What is the cost of living in Berkeley, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Berkeley has an overall cost of living index of 222, which is 2.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Berkeley has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Berkeley ranks as #562 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Berkeley ranks as the #72 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Berkeley, check out:
Berkeley Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Berkeley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Berkeley is 116.
The Groceries index in Berkeley is 112.
The Health index in Berkeley is 451.
The Housing index in Berkeley is 127.
The Transportation index in Berkeley is 125.
The Utilities index in Berkeley is 134.
| Living Expense | Berkeley | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 222 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 116 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 451 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 127 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 125 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 134 | 121 | 100 |
Berkeley Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Berkeley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Berkeley, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Berkeley is $1,443,683.
The Median Rent in Berkeley is $2,133.
The Median Income in Berkeley is $108,092.
The Home Value To Income in Berkeley is 13.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Berkeley is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Berkeley | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,443,683 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,133 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,092 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 13.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Berkeley, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Berkeley Services costs vs. California
| Item | Berkeley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Berkeley Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Berkeley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Berkeley Health costs vs. California
| Item | Berkeley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Berkeley Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Berkeley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Berkeley Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Berkeley | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Berkeley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Berkeley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Berkeley. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Richmond, CA has a cost of living index of 153, 0.7x Berkeley.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.3x Berkeley.
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.9x Berkeley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Berkeley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, CA | 115,505 | 153 | 0.7x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.3x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.9x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 1.0x |
| San Pablo, CA | 31,720 | 141 | 0.6x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.8x |
| El Cerrito, CA | 25,994 | 203 | 0.9x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.3x |
| Orinda, CA | 19,514 | 274 | 1.2x |
| Albany, CA | 19,414 | 205 | 0.9x |
