Berkeley, California has an overall cost of living index of 117.6, which is 17.6 points above the US average of 100 — making it pricier than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $2,133 per month, while the typical home is valued around $1,413,900. Households earn a median of $108,092 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$108,092
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$2,133
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$1,413,900
Median Home Value
Census ACS
117.6
Cost of Living Index
1BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
117.6
Goods
115.2
Rents / Housing
200.1
Services
162.2
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $187,840 |
| Registered Nurse | $178,450 |
| Elementary Teacher | $96,460 |
| Electrician | $104,240 |
| Accountant | $119,870 |
| Plumber | $86,270 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $266,170 |
| Civil Engineer | $134,970 |
| Operations Manager | $178,780 |
| Market Research Analyst | $129,130 |
| Health Services Manager | $180,440 |
| Truck Driver | $68,410 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $185,080 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
120,257
Latest estimate
Median Age
33.2 yrs
Census ACS
AQI data not available
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
11
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$2,219
Per month
Avg Home Value
$1,313,540
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 94618 | — | $2,664 | $1,679,300 |
| ZIP 94702 | — | $1,771 | $1,126,900 |
| ZIP 94703 | — | $2,149 | $1,215,900 |
| ZIP 94704 | — | $2,058 | $977,100 |
| ZIP 94705 | — | $2,195 | $1,746,900 |
| ZIP 94706 | — | $2,279 | $1,130,000 |
| ZIP 94707 | — | $2,120 | $1,555,600 |
| ZIP 94708 | — | $2,914 | $1,445,200 |
| ZIP 94709 | — | $1,945 | $1,196,000 |
| ZIP 94710 | — | $2,400 | $1,062,500 |
Showing top 10 of 11 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
50°F
July Avg
64°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Dry/Arid · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
32.5
poor
Hospitals
1
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
97.2%
Berkeley has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 117.6. The US national average is 100, so Berkeley is 17.6 points above the national average.
The median gross rent in Berkeley is $2,133 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Berkeley is $108,092 per year.
The median home value in Berkeley is $1,413,900 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Air quality data for Berkeley is not yet available.
Tax data for California is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
