Oakland-Fremont, CA vs New York, NY
A 2-bedroom in New York costs $2 less per month than Oakland-Fremont ($2,910 vs $2,912). Median income is $133,780 in Oakland-Fremont and $97,334 in New York. That's a difference of $24 per year in housing costs.
Oakland-Fremont, California 2-bedroom FMR runs $2 above New York, New York — a narrow 0-percent gap. Counties this close on FMR are effectively the same rental tier; specific neighborhood and listing-level differences will swamp the county-level FMR gap.
For households weighing a move between the two counties, the FMR gap is one input among several. Cost-of-living adjustments cover housing well but undercount the income-side picture; local wages can offset rent differences, particularly in higher-paying coastal metros where the higher rent comes with higher pay.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Oakland-Fremont | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Studio FMR | $2,142 | $2,529 |
| 1BR FMR | $2,385 | $2,655 |
| 2BR FMR | $2,912 | $2,910 |
| 3BR FMR | $3,724 | $3,644 |
| 4BR FMR | $4,413 | $3,959 |
| Median Income | $133,780 | $97,334 |
| Rent Burden | 26.1% | 35.9% |
| Actual Median Rent | $2,426 | $1,780 |
| Median Home Value | $1,113,800 | $587,400 |
| Population | 4.7M | 19.8M |
| Renter % | 44.6% | 48.5% |
| Vacancy Rate | 7% | 7.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.7% | 12.4% |
| YoY Change | +12.4% | +5.7% |
| Min Wage | $16.50/hr | $15.50/hr |
Income Required to Afford a 2-Bedroom
Frequently Asked Questions
New York, NY is more affordable with a 2BR FMR of $2,910/mo, which is $2 less than Oakland-Fremont at $2,912/mo. However, when considering local incomes, Oakland-Fremont has a rent burden of 26.1% vs 35.9% in New York.
A 2-bedroom in Oakland-Fremont, CA costs $2,912/mo at Fair Market Rent, while in New York, NY it's $2,910/mo, a difference of $2/mo or $24/year.
To afford a 2BR without spending more than 30% of income on rent: Oakland-Fremont requires $116,480/year ($56/hr). New York requires $116,400/year ($56/hr).
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026.