How much does it cost to rent in Albany, CA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Albany, CA is $2,715. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Albany cheaper than other California cities?

Albany falls in the middle range for California, ranking #211 out of 381 cities at $2,715/mo.

When was Albany rent data last updated?

Albany rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Albany, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Albany, CA at $2,680 per month, which is close to the $2,715 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CA

Albany

Name: Average Rent Prices in Albany, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 19,414·211th most expensive in California·Albany rents are up 7.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,715/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.4%

Month-over-Month

-12.6%

vs US Median

+$753

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Albany · $2,715

More expensive than 85% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

23% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,715/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$109,000/yr

Local median income

$144,107/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Albany's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,940

1 BR

$2,200

2 BR

$2,680

3 BR

$3,430

4 BR+

$4,070

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,680/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,715 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$32,580/yr

At $2,715/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 7.4% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.4% YoY, -12.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Albany, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 77.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,414

Median income

$144,107

Median age

38.4

Renters

46.9%

Age distribution

21.3%

22.7%

28.6%

15.8%

Under 1821.3%

18–3422.7%

35–5428.6%

55–6411.6%

65+15.8%

Gender

46.4%

53.6%

Male46.4%

Female53.6%

Race & ethnicity

45.4%

12.2%

31.4%

White45.4%

Black3.9%

Hispanic12.2%

Asian31.4%

Other7%

Education (25+)

12.3%

77.8%

No HS diploma2.1%

HS diploma7.9%

Some college12.3%

Bachelor's+77.8%

Housing tenure

53.1%

46.9%

Owner53.1%

Renter46.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Albany, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,155 → $2,715

down 13.9%

Income

$113,602 → $144,107

up 26.9%

Population

19,958 → 19,414

down 2.7%

Renter share

50.7% → 46.9%

-3.8 pts

Bachelor's+

73.3% → 77.8%

+4.5 pts

Median age

36.6 → 38.4

+1.8 yrs

The median rent in Albany, CA stood at $3,155 in 2023 and currently runs about $2,715, reflecting a 13.9% decrease over the period. Census figures show median household income at $144,107 today, compared with $113,602 five years earlier. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has contracted by 2.7% since 2021, moving from about 19,958 residents to roughly 19,414. Renters now make up 46.9% of households, compared with 50.7% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 77.8% of adults here, versus 73.3% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.

Community

Discussions about Albany

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View Albany rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Albany on your salary?

At $2,715/mo, how Albany rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 29.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 41.2% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 35.7% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 20% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 15.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 44% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 48.7% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 39.5% income

stretched

By apartment size

Albany rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Albany. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Albany

About renting in Albany, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Albany is $2,715/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,940/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,680/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,200/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,430/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($144,107/yr), Albany ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Albany an affordable city for renters?

Albany is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,715/mo, rent takes approximately 23% of the local median household income ($144,107/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Albany falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Albany?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $109,000/year (~$52/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,715/mo in Albany. The local median household income is $144,107/yr, meaning the typical Albany household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Albany?

Rent in Albany has increased 7.4% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Albany rent compare to other cities in California?

Albany is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #211 out of 381 tracked cities at $2,715/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Albany?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Albany ($2,715/mo): Richmond ($2,577/mo), El Sobrante ($2,582/mo).

What percentage of Albany residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 46.9% of Albany households are renters, while 53.1% are owner-occupied. Albany leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Albany rent compare to the national average?

Albany's median rent of $2,715/mo is $753 (38%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #211 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

23%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,715/mo, rent takes ~23% of Albany's median household income ($144,107/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Albany 23%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Albany affordability calculator →

Nearby cities