Cheap Apartments for Rent in Oakland, CA from $500 (162 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in Oakland.

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property at 1707 36th Ave

1707 36th Ave

OaklandCA94601

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Oakland, CA Local Guide

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Local Guide Expert

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in Oakland, CA

Pricing Updated: 06/19/2025

Current apartment rentals in the Oakland, CA area range in price from $740 to $18,323 with an overall median price of $4,855. The three Oakland neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Jingletown at $1,295, Castro Valley NE Outer Hayward at $740, and East Oakland at $743. Here is today’s list of the top 10 neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for Oakland Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
Jingletown$3,672$1,295380
Castro Valley NE Outer Hayward$3,749$740258
East Oakland$3,749$743650
Uptown Oakland$3,870$975320
Lakeside$4,271$975253
Chinatown$4,315$975298
Jack London Square$4,315$1,195322
Fruitvale$4,319$1,19588
Old Oakland$4,439$1,448205
Longfellow$4,682$1,800160

Cheapest Available Oakland Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in Oakland, CA is a Studio unit found at MacArthur Studio in the Mills College neighborhood priced from $743. Oakland 34 Apartments in the Northeast San Leandro neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $811. Here is today’s list of the most affordable Oakland apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
MacArthur StudioStudio, 1 bathStudio,1BA$743
Oakland 34 Apartments1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$811
Claridge Hotel LLC.Studio / 1 BathroomStudio,1BA$815
Student | Identity Logan ParkSelect 143BR,3BA$849
Common MacArthurPrivate Bedroom in Shared 4 Bed 2 Bath - A4BR,2BA$903
Brookfield Place2 Bed 1 Bath2BR,1BA$935
The Lair2BR/2.0BA2BR,2BA$999
Common JeffersonPrivate Furnished Bedroom1BR,1BA$1,045
HeliosDouble Occupancy Rent By BedStudio,1BA$1,100
2210 MLK5 Bedroom | 2 Bath B5BR,2BA$1,100

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Oakland, CA

As of June 20, 2025 the best value apartment in the Oakland area is the $1.32 price per square foot Live/Work lofts Model at Vulcan Lofts in the in the Mills College neighborhood starting from $2,552. The second greatest value Oakland apartment is the 6117 Monadnock Way Model at 6117 Monadnock Way, Unit 6117 starting at $2,200 with a $1.20 price per square foot in the Mills College neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Oakland apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Vulcan LoftsLive/Work loftsStudio ,1BA$1.32
6117 Monadnock Way, Unit 61176117 Monadnock Way2BR,1BA$1.20
2710 College4 Bedroom | 3 Bath4BR,3BA$1.22
2044 International Blvd - Sunny Studiosintcommr1BR,1BA$1.30
2620 Regent5 Bedroom | 3 Bath5BR,3BA$1.16
The Laureate4 Beds, 2 Baths4BR,2BA$1.19
2210 MLK5 Bedroom | 2 Bath A5BR,2BA$1.30
Brookfield Place2 Bed 1 Bath2BR,1BA$1.20
Oakland 34 Apartments1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$1.24
MacArthur StudioStudio, 1 bathStudio ,1BA$1.65

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Oakland Overview

There’s a lot that could be said to convince you that renting apartments in Oakland would be one of the best decisions of your life. Maybe you’d be interested in the fact that Oakland is a smart city, it’s one of the top cities when counting residents with bachelor’s degrees. Maybe you’d be intrigued by the fact that Oakland is known for its ethnic diversity, as well as its sustainability practices. Many more facts could be spewed at you, and they’d all add up to one thing—Oakland is an awesome, hip place to live.

Why live in Oakland, CA?

Oakland is a city like no other. It lies incredibly close to another major city, San Francisco, and yet it retains its own unique identity. Oakland is a city of diversity and political activism, industry and artistry, culture, and sports teams to rally behind. It’s also known for its food, its culinary culture is likely influenced by the city’s diversity as the cuisine often features international foods, as well as locally grown produce. Oakland truly has its own place in this world, and living in apartments in Oakland would allow you to become a member of this exciting and thriving city.

Oakland, CA
Population: 429,082

Ranked #45

in US Census Population by City

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Best Local Schools in
Oakland, CA

School data provided by Great Schools

Remember the 3 Rules of Real Estate:
Location, Location, Location!

Explore Oakland, CA Rentals by Map

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See the most popular apartments and homes in Oakland, CA

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Getting Around Oakland, CA

Walk Score®

84 / 100

Very Walkable

Most errands can be accomplished on foot

Bike Score®

77 / 100

Very Bikeable

Biking is convenient for most trips

Transit Score®

63 / 100

Good Transit

Many nearby public transportation options

What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?

  • Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
  • Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
  • Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Oakland Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Oakland?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Oakland is under $1,100.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Oakland?

The cheapest apartment in Oakland is Oakland 34 Apartments which is listed at $811, while the average apartment in Oakland costs $4,855.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Oakland?

Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 421 regular apartments in Oakland that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in Oakland?

Cheap apartments in Oakland have an average cost of $991 which is $3,864 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Oakland.

Expert Rental Resources

Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips

The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

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