Rents are 4% above what Oakland'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 $2,691 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: August 17, 2026
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Oakland, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 48.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Oakland, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Oakland, CA paid around $2,316 a month. That figure now sits near $2,691, up 16.2% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $85,628 to $101,600 between 2021 and 2024, a 18.7% shift. Taken together, the five-year picture in Oakland, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Oakland
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Oakland on your salary?
At $2,691/mo, how Oakland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Oakland rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Oakland. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Oakland
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Oakland is $2,691/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,792/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,513/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,062/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,226/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($101,600/yr), Oakland ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oakland an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Oakland?
Is rent going up or down in Oakland?
Which Oakland neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Oakland rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Oakland?
What percentage of Oakland residents rent vs. own?
How does Oakland rent compare to the national average?
At $2,691/mo, rent takes ~32% of Oakland's median household income ($101,600/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Oakland.
No discussions yet.
