How expensive is Berkeley? How much money do I need for Berkeley?
How much does a trip to Berkeley cost? Is Berkeley cheap or expensive? The average Berkeley trip cost is broken down by category here. All of these Berkeley prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers to find the price of travel in the area.
Accommodation Budget in Berkeley
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Berkeley is $131. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Berkeley is $263. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Berkeley? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Berkeley
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Berkeley is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $30 per person, per day, on local transportation in Berkeley.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$30
How much does it cost to go to Berkeley? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Berkeley will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Berkeley
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Berkeley can vary, the average cost of food in Berkeley is $36 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Berkeley should cost around $15 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Berkeley is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$36
Typical prices for Food in Berkeley are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Berkeley, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
Entertainment Budget in Berkeley
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Berkeley typically cost an average of $30 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$30
Alcohol Budget in Berkeley
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Berkeley per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$13
Berkeley On a Budget
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is considered to be perhaps the most progressive or liberal city in the United States. The town has deep roots in the Free Speech movement of the 1960s. Visitors, students, and locals alike will find an eclectic mix of cultures and viewpoints. The city's free-thinking environment has witnessed the creation of quality attractions, great food from many world cultures, and of course the internationally renowned University of California, Berkeley (also known as "Cal" or "Cal Berkeley").
Like the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area, Berkeley has a mild climate, with wet, mild winters and dry summers. Because of its position on the bay Berkeley gets a decent amount of fog, with mornings typically cool and foggy, followed by sunny afternoons, with the fog returning at night.
Sights
Berkeley sits across the bay from San Francisco, north of the Oakland metro area. The views from campus and other points around town look out over the bay to San Francisco. On a clear day, one can see the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown San Francisco, and the hills of Marin and Sausalito. You can easily reach Berkeley from the city of San Francisco on the Bay Area's Regional Transit System, known as BART. The trains run daily, but have a reduced schedule on weekends and in the evenings.
Activities
Life in Berkeley today offers remnants of street life culture, a growing Asian student community, a shrinking low income area and a large amount of "yuppies". The affluent and aging Berkeley Hills neighborhoods look down quite literally and figuratively on the more student and youth oriented "city of Berkeley", the smaller downtown core. Berkeley is extremely complex for a city of its size, 100,000 people.
Food and Dining
Restaurants in Berkeley are diverse and international. Prices vary dramatically, with many budget options catering to the student population while high end restaurants cater more to the older, working population. Food at most is generally high quality.