Last updated
Average Rent in Downtown Oakland & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 11 apartment communities in Downtown Oakland, Oakland, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,520/mo
▼ 3% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,910/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
11
tracked daily
Units Listed
31
available now
Downtown Oakland vs Oakland, CA Average
Downtown Oakland is cheaper the Oakland, CA average by $835/mo (25%). The citywide average is $3,355/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Downtown Oakland?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Downtown Oakland is $2,520 per month across 11 apartment communities and 31 available units. Rents have decreased $93 (3%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Forma starting at $1,910/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $2,520/mo.
Prices range from $1,910 to $3,879 per month. The most common price point is the $2,200 range, where 11 units are currently listed.
Downtown Oakland Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Downtown Oakland
Rent Prices by Apartment in Downtown Oakland
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forma | $1,910/mo | $2,134/mo | 6 | 4.6 |
| Lydian | $1,989/mo | $2,002/mo | 2 | 3.6 |
| Residences at Lake Merritt | $2,025/mo | $2,025/mo | 1 | 4.3 |
| Domain Oakland | $2,076/mo | $2,076/mo | 1 | 3.6 |
| Bell Uptown District Apartments | $2,105/mo | $2,158/mo | 2 | 4.4 |
| Skaia | $2,149/mo | $2,225/mo | 2 | 4 |
| 19th & Harrison Apartments | $2,301/mo | $2,330/mo | 5 | 4.2 |
Google Search Trends for Downtown Oakland Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Downtown Oakland
What is the average rent in Downtown Oakland?
Is rent going up or down in Downtown Oakland?
What is the cheapest apartment in Downtown Oakland?
How many apartments are available in Downtown Oakland?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Downtown Oakland?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$101,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $2,520/mo.
Comfortable income
$121,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,910/mo), you need to earn at least $76,000/year.
Median household income in Downtown Oakland is $97,369 , about 20% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Downtown Oakland
Overall prices in Downtown Oakland runs above the national average by about 18% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 117.6, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Downtown Oakland's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,520 |
| Utilities | $861 |
| Groceries | $622 |
| Transportation | $2,051 |
| Healthcare | $1,001 |
| Other goods and services | $1,601 |
| Estimated total | $8,656/mo |
Population
438,072
Median household income
$97,369
Census median rent
$1,917/mo
Rent as % of income
30.5%
Median age
37.6
Mean commute
31 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Explore Downtown Oakland Apartments
Browse all 11 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.