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.
Typical property price
$499K
Long-term rental income
$2,415/mo
before expenses
Short-term rental income
$3,709/mo
before expenses
Short-term earns roughly
$1,294/mo more
before expenses and regulations
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.
Interested in a specific area?
See the full short-term vs long-term comparison with adjustable assumptions.
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 | $1084K | $3,489 | $3,890 | Low | View details → |
Orange County | $808K | $3,010 | $5,594 | Low | View details → |
Los Angeles County | $706K | $2,888 | $5,101 | Low | View details → |
San Diego County | $661K | $2,852 | $5,065 | Low | View details → |
Alameda County | $847K | $2,787 | $4,589 | Low | View details → |
Contra Costa County | $571K | $2,481 | $4,871 | Low | View details → |
Riverside County | $427K | $2,349 | $3,216 | Low | View details → |
Sacramento County | $380K | $2,154 | $3,528 | Low | View details → |
San Bernardino County | $377K | $2,011 | $2,347 | Low | View details → |
Kern County | $256K | $1,513 | $2,407 | Low | View details → |
Fresno County | $263K | $1,351 | $2,476 | Medium | View details → |
Tulare County | $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 2,196 counties across California. Search for any area and adjust property price, rent, nightly rate, occupancy, mortgage rate, and expenses to match your investment.
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