Housing Costs After Divorce in California
Last reviewed: March 2026
The median home in California is valued at $740,000. Keeping that home on a single income costs approximately $4,750/month (mortgage + taxes + insurance + maintenance). Renting a comparable home actually costs more in California — about $1,536,916/month more.
Monthly carrying costs in California
Here is what it costs to keep the median-priced home in California ($740,000) on a single income. These figures assume a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.09%.
| Expense | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage (80% LTV, 30yr fixed) | $3,584 | $43,004 |
| Property taxes (0.71%) | $438 | $5,254 |
| Homeowners insurance | $112 | $1,348 |
| Maintenance (1% rule) | $617 | $7,400 |
| Total carrying cost | $4,750 | $57,006 |
Can you afford to keep it?
Financial advisors generally recommend keeping housing costs below 28–35% of gross income. Here is what you would need to earn to keep the median California home:
| Threshold | Monthly income needed | Annual income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative (28%) | $16,966 | $203,593 |
| Moderate (35%) | $13,573 | $162,874 |
California insurance costs
Homeowners insurance in California averages $1,348/year ($112/month). This is well below the national average of $3,548/year, making insurance one of the cheaper components of housing costs in California.
Keep vs. sell: the numbers
Renting a comparable home in California costs approximately $1,541,667/month (based on a price-to-rent ratio of 0.0). Owning is actually cheaper than renting by about $1,536,916/month in California.
If you sell, closing costs in California average 1.00% of the sale price ($7,400 on a $740,000 home). This includes transfer taxes, title insurance, recording fees, and agent commissions.
Property division in California
California is a community property state. This means marital property is generally divided 50/50. If one spouse keeps the house, they typically need to compensate the other for half the equity — through refinancing, a cash buyout, or offsetting with other assets.
Can you actually afford to keep your California home?
Enter your real numbers — mortgage balance, income, expenses — and see a year-by-year projection of whether keeping the house is sustainable on your single income.
Pro models your after-tax cash flow year-by-year with California-specific property taxes, insurance, and housing costs.
From uncertainty to clarity in 3 steps
No account required. No credit card. Just your numbers.
Enter your numbers
Settlement amount, income, expenses, alimony, house — takes about 2 minutes. Everything runs privately in your browser.
See the projection
Get a year-by-year chart showing your net worth from now through age 100. Green, yellow, or red — you'll know where you stand instantly.
Model & export
Test different settlement terms to find which saves you the most money, compare offers side-by-side, and export a report for your attorney.
Every projection is deterministic — same inputs always produce the same outputs. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you provide.
See what a Pro analysis looks like
We built a complete Pro analysis for a fictional person named Sarah. Explore every section — charts, what-if scenarios, risk timeline, negotiation leverage — so you can see what’s included before running your own numbers.
You don’t need a $5,000 CDFA retainer to understand your own numbers
Start with the free projection. If the numbers raise questions you can’t answer, upgrade to Pro for $19 — one-time, no subscription — and discover which settlement terms could save you thousands.
Not financial or legal advice. DivorceSmart is an educational planning tool. Always consult a qualified attorney and financial advisor before making settlement decisions.
From uncertainty to clarity in 3 steps
No account required. No credit card. Just your numbers.
Enter your numbers
Settlement amount, income, expenses, alimony, house — takes about 2 minutes. Everything runs privately in your browser.
See the projection
Get a year-by-year chart showing your net worth from now through age 100. Green, yellow, or red — you'll know where you stand instantly.
Model & export
Test different settlement terms to find which saves you the most money, compare offers side-by-side, and export a report for your attorney.
Every projection is deterministic — same inputs always produce the same outputs. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you provide.
See what a Pro analysis looks like
We built a complete Pro analysis for a fictional person named Sarah. Explore every section — charts, what-if scenarios, risk timeline, negotiation leverage — so you can see what’s included before running your own numbers.
You don’t need a $5,000 CDFA retainer to understand your own numbers
Start with the free projection. If the numbers raise questions you can’t answer, upgrade to Pro for $19 — one-time, no subscription — and discover which settlement terms could save you thousands.
Not financial or legal advice. DivorceSmart is an educational planning tool. Always consult a qualified attorney and financial advisor before making settlement decisions.