Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in South Lake Tahoe, California
A $630,000 home here costs
$4,573per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $196,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,435. The real number is $1,138 higher every month, 33% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare El Dorado 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.
South Lake Tahoe against El Dorado County and California
| Measure | South Lake Tahoe | El Dorado County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $630,200 | $640,500 |
| Median property tax | $3,577 | $4,510 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.568% | 0.704% |
| Median gross rent | $1,467 | $1,626 |
| Population | 21,319 | 192,299 |
The weather behind that power bill
South Lake Tahoe sits in El Dorado County, which averages a high of 90.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 30.5°F in its coldest, with 54.46" of precipitation a year and 51% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 594 cooling and 4,977 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for El Dorado County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in El Dorado County
Full El Dorado County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in South Lake Tahoe I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in South Lake Tahoe?
A $630,000 home in South Lake Tahoe, California costs approximately $4,573 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $3,435 principal and interest, $298 property tax, $98 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $525 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in South Lake Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe has an effective property tax rate of 0.568%, based on a median home value of $630,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,577. That is lower than the El Dorado County average of 0.704%.
What is the average home price in South Lake Tahoe?
The median owner-occupied home value in South Lake Tahoe, California is $630,200, against $640,500 across El Dorado County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Lake Tahoe?
Median gross rent in South Lake Tahoe is $1,467 a month, against $4,573 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 South Lake Tahoe?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in South Lake Tahoe, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $196,000 a year. That covers the full $4,573 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for South Lake Tahoe, 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.