Last updated
Average Rent in Berkeley, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 4 apartment communities in Berkeley, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$3,901/mo
▼ 6.6% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,062/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
4
tracked daily
Units Listed
48
available now
Rent by Neighborhood in Berkeley, CA
Compare average rent across Berkeley, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley 94608 | $3,627 | $3,189 | 2 | 22 |
| Southside | $2,917 | $765 | 2 | 163 |
| Temescal | $2,000 | $2,000 | 1 | 1 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Berkeley, CA?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Berkeley, CA is $3,901 per month across 4 apartment communities and 48 available units. Rents have decreased $220 (6.6%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is SG Real Estate starting at $1,062/mo. By unit type, a 2-bedroom averages $3,901/mo.
Prices range from $1,062 to $6,495 per month. The most common price point is the $3,800 range, where 7 units are currently listed.
Berkeley, CA Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Berkeley, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Berkeley, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG Real Estate | $1,062/mo | $3,869/mo | 35 | 4.2 |
| Bay House Emeryville | $3,709/mo | $3,856/mo | 11 | 4.4 |
| Avalon Public Market | $3,790/mo | $3,790/mo | 1 | 4.4 |
| Blake at Berkeley | $5,641/mo | $5,641/mo | 1 | 4.5 |
Google Search Trends for Berkeley, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Berkeley, CA
What is the average rent in Berkeley, CA?
Is rent going up or down in Berkeley, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in Berkeley, CA?
How many apartments are available in Berkeley, CA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Berkeley, CA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$156,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $3,901/mo.
Comfortable income
$187,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,062/mo), you need to earn at least $42,000/year.
Median household income in Berkeley, CA is $108,558 , about 42% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Berkeley, CA
Overall prices in Berkeley, CA runs above the national average by about 18% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 117.6, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Berkeley, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $3,901 |
| Utilities | $861 |
| Groceries | $622 |
| Transportation | $2,051 |
| Healthcare | $1,001 |
| Other goods and services | $1,601 |
| Estimated total | $10,037/mo |
Population
120,223
Median household income
$108,558
Census median rent
$2,127/mo
Rent as % of income
32.9%
Median age
32.9
Mean commute
30 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Explore Berkeley, CA Apartments
Browse all 4 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.