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 Feb / 2026, the average rent in Berkeley is $3,366 per month, a 2.21% increase from last years average of $3,293.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Berkeley?

In Berkeley, studios rent for $2,599 per month, one-bedroom units average $2,832 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $3,917 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $6,254 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 639 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 837 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 ($2,151/month), South Berkeley ($2,934/month), and Southwest Berkeley ($2,992/month), all below the citywide average of $3,366.

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley?

The most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley are North Berkeley ($3,043/month), Downtown Berkeley ($3,461/month), and University of California ($5,168/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 55% 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: April 08, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Berkeley is $3,366, a 2.21% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,293.

Studio Apartments at $2,599 offer the most budget-friendly option with 440 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 639 square feet for $2,832, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $3,917 offer 837 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (909 sq ft) for $6,254, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Berkeley, CA

Last updated: April 08, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$3,366	692 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,599	440 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$2,832	639 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$3,917	837 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$6,254	909 sq. ft.

Berkeley, CA rent trends

Rental prices in Berkeley, CA have increased by 2.21% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,293 to $3,366.

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

The largest share of rentals in Berkeley, CA (55%) 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.

Most affordable neighborhoods in Berkeley?

Elmwood $2,151/month

South Berkeley $2,934/month

Southwest Berkeley $2,992/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,366/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Berkeley?

North Berkeley $3,043/month

Downtown Berkeley $3,461/month

University of California $5,168/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	$5,168
Downtown Berkeley	$3,461
North Berkeley	$3,043
Southwest Berkeley	$2,992
South Berkeley	$2,934
Elmwood	$2,151

Berkeley | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Downtown Berkeley is 61% higher than in Elmwood

$3,461

Downtown Berkeley rent is 3% higher than Berkeley average

Average Rent $3,461

$2,151

Elmwood rent is 36% lower than Berkeley average

Average Rent $2,151

How Berkeley Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
Berkeley	$3,366
Los Angeles	$2,736
San Francisco	$3,724
East Bay	$2,661
San Diego	$2,960
Long Beach	$2,672
Sacramento	$1,873
San Jose	$3,120
Oakland	$2,600
Tulare	$1,667
Santa Monica	$3,695
Vallejo	$2,073
Alameda, CA	$3,012
Walnut Creek, CA	$2,648
Danville, CA	$3,221
San Leandro, CA	$2,290
San Rafael, CA	$2,888
Concord, CA	$2,366
San Ramon, CA	$2,660
Martinez, CA	$2,319
Pleasant Hill, CA	$2,473

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.