What is the average apartment size in Berkeley?

The average size for a Berkeley, CA apartment is 710 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in Berkeley?

As of Oct / 2025, the average rent in Berkeley is $3,340 per month, a 0.5% increase from last year’s average of $3,323.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Berkeley?

In Berkeley, studios rent for $2,655 per month, one-bedroom units average $2,821 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $3,957 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $6,076 per month

What is the average apartment size in Berkeley?

The typical apartment in Berkeley offers about 710 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in Berkeley?

Studio apartments in Berkeley average 449 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 642 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 856 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,236 sq. ft.

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley include Elmwood ($2,233/month), South Berkeley ($2,955/month), and Southwest Berkeley ($3,007/month), all below the citywide average of $3,340.

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley?

The most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley are North Berkeley ($3,039/month), Downtown Berkeley ($3,498/month), and University of California ($4,816/month), often due to premium locations and high-end amenities.

Berkeley, CA Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in Berkeley?

The typical rent budget in Berkeley ranges from $3,000 to per month, with 53% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in Berkeley?

In Berkeley, 57% of households rent while 43% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Last updated: November 18, 2025 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Berkeley is $3,340, a 0.5% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,323.

Studio Apartments at $2,655 offer the most budget-friendly option with 449 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 642 square feet for $2,821, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $3,957 offer 856 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,236 sq ft) for $6,076, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Berkeley, CA

Last updated: November 18, 2025

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$3,340	710 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,655	449 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$2,821	642 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$3,957	856 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$6,076	1,236 sq. ft.

Berkeley, CA rent trends

Rental prices in Berkeley, CA have increased by 0.5% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,323 to $3,340.

What's the typical rent budget in Berkeley, CA?

The largest share of rentals in Berkeley, CA (53%) fall between $3,000- per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in Berkeley, CA?

26,500 or 57% of the households in Berkeley, CA are renter-occupied while 20,262 or 43% are owner-occupied.

Access comprehensive real estate data and information on Yardi Matrix

Most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley?

Elmwood $2,233/month

South Berkeley $2,955/month

Southwest Berkeley $3,007/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,340/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley?

North Berkeley $3,039/month

Downtown Berkeley $3,498/month

University of California $4,816/month

These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.

Average Rent in Berkeley, CA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
University of California	$4,816
Downtown Berkeley	$3,498
North Berkeley	$3,039
Southwest Berkeley	$3,007
South Berkeley	$2,955
Elmwood	$2,233

Berkeley | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Downtown Berkeley is 57% higher than in Elmwood

$3,498

Downtown Berkeley rent is 5% higher than Berkeley average

Average Rent $3,498

$2,233

Elmwood rent is 33% lower than Berkeley average

Average Rent $2,233

How Berkeley Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
Berkeley	$3,340
Los Angeles	$2,765
East Bay	$2,670
San Francisco	$3,598
San Diego	$2,968
Oakland	$2,635
Long Beach	$2,670
Sacramento	$1,906
San Jose	$3,134
Fresno	$1,622
Tulare	$1,693
Vallejo	$2,118
Concord, CA	$2,322
Danville, CA	$3,165
Walnut Creek, CA	$2,660
San Leandro, CA	$2,327
San Rafael, CA	$2,983
Alameda, CA	$2,984
Richmond, CA	$2,564
San Ramon, CA	$2,658
Castro Valley, CA	$2,558

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Berkeley apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.