Cheap Apartments for Rent in Oakland, CA from $500 (156 Rentals)

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

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Mark Twain Homes
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Mark Twain Homes

3525 Lyon AveOakland, CA 94601
Senior Living
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The Grove
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

The Grove

2600-2685 Ec Reems CtOakland, CA 94605
  • Utilities Included
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Claridge Hotel LLC.
Studio Apartments

Claridge Hotel LLC.

634 15th StOakland, CA 94612
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Common MacArthur
3 to 4 Bedroom Apartments

Common MacArthur

873 32nd StOakland, CA 94608
Corporate Housing
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Oakland, CA Local Guide

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Written By:
Staff Writer
Local Guide Expert

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in Oakland, CA

Pricing Updated: 08/05/2025

Current apartment rentals in the Oakland, CA area range in price from $743 to $299,500 with an overall median price of $4,872. The three Oakland neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Old Oakland at $1,448, Fruitvale at $1,332, and Jingletown at $1,199. Here is today’s list of the top 10 neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for Oakland Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
Old Oakland$2,750$1,44832
Fruitvale$3,025$1,33217
Jingletown$3,540$1,199259
East Oakland$3,649$743592
Castro Valley NE Outer Hayward$3,749$811207
Chinatown$3,999$1,250103
Jack London Square$3,999$1,250138
Uptown Oakland$4,055$800255
Westlake$4,334$1,250132
Lakeside$4,532$800215

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. The Lair in the Downtown Berkeley neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 3 Beds apartment currently listed from $775. Here is today’s list of the most affordable Oakland apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
MacArthur StudioStudio, 1 bathStudio,1BA$743
The Lair3BR/2.0BA3BR,2BA$775
SHARED & PRIVATE Dorm Style Units Available1BR/1.0BA1BR,1BA$795
Oakland 34 Apartments1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$811
Claridge Hotel LLC.Studio / 1 BathroomStudio,1BA$815
HeliosShared Double1BR,1BA$950
2715 Dwight6 Bedroom | 4 Bath6BR,4BA$963
Oakland Station1 Bedroom 1 Bath1BR,1BA$995
2731 Durant Ave1BR/1.0BA1BR,1BA$995
2618 College5 Bedroom | 3 Bath5BR,3BA$1,054

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Oakland, CA

As of August 05, 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 St. Elizabeth neighborhood starting from $2,552. The second greatest value Oakland apartment is the 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Apartment Model at 350 Vernon starting at $2,795 with a $1.60 price per square foot in the Harrison Street 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
350 Vernon2 Bedroom 2 Bath Apartment2BR,2BA$1.60
2620 Regent5 Bedroom | 3 Bath5BR,3BA$1.02
The Laureate3 Beds, 2.5 Baths3BR,2.5BA$1.43
The Lair2BR/2.0BA2BR,2BA$0.95
Brookfield Place3 Bed 2 Bath3BR,2BA$1.06
FOUND Study Southside BerkeleyDouble Room (Bunkbeds) in 4 Bed/2 Bath4BR,2BA$0.92
Ace Berkeley2BR/2BA - B22BR,2BA$1.30
FOUND Study Downtown BerkeleyB2 (2 bed/1 bath)2BR,1BA$1.50
Oakland 34 Apartments1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$1.24

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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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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 $1,054.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Oakland?

The cheapest apartment in Oakland is SHARED & PRIVATE Dorm Style Units Available which is listed at $795, while the average apartment in Oakland costs $4,872.

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 246 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 $881 which is $3,991 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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