Map of monthly rent/person in the Berkeley and SF area. Last updated July 2018.
When looking for a place your first year, it may also be useful to see proximity to the AC Transit FS bus stops, for express service between SF and Berkeley (~40 min Downtown Berkeley to first stop in SF). We can ride AC Transit buses free of charge as it is rolled into UC Berkeley student fees. Other options are the AC transit F bus (no express service; ~60 min Downtown Berkeley to first stop in SF), and the BART trains (not free of charge, ~$5).
| City | Location | Type | Rent (per month, per person) | Is your place rent controlled? | When did your lease start? | How did you find it? | Other notes? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | 1624 Milvia Street | 4BR/2BA | 1150 average | No | 6/6/2013 | Friend | North Berkeley's pretty quaint, meh on groceries |
| Berkeley | Sacremento and Ashby | 1BR/1BA | 1700 | Yes | 4/1/2018 | Craigslist | It's awesome, need to commute by bike, but convenient |
| Berkeley | Milvia and Lincoln (Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley) | 4 BR/2 BA apartment, not university affiliated | $1210 for a bedroom (single) | Yes | 8/11/2017 | UC Berkeley housing facebook page | great area, close to campus but somewhat separated from campus (i.e. undergrads). Has a bit of a neighborhood feel and lots of good restaurants nearby. |
| Berkeley | Bancroft and Bonar | 2BR/1BA | 1375 | Yes | 8/1/2018 | I am actually leaving this apartment - it was cheaper for me since I had it for a few years before now - but this is what I know it is being rented for this fall, so I thought I'd add it in for data purposes! (Rent listed is per bedroom as requested - whole unit rent is twice that.) | |
| SF | Bayview, 94124 | 5 BR / 3 BA | 2x 800, 1x 900, 1x 1100, 1x 1400 (couple in master) | Yes | 6/1/2017 | Friend | Pretty close to UCSF, about 3 miles, 25 minutes on the T-line or by bike. Bayview gets a lot of sun, but it's not a typical grad student neighborhood. Definitely worth checking out for UCSF people! |
| Berkeley | Sacramento St. and Channing St. | 3 BR/2 BA | 1215 | Yes | 7/1/2017 | Craigslist | Love the area. Close to transbay bus stop |
| SF | Irving and 6th Ave | 1st level of house with 3 rooms, landlord in 1 of the rooms | 1150 | I don't know | 4/1/2017 | Craigslist | Love it, inner sunset is great, we might be lucky bc it’s a rare find and actually the 2 rooms are living+bedroom but it has separation between them |
| Berkeley | Near TJ's on university/shattuck | Studio | 1500 | Yes | 1/8/2016 | Craigslist | Great space and location. Still pricey compared to other rents but actually reasonable for a studio |
| Berkeley | 2705 Ridge Rd. | 1BR/BA | $2,050/month ($1,025/person) | I don't know | 8/1/2017 | Friend | |
| SF | 2nd and Townsend | 2BR/2BA | 2000 | No | 6/15/2018 | Sf housing group | Great area if you’re looking for a city experience, 15min walk to Mission Bay campus, 15min walk to Bart |
| SF | 9th & Moraga St | 1 bedroom in 3-bedroom apartment | 1200 | No | 1/1/2013 | Craigslist | A lot of UCSF-based students live in this area. It's less than a mile from Parnassus and a bus runs directly to campus. Grocery stores are a little far away. |
| Berkeley | 1780 Spruce St | 3BR/2BA | 3000 | Yes | 6/1/2014 | Craigslist | |
| Berkeley | University village | 2br/1ba University village | 850 | No | 6/1/2016 | University village | The village is the best deal if you have a partner - try to get in. They give priority to fellowship holders so if you have any kind of fellowship you should put that on the application. Also put the move in as the earliest day you could possibly move in. Worth it to spend a few extra months rent to secure a place here which will save a ton of money in the long run. |
| Berkeley | Addison and Mcgee | 2 Br/1ba | 1275 | Yes | 12/15/2017 | Craigslist | Love the area. Accessible to bus lines and Bart. Lots of street parking. 1 hr commute to mission bay with the FS bus |
| Berkeley | Albany | UC Village | 1750 | I don't know | 7/1/2018 | UC Berkeley housing website | |
| Berkeley | North Berkeley | 2BR/1BA | 1291 | Yes | 8/15/2014 | Internet | |
| Berkeley | Central Berkeley | 3br/1ba | 1100 | No | 8/1/2017 | Craigslist | Safe area, low crime in immediate area, spacious, good deal |
| SF | Outer Richmond, SF | Room in a 6BR,3BA+2 halfBA house | 1095 | Yes | 6/1/2018 | Craigslist | Love it! Super easy commute to UCSF. 10 min walk to UCSF VA shuttle stop. |
| Berkeley | Bonita and Cedar | 2BR/2BA Apartment | 1350 | I don't know | 6/1/2018 | Craigslist | |
