What is the average apartment size in Berkeley?

The average size for a Berkeley, CA apartment is 692 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 Sep / 2026, the average rent in Berkeley is $3,411 per month, a 2.63% increase from last years average of $3,324.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Berkeley?

In Berkeley, studios rent for $2,546 per month, one-bedroom units average $2,969 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $3,972 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $6,214 per month

What is the average apartment size in Berkeley?

The typical apartment in Berkeley offers about 692 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 440 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 631 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 849 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 909 sq. ft.

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley include Elmwood ($2,090/month), North Berkeley ($2,569/month), and Central Berkeley ($2,855/month), all below the citywide average of $3,411.

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley?

The most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley are Southwest Berkeley ($3,113/month), Downtown Berkeley ($3,524/month), and University of California ($5,244/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, 56% of households rent while 44% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Last updated: October 30, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Berkeley is $3,411, a 2.63% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,324.

Studio Apartments at $2,546 offer the most budget-friendly option with 440 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 631 square feet for $2,969, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-bedroom units at $3,972 offer 849 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (909 sq ft) for $6,214, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Berkeley, CA

Last updated: October 30, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$3,411	692 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,546	440 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$2,969	631 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$3,972	849 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$6,214	909 sq. ft.

Berkeley, CA rent trends

Rental prices in Berkeley, CA have increased by 2.63% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,324 to $3,411.

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?

26,306 or 56% of the households in Berkeley, CA are renter-occupied while 20,829 or 44% are owner-occupied.

Most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley?

Elmwood $2,090/month

North Berkeley $2,569/month

Central Berkeley $2,855/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,411/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley?

Southwest Berkeley $3,113/month

Downtown Berkeley $3,524/month

University of California $5,244/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	$5,244
Downtown Berkeley	$3,524
Southwest Berkeley	$3,113
South Berkeley	$2,908
Central Berkeley	$2,855
North Berkeley	$2,569
Elmwood	$2,090

Berkeley | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Central Berkeley is 19% lower than in Downtown Berkeley

$2,855

Central Berkeley rent is 16% lower than Berkeley average

Average Rent $2,855

$3,524

Downtown Berkeley rent is 3% higher than Berkeley average

Average Rent $3,524

How Berkeley Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
Berkeley	$3,411
Los Angeles	$2,765
East Bay	$2,781
San Diego	$3,053
San Francisco	$4,076
Sacramento	$1,914
San Jose	$3,331
Oakland	$2,794
Long Beach	$2,739
Alameda	$3,080
Riverside	$2,271
Concord, CA	$2,386
Hayward, CA	$2,522
Vallejo, CA	$2,121
San Leandro, CA	$2,362
San Rafael, CA	$2,968
Walnut Creek, CA	$2,771
Emeryville, CA	$3,174
Martinez, CA	$2,387
Castro Valley, CA	$2,556
South San Francisco, CA	$3,596

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.