UC Berkeley is a legendary institution in the northern Bay Area, known for its passionate and active student body as well as its superlative academic climate. The campus connects with Downtown Berkeley on the west side and Tilden Regional Park on the east side, giving you direct access to both the attractions of the city center and the tranquility of the region’s natural landscape within easy walking distance. The university itself is packed with great things to do, from the stimulating cultural offerings of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive to football games at California Memorial Stadium… you can even check out a T-rex fossil at the Museum of Paleontology. The city of Berkeley is a unique and delightfully unusual place, offering plenty to satisfy any taste. Street fairs are common, and a collective of coffee houses, theaters, international eateries, and nightlife hotspots fill a several-block radius around the university. Running from the south side of campus all the way into Oakland, Telegraph Avenue is home to several popular bars like Pappy’s, as well as landmark specialty shops like Amoeba Music and Moe’s Books (and when you get hungry, pizza from Artichoke’s on Durant is a welcome suggestion any time of the day or night).
The flagship university for the University of California, UC Berkeley was founded in 1868
A courtyard near the Genetics and Plant Biology Building includes the sculpture by Alexander Liberman
UC Berkeley’s Campanile is the third-tallest bell tower in the world
The Memorial Glade, located near the library, provides a scenic outdoor study space
The Life Sciences Addition is six stories and includes 46 laboratories
The impressive setting for Berkeley features mountains and landscaped grounds
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Berkeley, CA is $2,100 for a studio, $2,272 for one bedroom, $3,317 for two bedrooms, and $4,294 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Berkeley has increased by 1.4% in the past year.
Studio
428 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,100/month
Average Rent
1 BR
549 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,272/month
Average Rent
2 BR
764 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$3,317/month
Average Rent
3 BR
822 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$4,294/month
Average Rent
How to Find Off-Campus Housing Near the University of California, Berkeley
Discover the best tips for finding off-campus housing in Berkeley, CA. Navigate the rental market with ease with our comprehensive guide.
Renting vs. Buying a House
Renting vs. buying a house is about more than money. Weigh flexibility, equity, taxes, and more.
What Can Be Deducted from My Security Deposit?
Learn what landlords can deduct and how to be proactive, so you can get your full security deposit back.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley, CA (University) is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
Good Public Transit
Transit
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley, CA (University) offers all daily essentials, but they’re limited to a few main areas.
Supermarket Within a 10 Minute Walk
Groceries
Good Restaurant Variety Nearby
Restaurants
Fair Café Variety Nearby
Cafes
Good Variety of Shops Nearby
Shopping
University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley, CA (University) provides green space and wellness resources in certain areas.
Large Amount of Park Space Nearby
Parks
Fair Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby
Wellness
Get a sense of what it’s like to live in University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley, CA (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.
Mostly Calm Atmosphere
Vibrancy
Limited Nightlife Variety Nearby
Nightlife
Not Noisy
Quiet Score
Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier
Public
Grades K-5
407 Students
Public
Grades K-5
401 Students
Public
Grades K-5
410 Students
Rosa Parks Environmental Science Magnet School
Public
Grades K-5
393 Students
Public
Grades K-5
293 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
596 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
851 Students
Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle
Public
Grades 6-8
462 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
187 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
3,218 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.