| Berkeley | 1993 El Dorado Ave. | 1 BR/1 BA | 1088 | Yes | 7/1/2017 | Craigslist | Really wonderful quiet area with lots of families |
| Berkeley | Delaware and MLK | 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom | 1142 | Yes | 9/1/2015 | Friend | |
| Berkeley | berkeley hills | 3 br 2 ba (4 people) | 950 | No | 8/1/2013 | Craigslist | Location is surprisingly friendly to not owning a car, but only because we live close to both the AC transit line and the UC Berkeley Hill Line. |
| Berkeley | Delaware and MLK | 3BR/2BA | ~1100 | Yes | 8/1/2016 | Friend | |
| Berkeley | 75 Northgate Ave | 3BR/2BA | $1,384 | No | 8/1/2015 | Craigslist | It’s amazing! A hike to get home but it’s a nice quiet neighborhood and the views are unparalleled. |
| Berkeley | Milvia and Vine | 3BR/1.5BA | 1150 | Yes | 8/1/2013 | Craigslist | Right near Cheeseboard!!! |
| North Oakland | Temescal | Studio | 1400 | Yes | 8/1/2018 | Friend | I love it!!! |
| Berkeley | North Berkeley | 1 BR / 1 BA | 1500 | Yes | 7/1/2016 | Craigslist | North berkeley is quiet and lovely |
| SF | San Francisco, Potrero Hill, walking distance to UCSF Mission Bay campus | Private bedroom & bathroom in 2 BR condo, share w UCSF employee. Incl Tennis courts, Fitness room, Jacuzzis, Saunas, Gardens, View, Internet, Laundry in-unit, Furnished, Linens, Laundry soap, Toilet paper! | $1,450 | No | 6/1/2018 | I am owner | Love living here. I have had a few roommates (summer internships, etc.) and both parties have always had a positive experience |
| Berkeley | North Berkeley, Gourmet Ghetto | 2BR/1BA | 1300 | Yes | 8/1/2014 | Craigslist | Good commute location for both UCB and UCSF. Quiet, close to restaurants, grocery stores, parks. |
| SF | 17th Ave and Taraval (Sunset/Parkside neighborhood) | 3BR/2BA | $3000 split unequally (master room + bath pays $1200, other two pay $900) | I don't know | 7/1/2016 | Craigslist | Great place to live if you're at UCSF Parnassus. 20-30 min commute by public transit, right on the MUNI rail line so it's easy/fast to get most places in the city, and you're close to the beach! |
| Daly City | 331 San Diego Ave Daly City (3 blocks from BART) | 2BR/1BA | 1137.5 | No | 12/1/2016 | Craigslist | Daly City is so incredibly underrated! Much cheaper than SF and just as fast to get to Mission Bay as the western half of SF. 30-45 minute commute with BART + shuttle, 15-30 minute commute driving. I like living there. |
| Berkeley | 1094 Creston Rd | Full house rental | 1000 (though usually this area is 1500-2000) | No | 6/15/2017 | Cal Rentals | Love the area. Quiet, extremely safe, close to Tilden park. At least one member of your house should own a car though. Serviced by the 65, 65*, 67, and Hill lines, so transit is easy (though last bus up is at ~8pm). You'll also have to be very diligent about looking for houses if you're aiming to spend less than $1400 per room. Shaw Properties is a great place to start--amazing rental company. |
| SF | Inner Sunset | 1BR/1BA | 1400 | Yes | 6/1/2015 | Craigslist | Great area - good food, close to UCSF Parnassus campus, close to muni & UCSF shuttle stops. |
| Berkeley | 2910 wheeler st, Berkeley CA 94705 | 2 BR/1 BA | 1250 | No | 8/15/2017 | Craigslist | It was good for a year, now I live in UCSF housing |
| Berkeley | McGee and Allston | 3br/1ba | 1100 | Yes | 8/1/2017 | Craigslist | Great location and lots of room |
| SF | Inner Sunset | 2br 2ba | 1295 | I don't know | 6/1/2018 | Craigslist | Walking distance to Parnassus. Love it |
| Berkeley | Sacramento and Addison | 2BR/1BA | 1300 | I don't know | 8/1/2017 | Housing Facebook groups | |
| Berkeley | Shattuck and Vine | 3br / 1.5ba | $1,200 | Yes | 8/15/2013 | Craigslist | |
| Berkeley | Grant and Channing | 3BR/1BA | 1000 | I don't know | 6/1/2015 | Craigslist | Great, would recommend the area. Channing is a bike lane so it's easy to go right up to campus, but it's still close enough that you can walk to lab. |
| Albany (UC Village) | UC Village | UC Village | 950 | Yes | 9/1/2013 | UC Housing | Tons of property crime. Multiple vehicles stolen from me and misc property around the area. |
| Albany | UC Village | 2 BR /1 BA | 1700 | I don't know | 8/1/2014 | Mentioned to me at prospective student interviews | Great housing, especially for the price. |
| SF | 1382 4th Ave (inner sunset) | 3BR/2.5BA | $1,250 | I don't know | 8/1/2017 | Friend | |
| SF | 1382 4th Ave (inner sunset) | 3BR/2.5BA | $1,250 | I don't know | 8/1/2017 | Friend | |
| Berkeley | North Berkeley, near Oxford & Los Angelos | shared house | 981 | No | 7/1/2015 | Friend |