Alameda County, CA at a glance
Median household income
$129,367$10,781 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Alameda County, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Alameda County, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $2,142 | $25,704 | $85,680 | 19.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,385 | $28,620 | $95,400 | 22.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,912 | $34,944 | $116,480 | 27% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $3,724 | $44,688 | $148,960 | 34.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,413 | $52,956 | $176,520 | 40.9% |
What a typical income covers in Alameda County, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $129,367 a year ($10,781 a month before tax).
What $129,367 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in Alameda County, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Alameda County, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Alameda County, CA is $129,367 per year (approximately $10,781 per month).
What is the average rent in Alameda County, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $2,142 for a studio, $2,385 for one bedroom, $2,912 for two, $3,724 for three and $4,413 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Alameda County, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 15.6% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 115.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Alameda County, CA?
To keep a $2,912 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $116,480 a year, or $9,707 a month. That is 90% of what the typical household in Alameda County, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Alameda County, CA?
On the local median income of $129,367 ($10,781 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $5,390 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $3,234 for everything else and $2,156 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,912 takes 54% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Alameda County, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.