Cost of Living in Oakland, CA

In Oakland, California going out to eat at a restaurant and buying food is considered to be affordable. Make sure you take this into account as you plan your overall cost of living in Oakland, CA. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

If you love sports, you will love Oakland, CA! Since there are football, baseball, basketball teams, you can go to a lot of games. Keep in mind that the tickets tend to be expensive, so you need to manage your entertainment budget carefully. Sometimes you can get discount tickets on line. Some people purchase a season ticket with a group of friends and take turns going to the games. Sports tickets can increase your cost of living in Oakland, CA, but if you are a true sports fan it is worth it. In Oakland, CA, the games are usually shown on local TV and you can host a party of friends and watch the game together. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

The average cost of internet access in the U.S. is $66.20 per month. There are many providers and various packages that are offered, many that bundle internet, cable, and phone together. Pricing for various packages can vary a lot even in the same location. You should evaluate the options based on your usage and preferences and pick the best fit for your needs. One tip to reduce this cost and your overall cost of living, is to get cable service from another source like Direct TV, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime or others. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Even if you are moving within your current state, the cost of moving could be over $1,000 depending on the city, what you are moving, and how much professional help you hire. You can save some expense by packing boxes yourself, renting a U-Haul truck, and asking friends and family to help with the loading and unloading. You should call at least three moving companies for a moving estimate, the cost might be less than you think and you won’t have to worry about a friend hurting their back trying to move your heavy furniture. Another way to make your move easier – and save money – is by weeding out items you don’t need anymore. Why bother to move stuff that you do not even use! Have a yard sale or find a local charitable organization and donate items you no longer use. Make sure you include these moving costs into the overall cost of living for year one in Oakland, CA. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Adults find that moving can sometimes be an emotional and stressful experience. Children, who don’t have the maturity, independence, and understanding of a parent may be even more sensitive to a move. If they are old enough to understand, include the children in making plans for the move. When moving to a distant place, help your children learn about the new area. Check out the website for Oakland, California to find opportunities and activities in the new location like parks, beaches, museums, or playgrounds that kids will enjoy and look forward to visiting. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

The current electric rate cost in Oakland,CA is 19.39¢ / kWh, which is the fifth highest compared to the rest of the United States. Energy costs in Oakland,CA are generally going up. The cost of electricity can have a bigger than average impact of your overall cost of living if you are required to pay heating or cooling costs or, if you use an electric stove, clothes dryer, or water heater. Newer appliances are typically more energy efficient so try to replace out dated appliances with more energy efficient models. Also keep in mind, that if electric utilities are included in your rent, most likely the pricing of electricity has been added to the rent amount. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

I am single and live in Oakland,CA, I rent a small 1 bedroom and the monthly rent is $1481 . Rent contributes to a large part of the overall cost of living in Oakland,CA, I try to economize by having a small apartment. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Looks for areas of Oakland, California where there is a large student population. In those areas you will be sure to find lots of free or cheap events to go to and plenty of cheap places to eat. Familiarize yourself with the places where students hang out, and take advantage of discounted or bargain prices, you are sure to be able to keep your cost of living reasonable. Look at the website for Oakland, CA to find recommendations for activities that are available and unique to the area. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Oakland, California is considered to have a very good public transport system. California is ranked NO. 10 in U.S for public transportation availability. Utilizing public transportation could reduce commuting costs in Oakland, California. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

If you are planning to drive to work, you will be spending a lot of time and gas to get there. Oakland, California is one of the Worst cities in the United States for driving. Oakland, California is ranked number 98 out of 100 major cities. Plan on spending more on gas and auto expenses if you move to Oakland, California, resulting in a higher cost of living. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

In Oakland, CA, the average commute time is about 32.36 minutes. This can vary depending on the time of day, day of week, and the weather and road conditions. If the weather is bad, commute time can double! You should factor this commuting time into your overall cost of living, since your time has value. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

The weather in Oakland is ideal. Based on data collected by NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Oakland is considered to have one of the most favorable climates in the country based on comfort and number of days with clear skies. You will enjoy living in Oakland, California. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )