Rents are 3% below what Richmond's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,538 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
December. Asking rents in Richmond usually run 0.9% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in May, about $46 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Richmond is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2016.
Rent in Richmond changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Richmond rose 12.6% while median household income rose 39.3% ($68,472 to $95,391). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Richmond is 17% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($95,391) is $2,385 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,375); a 3-bedroom is $3,050.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Richmond, 94803 ($2,988/mo), costs 32% more than the cheapest, 94801 ($2,263/mo).
Vallejo, 14 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,200/mo), about $4,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Richmond. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Richmond, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 33% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Richmond, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Richmond, CA has increased from $2,202 to $2,538, a 15.3% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $79,478 in 2021 to $95,391 more recently. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. Renters now make up 45.3% of households, compared with 48% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Richmond, CA market of 2021.
Discussions about Richmond
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Can you afford rent in Richmond on your salary?
At $2,538/mo, how Richmond rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Richmond rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Richmond. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Richmond
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Richmond is $2,538/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,685/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,375/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,950/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,050/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($95,391/yr), Richmond ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Richmond?
At $2,538/mo, rent takes ~32% of Richmond's median household income ($95,391/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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