Cost to Own
United States › California › Santa Clara County › Cupertino Population 58,886 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
Before you budget for Cupertino FEMA rates natural hazard risk in Santa Clara County Very High, with earthquake its highest-ranked hazard against other US counties. It shapes what insurers charge here. See what threatens homes in this county

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Cupertino, California

A $2,000,000 home here costs

$14,468

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $620,000 a year.

P&I 77%Tax 8%Insurance 2%Utilities 2%Upkeep 12%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $11,078. The real number is $3,390 higher every month, 31% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Santa Clara County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Cupertino median: $2,000,000+
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
CA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $1,600,000 borrowed $11,078
Property tax0.706%, Santa Clara County rate; no place-level figure published $1,177
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $310
Electricity33.61ยข/kWh, California residential average, EIA $169
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $1,667
Total monthly $14,468

Cupertino against Santa Clara County and California

MeasureCupertinoSanta Clara County
Median home value$2,000,000+$1,382,800
Median property tax$10,001$9,766
Effective tax rate0.706%0.706%
Median gross rent$3,500+$2,814
Population58,8861,903,297

The weather behind that power bill

Cupertino sits in Santa Clara County, which averages a high of 81.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 41.7°F in its coldest, with 13.48" of precipitation a year and 58% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 624 cooling and 2,184 heating degree days, which is what sets the $169 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Santa Clara County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Santa Clara County

Full Santa Clara County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Cupertino averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Cupertino every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Cupertino I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Cupertino?

A $2,000,000 home in Cupertino, California costs approximately $14,468 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $11,078 principal and interest, $1,177 property tax, $310 homeowners insurance, $237 utilities and $1,667 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Cupertino?

Place-level tax data is not published for Cupertino, so the Santa Clara County rate of 0.706% applies here.

What is the average home price in Cupertino?

The median owner-occupied home value in Cupertino, California is above $2 million (the Census reporting cap), against $1,382,800 across Santa Clara County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cupertino?

Median gross rent in Cupertino is above $3,500 (the Census reporting cap) a month, against $14,468 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Cupertino?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Cupertino, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $620,000 a year. That covers the full $14,468 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Cupertino, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology