California mortgage calculator
Estimate your monthly payment for a home in California, with property tax at the state average of 0.70% and home insurance included. Rates use the 7.4% national 30-year average from Freddie Mac (week of October 8, 2026).
Estimated monthly payment
- Loan amount
- $587,760
- Down payment
- $146,940
- Interest over 30 years
- $877,271
- Income needed (28% guideline)
- $203,272 a year
Estimate only. Mortgage insurance (PMI) is added when the down payment is under 20%. Real taxes, insurance and lender fees vary by property.
How this is calculated. Principal and interest use the standard fixed-rate loan formula. Property tax uses the California average effective rate: the median real estate tax paid divided by the median home value. Home insurance is a general estimate that you can change.
Sources: Freddie Mac mortgage rate survey, week of October 8, 2026; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2020–2024. Updated October 2026. Full methodology.
What a typical home costs per month in California
A home valued at the California median of $734,700 (the Census Bureau's figure for owner-occupied homes), bought with 20% down at 7.4% over 30 years, comes to about $4,743 a month. That is $4,070 in principal and interest, $429 in property tax and $245 in insurance.
Over a year that is 57.4% of the state's median household income of $99,122. Keeping housing costs near 28% of gross income would take a household income of about $203,272.
Property tax in California
California has the 35th highest effective property tax rate of the 50 states at 0.70%, below the typical state rate of 0.80%. The median California homeowner pays $5,124 a year.
| Home price | Tax per year | Tax per month |
|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $1,395 | $116 |
| $300,000 | $2,092 | $174 |
| $400,000 | $2,790 | $232 |
| $500,000 | $3,487 | $291 |
| $750,000 | $5,231 | $436 |
These figures apply the statewide average rate. Rates differ between counties and taxing districts, and some homes qualify for exemptions.
States with similar property tax rates
- Montana0.72% (32nd highest)
- Mississippi0.72% (33rd highest)
- New Mexico0.70% (34th highest)
- North Carolina0.66% (36th highest)
- Wyoming0.57% (37th highest)
- Arkansas0.55% (38th highest)
Questions about California mortgage payments
What is the property tax rate in California?
The average effective property tax rate in California is 0.70%. Census Bureau data shows homeowners paid a median of $5,124 a year on homes with a median value of $734,700. Your own rate depends on your county, city and school district.
How much is the monthly mortgage payment on a median-value home in California?
About $4,743 a month including property tax and insurance, assuming 20% down at 7.4% on a 30-year loan. Principal and interest alone come to $4,070.
How much income do I need to buy a home in California?
A common guideline keeps housing costs under 28% of gross income. For the median-value home above, that works out to about $203,272 a year. Lenders also look at debts, credit score and savings, so your own number may differ.
Does this calculator include property tax and insurance?
Yes. It adds property tax at 0.70% of the home price and home insurance at 0.4% of the home price as a starting estimate. Change either number to match a real quote. Mortgage insurance is added automatically when the down payment is under 20%.
Last updated October 2026. See the methodology for sources and limits.