulatory pressure.
How Short-Term and Long-Term Compare by Area
Estimated monthly income for a 3-bedroom house in each area, before expenses. Click any area to see the full breakdown in the dashboard.
| City / area | Price | Long-term /month | Short-term /month | Short-term rules | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santa Clara County
California
|
$1084K | $3,489 | $3,890 | Low | View details → |
|
Orange County
California
|
$808K | $3,010 | $5,594 | Low | View details → |
|
Los Angeles County
California
|
$706K | $2,888 | $5,101 | Low | View details → |
|
San Diego County
California
|
$661K | $2,852 | $5,065 | Low | View details → |
|
Alameda County
California
|
$847K | $2,787 | $4,589 | Low | View details → |
|
Contra Costa County
California
|
$571K | $2,481 | $4,871 | Low | View details → |
|
Riverside County
California
|
$427K | $2,349 | $3,216 | Low | View details → |
|
Sacramento County
California
|
$380K | $2,154 | $3,528 | Low | View details → |
|
San Bernardino County
California
|
$377K | $2,011 | $2,347 | Low | View details → |
|
Kern County
California
|
$256K | $1,513 | $2,407 | Low | View details → |
|
Fresno County
California
|
$263K | $1,351 | $2,476 | Medium | View details → |
|
Tulare County
California
|
$252K | $1,198 | $2,107 | Low | View details → |
All figures are estimates based on median values for a 3-bedroom house in each area. Individual properties will vary. Use the dashboard to adjust assumptions to your own situation.
Compare Any Location
The dashboard covers 2196 counties across California. Search for any area and adjust property price, rent, nightly rate, occupancy, mortgage rate, and expenses to match your investment.
Open DashboardData last updated: March 2026