Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in San Bernardino, California
A $385,000 home here costs
$2,952per 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 $126,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,133. The real number is $819 higher every month, 38% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare San Bernardino County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
San Bernardino against San Bernardino County and California
| Measure | San Bernardino | San Bernardino County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $384,900 | $475,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,421 | $3,346 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.629% | 0.704% |
| Median gross rent | $1,433 | $1,706 |
| Population | 221,774 | 2,187,816 |
The weather behind that power bill
San Bernardino sits in San Bernardino County, which averages a high of 105.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.0°F in its coldest, with 3.77" of precipitation a year and 49% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,129 cooling and 2,019 heating degree days, which is what sets the $169 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for San Bernardino County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in San Bernardino County
Full San Bernardino County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in San Bernardino I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in San Bernardino?
A $385,000 home in San Bernardino, California costs approximately $2,952 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $2,133 principal and interest, $202 property tax, $60 homeowners insurance, $237 utilities and $321 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in San Bernardino?
San Bernardino has an effective property tax rate of 0.629%, based on a median home value of $384,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,421. That is lower than the San Bernardino County average of 0.704%.
What is the average home price in San Bernardino?
The median owner-occupied home value in San Bernardino, California is $384,900, against $475,000 across San Bernardino County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Bernardino?
Median gross rent in San Bernardino is $1,433 a month, against $2,952 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 San Bernardino?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in San Bernardino, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $126,500 a year. That covers the full $2,952 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for San Bernardino, 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.