Berkeley, CA Rental Market Trends
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Berkeley is $3,284, a 4% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,165.
Average Rent in Berkeley, CA
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|---|
| $3,284 | 4% | 697 sq. ft. |
The average size for a Berkeley, CA apartment is 697 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%
- $1,501-$2,0005%
- > $2,00093%
Berkeley, CA Occupied Housing Units
- Renter-occupied Households53%
- Owner-occupied Households46%
24,088 or 53% of the households in Berkeley, CA are renter-occupied while 20,890 or 46% are owner-occupied.
Berkeley, CA Rent Trends
| Average Rent | Mar / 2017 | Jul / 2017 | Nov / 2017 | Mar / 2018 | Jul / 2018 | Nov / 2018 | Mar / 2019 | Jul / 2019 | Nov / 2019 | May / 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | $3,058 | $3,172 | $3,181 | $3,089 | $3,123 | $3,191 | $3,165 | $3,240 | $3,183 | $3,284 |
| National | $1,337 | $1,368 | $1,371 | $1,374 | $1,408 | $1,417 | $1,422 | $1,458 | $1,466 | $1,468 |
Average Rent in Berkeley, CA By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Northwest Berkeley | $2,954 |
| Golden Gate Fields | $2,954 |
| Berkeley Marina | $2,954 |
| Southwest Berkeley | $3,020 |
| Central Berkeley | $3,096 |
| North Berkeley | $3,186 |
| South Berkeley | $3,363 |
| University of California | $3,383 |
| Panoramic Hill | $3,384 |
| Elmwood | $3,384 |
| Downtown Berkeley | $3,384 |
The most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley are Berkeley Marina, where the average rent goes for $2,954/month, Golden Gate Fields, where renters pay $2,954/mo on average, and Northwest Berkeley, where the average rent goes for $2,954/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Southwest Berkeley ($3,020), Central Berkeley ($3,096), and North Berkeley ($3,186), where the asking prices are below the average Berkeley rent of $3,284/mo.
The most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley are Downtown Berkeley ($3,384), Elmwood ($3,384) and Panoramic Hill ($3,384).
The most popular neighborhood in Berkeley is Downtown Berkeley, where there are 2 verified RENTCafé listings with an average rent of $3,384. Next up is Elmwood, where apartments go for $3,384/month, followed by North Berkeley with $3,186 If you’re looking to rent in Berkeley’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out Northwest Berkeley, where renters pay $2,954 on average, and Panoramic Hill, where the average monthly rent is $3,384.
Berkeley | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Berkeley Marina is 5% lower than in Central Berkeley
Berkeley Marina rent is 10% lower than Berkeley average
| Average Rent | $2,954 |
|---|
Central Berkeley rent is 6% lower than Berkeley average
| Average Rent | $3,096 |
|---|
How Berkeley Compares to Other Cities
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $2,524 | 2% |
| San Francisco | $3,629 | n/a |
| East Bay | $2,363 | 2% |
| San Diego | $2,237 | 4% |
| Long Beach | $2,106 | 5% |
| Oakland | $2,930 | 6% |
| San Jose | $2,790 | 3% |
| Sunnyvale | $3,016 | 4% |
| San Mateo | $3,357 | 5% |
| Stockton | $1,216 | 6% |
| Berkeley | $3,284 | 4% |
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!