Last updated on June 15, 2026

Average rent in
Berkeley, CA

Key takeaways for renters

  • Where Berkeley rent stands today

    Berkeley, CA rent rose 4.0% year over year, with a current median of $2,595/month. Renters are paying $140 more per month on average than last year, despite a 3.4% month-over-month decline from the recent peak.

  • Vs. national rents

    Berkeley rents run roughly 1.3× the $1,950/month national median, placing it among pricier coastal metros. The market offers 319 total rentals, with a smaller inventory compared to many larger metros.

  • Rent ranges by bedroom

    Studios in Berkeley rent for around $1,850/month, 1-bedrooms for $2,295/month, and 2-bedrooms for $2,900/month, with rents rising to $3,995/month for 3-bedrooms and $5,940/month for 4+ bedrooms. Houses command a median of $4,450/month, compared to $2,595/month for apartments.

  • Neighborhood spotlight

    Cragmont rents fell 47.5% year over year to $3,200/month, and Westbrae dropped 40.0% to $2,395/month. These declines contrast with the citywide 4.0% rent increase, showing localized market softness in these neighborhoods.

Median rent

Median rent in Berkeley

$2,595/mo

increased by4%

vs previous year

The average rent in Berkeley is $2,595 per month as of June 2026. This is 33% above the national average rent, or $645 more per month.

$4.26

average price per square foot

Total rentals

Available rentals in Berkeley

319

for rent on Zumper.com as of June 2026

Rent price distribution

Share of Berkeley rentals at each price point

55%41%28%14%0%
$0 - $1,500
$1,501 - $3,000
$3,001 - $4,500
$4,501 - $6,000
$6,001 - $50,000

Rent trends in Berkeley, CA

Average rent prices in Berkeley have decreased by 3% over the last month and have increased by 4% since last year.

Rent trends

Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.

Compare rent prices in Berkeley, CA

Rent prices in Berkeley vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Berkeley is $2,595, whereas a house costs $4,450. 1-bedroom apartments in Berkeley run $2,295 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $2,900.

Listings

Studio

$1,850

2%

1%

1 bedroom

$2,295

3%

No Change

2 bedroom

$2,900

1%

1%

3 bedroom

$3,995

4%

6%

4 bedroom

$5,940

6%

11%

Studio

Average rent

$1,850

Last 30 days

2%

Last year

1%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$2,295

Last 30 days

3%

Last year

No Change

2 bedroom

Average rent

$2,900

Last 30 days

1%

Last year

1%

3 bedroom

Average rent

$3,995

Last 30 days

4%

Last year

6%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$5,940

Last 30 days

6%

Last year

11%

The table above reflects average rent prices in Berkeley, CA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.

How does rent in Berkeley, CA compare to other cities?

Compare median rent prices in Berkeley and Alameda by all bedroom counts and property types.

Berkeley

Median rent price$2,595
increased by33%

higher than the national median

Median rent price$2,595
increased by33%

higher than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in Berkeley, CA is equal to the median rent in Alameda, CA.

Discover rentals in Berkeley, CA

Summer Housing Near Campus - Photo 1 of 1
Income restricted

5d+ ago

7.1

Very good

Summer Housing Near Campus

2424 Warring St, Berkeley, CA 94704

Studio

0 baths

$600–$1,000

Apartment for rent

SHARED & PRIVATE Dorm Style Units Available at The Telegraph Commons! 2 blocks from UCB! - Photo 1 of 1
3D tour

2d ago

7.2

Very good

1 bed

1 bath

$765–$1,695

Apartment for rent

16h ago

8.2

Very good

FOUND Study Southside Berkeley

2201 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

2–4 beds

1–2 baths

$845–$2,199

Apartment for rent

1d ago

7.5

Very good

FOUND Study Downtown Berkeley

2024 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

1–3 beds

1–2 baths

$913–$2,399

Apartment for rent

Stay up to date with rental market insights

Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.

Frequently asked questions for Berkeley, CA

Quick answers to common questions about the Berkeley rental market.

How much is rent in Berkeley?

The average rent in Berkeley is $2,595 per month as of June 13, 2026.

Is rent up or down in Berkeley?

Average rent prices in Berkeley have decreased by 3% over the last month and have increased by 4% since last year.

How does Berkeley rent compare to the national average?

Rent in Berkeley is 33% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $645 more per month.

Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Berkeley?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley are Downtown Berkeley ($2,340/mo), Southside ($2,495/mo), and Northside ($2,495/mo).

What salary do I need to afford rent in Berkeley?

To comfortably afford rent in Berkeley, you'd need to earn approximately $104,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.

When is the best time of year to rent in Berkeley?

Berkeley's 2025 rental market shows one-bedroom apartments averaging around $2,200 per month, while two-bedroom units average around $3,000 monthly. These figures reflect the city's position in California's competitive Bay Area rental market.

Methodology

Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.

Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).

Apartments for rent in Berkeley