County FMR · HUD FY2026
Alameda County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Alameda County, CA - 149% above the US average.
- $2,385
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,912
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.4%
- YoY change
- +149%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Alameda is the 10th most expensive of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 8.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #10
- most expensive of 58 in California (2BR)
- +45%
- vs the state average
- $95,400
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +8.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (16.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (77.3%); only 6 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby California counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Alameda County, CA. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Alameda County, California at $2,385 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,912/mo and a studio is $2,142/mo. This is 149% higher than the national average of $959 and 45% above the California average of $1,647.
Rent increased8.4% from FY 2025 ($2,201), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $95,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 1,663,823. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Alameda County
The Alameda County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and California's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Alameda County's 1-bedroom rent runs 149% above the US average of $959 and 45% higher than the California state average of $1,647. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$2,201 in FY 2025 to $2,385 in FY 2026 - a change of +8.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $2,385, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $95,400 per year (about $7,950/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $2,912 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 1,663,823 and a county median household income of $126,240, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,937 | $2,142 | +$205 (+10.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,201 | $2,385 | +$184 (+8.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,682 | $2,912 | +$230 (+8.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $3,432 | $3,724 | +$292 (+8.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $4,077 | $4,413 | +$336 (+8.2%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Alameda County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Alameda County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Alameda sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,912 Top 1% higher than 99% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Alameda compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties
- Santa Clara
Santa Clara County
$2,982 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$2,746 1BR FMR / mo
- San Diego
San Diego County
$2,459 1BR FMR / mo
- Alameda
Alameda County
$2,385 1BR FMR / mo
- Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
$2,085 1BR FMR / mo
- Riverside
Riverside County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Alameda is highlighted. Nearby California counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Clara County ($2,982), Orange County ($2,746), San Diego County ($2,459), Alameda County (this county) ($2,385), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $2,385/mo compares to California salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $170,910 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $140,330 | 20.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $125,240 | 22.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $115,400 | 24.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $98,190 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,360 | 29.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $76,540 | 37.4% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $72,960 | 39.2% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,950 | 47.7% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $49,640 | 57.7% | Unaffordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,790 | 59.9% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $45,460 | 63% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,640 | 74.1% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,250 | 76.8% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $37,010 | 77.3% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Alameda County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Alameda (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 31.9% overall, from $1,808 to $2,385. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.4% (FY 2026).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.4% | $2,142 | $2,385 | $2,912 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.3% | $1,937 | $2,201 | $2,682 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.2% | $1,825 | $2,131 | $2,590 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.2% | $1,658 | $1,969 | $2,405 |
| FY 2022 ↓4.1% | $1,538 | $1,854 | $2,274 |
| FY 2021 ↑7.0% | $1,595 | $1,934 | $2,383 |
| FY 2020 | $1,488 | $1,808 | $2,239 |
Part of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metro Area
Alameda County is a central county of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 4 other metro-area counties.
Alameda County ranks #5 of 5 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: San Francisco County ($2,977), San Mateo County ($2,977), Marin County ($2,977), Contra Costa County ($2,385), Alameda County (this county) ($2,385).
Nearby Counties in California
Largest counties by population in California
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Alameda County? ▼
How does Alameda County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Alameda County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Alameda County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Alameda County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Alameda County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Alameda County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Alameda County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Alameda's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $2,385 implies about $95,400/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Alameda can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.