Cost of living in Berkeley, CA — Housing, Rent & Index

The median home value in Berkeley, CA is $1,451,222 as of 2026-04. That places Berkeley above the US average for housing cost, with a cost index of approximately 409 versus a national baseline of 100.

Over the past 12 months, the median home value in Berkeley has moved sideways, and over the past five years it has averaged +0.2% annual growth. The current price sits -13.0% from its 5-year peak in 2022-05.

Renters pay a median of $3,136 per month in Berkeley. Rents have changed +0.6% over the last year and averaged +2.5% per year over five years.

Beyond housing, day-to-day costs in Berkeley are shaped by state and local taxes, utility rates, transportation, and groceries. This page focuses on the housing component, which is the largest single line in most household budgets and the easiest to compare across cities using consistent national data.