What is the average rent in Oakland?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Oakland city centre costs approximately USD 2,376 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 2,020 (saving 15%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 4,312.

Is Oakland affordable to live in?

Oakland is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are very expensive, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is average.

🇺🇸 CA, United States · 2026

Cost of Living in Oakland

Q: How expensive is Oakland compared to the rest of United States?

Oakland ranks #23 out of 577 cities globally. It is 30.2% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 57.4 and local purchasing power is 133.3.

30.2% above the United States average

Ranked #23 of 577 cities · More expensive than 96% of cities worldwide

+30.2%

Cost of Living

+39.0%

Rent

+38.4%

Groceries

-7.6%

Purchasing Power

Compared to United States average · See United States ranking →

Rent Prices in Oakland

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	USD 2,376/mo	USD 2,020/mo	15%
3-Bedroom	USD 4,312/mo	USD 3,800/mo	12%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Oakland

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$5.09	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$2.33	2 sources
Bread (500g)	$4.27	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	$18.35	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	$13.20	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$11.86	2 sources
Eggs (12)	$7.00	2 sources
Milk (1L)	$1.40	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	$3.06	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	$6.59	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	$3.04	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$13.00	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

$5.09

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$2.33

Bread (500g)

$4.27

Local cheese (1kg)

$18.35

Chicken (1kg)

$13.20

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$11.86

Eggs (12)

$7.00

Milk (1L)

$1.40

Potatoes (1kg)

$3.06

Tomatoes (1kg)

$6.59

Water (1.5L)

$3.04

Wine (mid-range)

$13.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$8.00	2 sources
Cappuccino	$5.60	2 sources
McMeal	$13.00	2 sources
Cheap meal	$23.00	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$119.00	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

$8.00

Cappuccino

$5.60

McMeal

$13.00

Cheap meal

$23.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$119.00

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$121.38	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$68.38	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	$109.38	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$48.00	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

$121.38

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$68.38

Sport shoes (Nike)

$109.38

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$48.00

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$13.75	2 sources
Gym membership	$62.58	2 sources

Cinema ticket

$13.75

Gym membership

$62.58

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$1.27	2 sources
Taxi start	$3.20	1 source
Monthly pass	$115.50	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

$1.27

Taxi start

$3.20

Monthly pass

$115.50

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$199.50	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

$199.50

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Oakland has a cost of living index of 75.1 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 3 of 3 data sources.

75.1

Index

Sources

5.4

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

75.9

Expatistan

72.0

LivingCost

77.4

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

+30.2% Very expensive

Rent

+39.0% Very expensive

Groceries

+38.4% Very expensive

Restaurants

+18.0% Expensive

Purchasing Power

-7.6% Average

Living in Oakland: What to Expect

Oakland is very expensive by global standards (ranked #23 of 577 cities). It is 30.2% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities.

Groceries are very expensive and dining out is expensive. The best value is restaurants and the priciest is rent.

Local purchasing power is strong: residents can afford more goods and services than in most cities.

Cost of Living in Oakland

Rent Prices in Oakland

Prices of Goods & Services in Oakland

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in Oakland: What to Expect

How Does Oakland Compare?

Planning a Move to Oakland?