Rents are 5% above what Albany's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,694 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Albany is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2022.
Rent in Albany changed +6.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($144,107) is $3,603 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,430); a 4-bedroom is $4,070.
San Pablo, 6 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,375/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Albany. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Albany, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Albany, CA stood at $2,464 in 2023 and currently runs about $2,694, reflecting a 9.3% increase 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.
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Can you afford rent in Albany on your salary?
At $2,694/mo, how Albany rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Albany rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Albany. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Albany
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Albany is $2,694/mo as of October 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 22% of local median household income ($144,107/yr), Albany ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Albany?
Is rent going up or down in Albany?
How does Albany rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Albany?
At $2,694/mo, rent takes ~22% of Albany's median household income ($144,107/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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