Apartments for Rent in Richmond Under $3,500
As of September 2, 2026, Rentomatics tracks 116 apartments for rent in Richmond under $3,500/month, starting at $1,095/month. Listings are aggregated from Craigslist, Zumper, and other Bay Area sources and refreshed continuously.
Richmond sits at the northern edge of the East Bay in Contra Costa County, a former WWII shipbuilding city that spreads across a peninsula between San Pablo Bay and the Berkeley hills. Its economy and skyline are still shaped by the sprawling Chevron refinery on the north shore, but much of the waterfront has been reclaimed as parkland and the San Francisco Bay Trail. The city holds several distinct districts: the walkable, village-like Point Richmond; the master-planned condos and marinas of Marina Bay; the older central grid around MacDonald Avenue; and the hillside residential areas near Hilltop to the north. The Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park anchors the city's identity, with the Craneway Pavilion and the historic Ford Assembly Building on the shoreline. Compared with Oakland or Berkeley to the south, Richmond remains meaningfully more affordable, which is much of its draw for Bay Area renters.
Capping your search at $3,500/month keeps Richmond realistic. That's a comfortable ceiling here — above the current average of about $2,522, so you'll have real choice.
116 listings available — updated September 2, 2026, refreshed continuously
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Living in Richmond
The vibe
Richmond feels working-class, spread out, and unpolished in a way that sets it apart from the denser inner East Bay. Point Richmond is the exception and the charmer — a small historic downtown of brick storefronts, cafes, and Victorians tucked below the hills, near Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline and the Keller Beach cove. Marina Bay reads newer and quieter, with a yacht harbor, waterfront trails, and views back toward the city. The central neighborhoods are car-oriented and low-rise, mixing modest early-20th-century bungalows and postwar housing. It is a genuinely diverse city with a deep-rooted Black, Latino, and immigrant community, more neighborhood grocery and taqueria than trendy restaurant row.
Getting around
The Richmond BART station is the terminus of the Red Line to downtown San Francisco and Millbrae and the Orange Line south to Berkeley, Oakland, and Berryessa/San Jose. The same station is a rail hub shared with Amtrak's Capitol Corridor and the Gold Runner (formerly the San Joaquins) trains, making it one of the better-connected transit points in the region. The San Francisco Bay Ferry runs a Richmond–San Francisco route from the terminal near the Craneway, offering a scenic direct commute across the bay. For drivers, I-580 crosses the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge to Marin, while I-80 runs along the eastern side toward Berkeley and the Bay Bridge. AC Transit buses cover local routes, though large parts of the city sit well beyond walking distance of BART, so a car is common outside the station core.
The rental market
The housing stock leans older and single-family — bungalows, cottages, and postwar homes across the central and northern neighborhoods, many built for wartime shipyard workers. Marina Bay is the main pocket of newer construction, with condos, townhomes, and apartment complexes that offer parking, in-unit laundry, and water access. Multifamily apartment buildings cluster near San Pablo Avenue, MacDonald Avenue, and along the El Cerrito border. Renters tend to find more space per dollar here than in Oakland or Berkeley, with family-sized units and yards more available than studios. Amenities vary widely by district, from bare older rentals to amenity-equipped waterfront buildings.
Who it's for
Richmond suits renters priced out of the inner East Bay who still want a one-seat BART or ferry ride to San Francisco, along with families wanting a house and yard rather than an apartment. Outdoor-minded renters get Point Isabel and Miller/Knox shorelines, the Bay Trail, and easy weekend access to Marin. The honest tradeoffs: air quality and industrial character near the Chevron refinery are real concerns for some, and the city's reputation for property and violent crime, though concentrated in specific areas, weighs on perception. Much of Richmond is spread out and car-dependent, with neighborhoods far from BART, and the retail and dining scene is thinner than in Berkeley or Oakland. It rewards renters who value space and value over walkability and polish.
Frequently asked
How many apartments are available in Richmond right now?
As of September 2, 2026, Rentomatics tracks 116 apartments for rent in Richmond under $3,500/month. Listings refresh continuously from Craigslist, Zumper, and other Bay Area sources.
What is the rent for a typical apartment in Richmond?
Among current Rentomatics listings, apartments in Richmond start at $1,095/month, with an average of $2,522 and a median of $2,500/month. Prices reflect 116 active listings updated September 2, 2026.
How often are Rentomatics listings updated?
Rentomatics continuously refreshes listings from Craigslist, Zumper, and other Bay Area rental sources. Stale listings are removed within 5 days of last sighting.
Does Rentomatics show broker fees?
Yes. Every Rentomatics listing displays whether a broker fee applies, and users can filter to show only no-fee apartments.
What is Richmond like?
Richmond is the northern East Bay — Chevron refinery, waterfront greenways, and the Richmond BART terminus with a direct line to SF. Significantly cheaper than Oakland or Berkeley. 1BRs often land under $2,000.