UC Berkeley Housing Costs

$6,238 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

Living Expenses and How They Compare at UC Berkeley?

Room, board, and other expenses can add up to a significant amount. How much does this school charge for these necessities at University of California-Berkeley.

On this page you will find:

Outline of Housing Costs
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Housing and Meal Plan Costs at UC Berkeley

This school offers students a combined housing and dining plan. The cost of living on campus for a standard student was about $23,750 in 2026. Taken together, a student living on campus at University of California-Berkeley paid roughly $38,150 in 2026 in total yearly living costs beyond tuition.

The following table outlines average expected costs for both on-campus and off-campus housing, meals and other expenses at University of California-Berkeley.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$30,781	$26,247
— Housing	$23,750
— Meals	$7,031
Other Living Expenses	$6,238	$6,580
Books and Supplies	$1,131	$1,131
Total	$38,150	$33,958

Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses? Estimated Four-Year Cost: $171,981

Housing and dining costs rarely hold still from one year to the next. Projecting the trend helps you plan for all four years instead of only the first.

The projected four-year total comes to about $171,981 in room, board and other essentials.

Here is how combined on-campus room and board has moved over the last few reported years, with a projection of where it is headed, at University of California-Berkeley.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$26,129
Two Years Ago	$27,509
One Year Ago	$29,040
Most Recent Year (2026)	$30,781
One Year From Now *	$32,607
Two Years From Now *	$34,542
Three Years From Now *	$36,592
Four Years From Now *	$38,764

* estimated

Year over year, room and board rose an average of 5.9% each year. Carrying that rate forward one year puts on-campus living costs near $39,976 for their first year on campus.

Projected forward, the last year of a four-year degree runs about $46,133 in year four — and a two-year student about $41,911 in the final year of a two-year (associate) degree.

For a full bachelor’s degree, expect to spend a total of around $171,981 for a four-year degree, versus about $81,887 over a two-year associate program.