Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaSan Mateo CountyMontara Population 2,897 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Montara, California

A $1,467,000 home here costs

$10,084

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $7,542. The real number is $2,542 higher every month — 34% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Montara median: $1,467,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $1,173,600 borrowed $7,542
Property tax0.593% effective rate for Montara itself $725
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $227
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $1,223
Total monthly $10,084

Montara against San Mateo County and California

MeasureMontaraSan Mateo County
Median home value$1,467,400$1,494,500
Median property tax$8,707$9,167
Effective tax rate0.593%0.613%
Median gross rent$2,893
Population2,897745,100

The weather behind that power bill

Montara sits in San Mateo County, which averages a high of 66.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 42.9°F in its coldest, with 26.04" of precipitation a year and 57% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 12 cooling and 3,701 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in San Mateo County

Full San Mateo County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

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

A $1,467,000 home in Montara, California costs approximately $10,084 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $7,542 principal and interest, $725 property tax, $227 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $1,223 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Montara?

Montara has an effective property tax rate of 0.593%, based on a median home value of $1,467,400 and median real estate taxes of $8,707. That is lower than the San Mateo County average of 0.613%.

What is the average home price in Montara?

The median owner-occupied home value in Montara, California is $1,467,400, against $1,494,500 across San Mateo County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Montara?

Rent data is not published for Montara at this level of detail.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Montara — 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