Rents are 4% above what Union City'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 $2,913 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 Union City usually run 1.9% below trend in December and 1.6% above it in August, about $102 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Union City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2017.
Rent in Union City changed +7.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in Union City is 22.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($133,715) is $3,343 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,860); a 3-bedroom is $3,660.
San Leandro, 10 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,517/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Union City. 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
Union City, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 45.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Union City, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Union City, CA has increased from $2,346 to $2,913, a 24.2% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $133,715 today, compared with $127,828 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 4.7% since 2021, moving from about 70,828 residents to roughly 67,464. College-educated residents now make up 45.1% of adults here, versus 41.8% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Union City on your salary?
At $2,913/mo, how Union City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Union City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Union City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Union City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Union City is $2,913/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,070/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,860/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,350/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,660/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($133,715/yr), Union City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Union City?
At $2,913/mo, rent takes ~26% of Union City's median household income ($133,715/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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