Oakland vs Miami: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Oakland, CA and Miami, FL, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricOakland, CAMiami, FL
Population437,825443,665
Median household income$94,389$54,858
Median home value$883,800$433,900
Median rent (/mo)$1,849$1,494

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Oakland, CA and Miami, FL comes down to what you value most. Miami has the lower median home value, and Miami has the lower median rent.

Oakland has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Oakland or Miami?
By median home value, Miami is the cheaper of the two ($433,900 vs $883,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Oakland or Miami?
Median household income is $94,389 in Oakland versus $54,858 in Miami, per the US Census Bureau.

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