Are you considering a move to Berkeley, California, United States, and wondering about the cost of living? Berkeley, California is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Berkeley, California and help you understand whether $4643 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $7124.17.
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Restaurants |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
20.0 $ |
|
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
77.5 $ |
|
|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
9.0 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
7.0 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
9.0 $ |
|
|
Cappuccino (regular) |
5.21 $ |
|
|
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
4.5 $ |
|
|
Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.67 $ |
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|
Markets |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
1.76 $ |
|
|
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
5.44 $ |
|
|
Rice (white), (1 lb) |
4.61 $ |
|
|
Eggs (regular) (12) |
3.72 $ |
|
|
Local Cheese (1 lb) |
16.53 $ |
|
|
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
11.89 $ |
|
|
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
17.2 $ |
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
6.89 $ |
|
|
Banana (1 lb) |
2.98 $ |
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
3.2 $ |
|
|
Tomato (1 lb) |
6.63 $ |
|
|
Potato (1 lb) |
3.57 $ |
|
|
Onion (1 lb) |
4.0 $ |
|
|
Lettuce (1 head) |
2.0 $ |
|
|
Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
2.33 $ |
|
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
12.5 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.81 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
3.83 $ |
|
|
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
10.0 $ |
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|
Transportation |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.5 $ |
|
|
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
135.0 $ |
|
|
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
3.0 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1.62 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
25.0 $ |
|
|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
1.28 $ |
|
|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
40000.0 $ |
|
|
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
28750.0 $ |
|
|
Utilities (Monthly) |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
161.67 $ |
|
|
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) |
-- |
|
|
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
70.22 $ |
|
|
Sports And Leisure |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
120.0 $ |
|
|
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
20.0 $ |
|
|
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
14.0 $ |
|
|
Childcare |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
1662.5 $ |
|
|
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
25000.0 $ |
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|
Clothing And Shoes |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
67.0 $ |
|
|
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
58.33 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
109.0 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
197.5 $ |
|
|
Rent Per Month |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
2486.67 $ |
|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
2350.0 $ |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
5666.67 $ |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
4333.33 $ |
|
|
Buy Apartment Price |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
7534.74 $ |
|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
5651.05 $ |
|
|
Salaries And Financing |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
7124.17 $ |
|
|
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate |
6.7 % |
|
The monthly expenses for living in Berkeley, California come to a total of approximately $4643. This includes an average monthly rent of around $2486 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $196 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $1179 per month.
Living in Berkeley, California appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $7124.17. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Berkeley, California, you would likely need an income exceeding $7124.17.
In Berkeley, California, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $7124.17, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.
The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Berkeley, California is approximately $2486. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $2350.0 for such an apartment.
The expense for groceries in Berkeley, California can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $888 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.
The cost of living in United States can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout United States.
I've retyped this sentence three times, going back and forth looking at the numbers. The artist in me wants to tell you Berkeley is safe and low risk, but in reality, there's a medium risk and we'll talk through why.
Two of the most popular public transportation systems in the Bay Area go through Berkeley — Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Caltrain. You have AC Transit as well for bus service through Alameda and Contra Costa counties. There are taxis and rideshares as well. Berkeley also has a popular car-share program, where people who don't have cars actually share a vehicle for commuting. All options come with low risk.
Wow, there are a lot of thefts in Berkeley. The numbers have also been pretty consistent for the past decade. There were 47 reports of pickpockets or purse snatching in 2020, but my spidey senses told me to check 2019 since 2020 was a pandemic year. I was right. 135 were reported in 2019. That's still just a one in 920 chance of being a victim, but it's higher than any other city I've researched in California. We need to call this a medium risk.
Earthquakes and wildfires are two disasters that could impact Berkley. The city has complete readiness guides to review on its website, so you can feel more prepared when you visit. There's a medium risk, not because they happen often, but because when they do happen it can be really bad.
The robbery rate is almost three times the national average. 46 of the 453 robberies reported were listed as "highway robbery", which is most likely to impact tourists. While it doesn't seem that dangerous in a city of 124,000 people, some of my other research online from locals persuades me to give this a medium risk. We're going to get more into this topic in a little bit, so stay tuned.
There's a medium risk here with such a prominent university near military installations and with a large population. That natural disaster risk website also discusses terrorism preparedness, so you can learn specifics there under the Berkley Ready section.
From towing scams to housing scams, there are a plethora of them going around Berkeley, giving it a medium risk.
There were 47 rapes reported in Berkeley and 4 on the campus. When you do the crime math, that's slightly above the national average. I'm going with a medium risk here just because there are so many other high crime numbers. It's important to be vigilant and practice good safety protocol wherever you go in Berkley.
There's no worry about tap water in Berkley. It's a low risk and meets or exceeds all requirements.
You don't need an additional ID to be in Berkeley other than what you took care of at the airport or port of entry.
The U.S. Dollar is the currency here, but don't pull out cash in public. Use a credit card or find the most discreet method of payment you can, be it through your mobile device or a small wallet with just your necessities in it.
Berkeley's weather is pretty consistent throughout the year. The lows are in the 40s or 50s and the highs are in the 60s to 70s. There is more sunshine here than you'd expect, leaving the fog for the San Francisco neighborhoods. Bring a jacket and plan to dress in layers.
Oakland's airport is the closest, but it's still a 30-minute drive before you even think about the traffic. Plan for an hour if you are getting there during rush hour. San Francisco International Airport is 45 minutes away. San Jose's airport is a good hour or more drive time.
You'll want travel insurance for a trip to Berkeley to avoid any weather delays or fog cancellations.
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 56°F | 60°F | 63°F | 66°F | 69°F | 73°F | 74°F | 75°F | 75°F | 72°F | 63°F | 56°F |
| Temp | 49°F | 52°F | 55°F | 57°F | 60°F | 62°F | 63°F | 64°F | 64°F | 61°F | 55°F | 49°F |
| Low | 44°F | 46°F | 48°F | 50°F | 53°F | 55°F | 56°F | 57°F | 56°F | 54°F | 49°F | 44°F |
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 13°C | 15°C | 17°C | 18°C | 20°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 22°C | 17°C | 13°C |
| Temp | 9°C | 11°C | 12°C | 13°C | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 17°C | 17°C | 16°C | 12°C | 9°C |
| Low | 6°C | 7°C | 8°C | 10°C | 11°C | 12°C | 13°C | 13°C | 13°C | 12°C | 9°C | 6°C |