Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaRiverside CountyMurrieta Population 111,621 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Murrieta, California

A $607,000 home here costs

$4,539

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,121. The real number is $1,418 higher every month — 45% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Murrieta median: $606,900
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, $485,600 borrowed $3,121
Property tax0.892% effective rate for Murrieta itself $451
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $94
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $506
Total monthly $4,539

Murrieta against Riverside County and California

MeasureMurrietaRiverside County
Median home value$606,900$510,300
Median property tax$5,415$4,189
Effective tax rate0.892%0.821%
Median gross rent$2,330$1,814
Population111,6212,449,909

The weather behind that power bill

Murrieta sits in Riverside County, which averages a high of 106.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.7°F in its coldest, with 2.96" of precipitation a year and 54% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,880 cooling and 1,108 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Riverside County

Full Riverside County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

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

A $607,000 home in Murrieta, California costs approximately $4,539 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $3,121 principal and interest, $451 property tax, $94 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $506 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Murrieta?

Murrieta has an effective property tax rate of 0.892%, based on a median home value of $606,900 and median real estate taxes of $5,415. That is higher than the Riverside County average of 0.821%.

What is the average home price in Murrieta?

The median owner-occupied home value in Murrieta, California is $606,900, against $510,300 across Riverside County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Murrieta?

Median gross rent in Murrieta is $2,330 a month, against $4,539 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

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