Berkeley, CA Rental Market Trends
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Berkeley is $3,099, a 3% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,183.
Average Rent in Berkeley, CA
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|---|
| $3,099 | -3% | 702 sq. ft. |
The average size for a Berkeley, CA apartment is 702 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.
Berkeley, CA Apartment Rent Ranges
- $701-$1,0002%
- $1,001-$1,5001%
- $1,501-$2,00013%
- > $2,00085%
Berkeley, CA Occupied Housing Units
- Renter-occupied Households54%
- Owner-occupied Households45%
24,654 or 54% of the households in Berkeley, CA are renter-occupied while 20,698 or 45% are owner-occupied.
Berkeley, CA Rent Trends
| Average Rent | Mar / 2018 | Jul / 2018 | Nov / 2018 | Mar / 2019 | Jul / 2019 | Nov / 2019 | Mar / 2020 | Jul / 2020 | Mar / 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | $3,089 | $3,123 | $3,191 | $3,165 | $3,240 | $3,183 | $3,284 | $3,301 | $3,099 |
| National | $1,311 | $1,342 | $1,351 | $1,356 | $1,388 | $1,395 | $1,397 | $1,389 | $1,392 |
Average Rent in Berkeley, CA By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| University of California | $3,182 |
| Downtown Berkeley | $3,175 |
| Elmwood | $3,175 |
| Panoramic Hill | $3,175 |
| South Berkeley | $3,143 |
| Berkeley Marina | $2,995 |
| Golden Gate Fields | $2,995 |
| Northwest Berkeley | $2,995 |
| Southwest Berkeley | $2,966 |
| North Berkeley | $2,952 |
| Central Berkeley | $2,699 |
The most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley are Central Berkeley, where the average rent goes for $2,699/month, North Berkeley, where renters pay $2,952/mo on average, and Southwest Berkeley, where the average rent goes for $2,966/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Berkeley Marina ($2,995), Golden Gate Fields ($2,995), and Northwest Berkeley ($2,995), where the asking prices are below the average Berkeley rent of $3,099/mo.
The most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley are Elmwood ($3,175), Panoramic Hill ($3,175) and University of California ($3,182).
The most popular neighborhood in Berkeley is Downtown Berkeley, where there are 4 verified RENTCafé listings with an average rent of $3,175. Next up is Elmwood, where apartments go for $3,175/month, followed by Southwest Berkeley with $2,966 If you’re looking to rent in Berkeley’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out North Berkeley, where renters pay $2,952 on average, and Northwest Berkeley, where the average monthly rent is $2,995.
Berkeley | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Berkeley Marina is 11% higher than in Central Berkeley
Berkeley Marina rent is 3% lower than Berkeley average
| Average Rent | $2,995 |
|---|
Central Berkeley rent is 13% lower than Berkeley average
| Average Rent | $2,699 |
|---|
How Berkeley Compares to Other Cities
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $2,354 | -6% |
| San Francisco | $2,999 | -18% |
| East Bay | $2,307 | -2% |
| San Diego | $2,179 | -2% |
| Palo Alto | $2,940 | -11% |
| Oakland | $2,705 | -8% |
| San Jose | $2,485 | -10% |
| Sunnyvale | $2,590 | -14% |
| San Mateo | $2,845 | -15% |
| Fremont | $2,343 | -5% |
| Berkeley | $3,099 | -3% |
For more information about the Berkeley rental trends, check out our monthly rent report
Check out California Cities, California Neighborhoods and California Zip Codes for more details on verified listings, including the California Average Rent.
Curious about listings in your area? Check out our apartments near you for more details!