How much does it cost to rent in Royal Oak, MI?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Royal Oak, MI is $2,150. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Royal Oak cheaper than other Michigan cities?

Royal Oak is one of the pricier cities in Michigan, ranking #7 out of 95 cities tracked at $2,150/mo.

When was Royal Oak rent data last updated?

Royal Oak rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MI

Royal Oak

Name: Average Rent Prices in Royal Oak, MI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 57,950·7th most expensive in Michigan·Royal Oak rents are up 10.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,150/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.0%

Month-over-Month

+3.6%

vs US Median

+$185

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Royal Oak · $2,150

More expensive than 67% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

38/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% above what Royal Oak's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,150/mo

Expected by trend

$2,029/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Royal Oak's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,180

1 BR

$1,295

2 BR

$1,640

3 BR

$2,005

4 BR+

$2,175

Research median

$1,640/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$25,800/yr

At $2,150/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.0% YoY, +3.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Royal Oak, MI is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 64.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

57,950

Median income

$101,109

Median age

36.9

Renters

32%

Age distribution

14.8%

32%

25.2%

12.4%

15.6%

Under 1814.8%

18–3432%

35–5425.2%

55–6412.4%

65+15.6%

Gender

50.8%

49.2%

Male50.8%

Female49.2%

Race & ethnicity

81.7%

White81.7%

Black6.1%

Hispanic4.6%

Asian3.6%

Other4%

Education (25+)

22.4%

64.1%

No HS diploma2.9%

HS diploma10.6%

Some college22.4%

Bachelor's+64.1%

Housing tenure

68%

32%

Owner68%

Renter32%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Royal Oak, MI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,517 → $2,150

up 41.7%

Income

$87,316 → $101,109

up 15.8%

Population

58,368 → 57,950

down 0.7%

Renter share

34.2% → 32%

-2.2 pts

Bachelor's+

60.1% → 64.1%

+4.0 pts

Median age

35.8 → 36.9

+1.1 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Royal Oak, MI has increased by $633 per month, settling near $2,150 after starting the period at $1,517. Household income in the area moved from $87,316 to $101,109 across the same window, up 15.8% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 32% of households rent today, against 34.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 60.1% to 64.1%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Royal Oak, MI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Royal Oak

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View Royal Oak rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Royal Oak on your salary?

At $2,150/mo, how Royal Oak rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $90,701/yr · Rent = 28.4% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $64,397/yr · Rent = 40.1% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $74,179/yr · Rent = 34.8% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $132,586/yr · Rent = 19.5% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $169,411/yr · Rent = 15.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $60,298/yr · Rent = 42.8% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $54,442/yr · Rent = 47.4% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $67,104/yr · Rent = 38.4% income

stretched

By apartment size

Royal Oak rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Royal Oak

About renting in Royal Oak, MI

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Royal Oak is $2,150/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,180/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,640/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,295/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,005/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($101,109/yr), Royal Oak ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Royal Oak an affordable city for renters?

Royal Oak is considered affordable for renters. At $2,150/mo, rent takes approximately 26% of the local median household income ($101,109/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Royal Oak falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Royal Oak?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $86,000/year (~$41/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,150/mo in Royal Oak. The local median household income is $101,109/yr, meaning the typical Royal Oak household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Royal Oak?

Rent in Royal Oak has increased 10.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Royal Oak neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Royal Oak are 48073 ($1,916/mo), and 48067 ($2,266/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Royal Oak is $2,150/mo.

How does Royal Oak rent compare to other cities in Michigan?

Royal Oak is one of the pricier cities in Michigan for rent, ranking #7 out of 95 tracked cities at $2,150/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Royal Oak?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Royal Oak ($2,150/mo): Oak Park ($1,445/mo), Madison Heights ($1,496/mo), Ferndale ($1,747/mo).

What percentage of Royal Oak residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 32% of Royal Oak households are renters, while 68% are owner-occupied. Royal Oak leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Royal Oak rent compare to the national average?

Royal Oak's median rent of $2,150/mo is $185 (9%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Michigan, it ranks #7 out of 95 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

26%

AFFORDABLE

At $2,150/mo, rent takes ~26% of Royal Oak's median household income ($101,109/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Royal Oak 26%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.25%

Run the Royal Oak affordability calculator →

Nearby cities