Choosing a place to live depends on your interests, preferences and budget.
With options available in both Berkeley and San Francisco, you can live in the bustling atmosphere of a dormitory, enjoy the independence of a private or shared apartment, or get the personal attention of a homestay.
We encourage you to research options by reading our blog posts below, attending our housing webinar, and directly contacting any of the housing providers below to confirm your housing before arrival. We do not endorse any of the following housing providers, but offer them for informational purposes only. Make sure you read and analyze all details and contracts for your off-campus housing before making any legal commitments.
To get started, read our blog posts to learn more about the following topics:
You can also check out the UC Berkeley Graduate Assembly (GA)'s GA Housing Guide, for additional resources.
Once you are accepted into a Berkeley Global program, you will also be granted access to a private Berkeley housing Facebook group. This group is a great resource as members often share new housing resources, tips and posts about housing or room openings.
For additional assistance or information, please email any questions to visiting-intl@berkeley.edu.
When looking for housing, especially from abroad, it is important to know that not all advertisements may be legitimate. Some warning signs that the listing may be a scam are:
Consider this advice to avoid being the victim of a scam:
If you think you have been the victim of a scam or are unsure if a listing is legitimate, please contact us immediately for assistance at visiting-intl@berkeley.edu.
The International House, Berkeley is a multi-cultural residence and program center serving students at the University of California, Berkeley.
Location: 10-minute bus ride or 20-minute walk to class
Features: Furnished double, triple and quad rooms with mini-fridges and microwaves; roommate matching; library and study lounges; laundry facilities; and Wi-Fi
Pricing: Begins at $1,050 per month for an academic year contract; see website for details and how to apply.
Location: 15-minute walk to class
Features: Small student residence with fully equipped kitchen, Wi-Fi, social events, professional housekeeping, on-site laundry, easy parking, popular neighborhood
Pricing: Rates vary. Take $100 off per month for Berkeley Global students. Mention "Berkeley Global student" in your application. See their website for details and how to apply.
Locations: Downtown Berkeley (2024 Durant Ave.) and Southside Berkeley (2201 Dwight Way)
Features: Furnished units, shared common spaces, in-unit or on-site laundry, rooftop terrace
Pricing: See website for details and to apply.
Visit the FOUND Study Downtown Berkeley or Southside Berkeley sites.
Location: 10-minute bus ride or 30-minute walk to class
Features: Meals, multicultural and international activities, Wi-Fi, indoor and outdoor dining, café, easy access to the UC Berkeley campus, and library and computing centers
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Location: 1798 Scenic Ave., at the Pacific School of Religion
Features: 15-minute walk to campus; several buildings with co-ed dorm-style housing, mixed with Berkeley students and Pacific School of Religion students; large single rooms with beautiful views, shared hall bathrooms; coin-operated on-site laundry; two community kitchens and community lounge area; 10-month lease
Pricing: Rates begin at $1,400 per month for a private bedroom; $900 for shared rooms
Visit PSR Housing.
Location: 10-minute bus ride or 25-minute walk to class
Features: Small student residence (i.e., two houses and a cottage) with fully equipped kitchens, social events, professional housekeeping, on-site laundry, study areas, easy parking
Pricing: Rates begin at $1,690 per month for a single; $1,290 per person per month for a shared room. Rates may vary depending on semester. See website for details.
Location: 2335 Telegraph Ave.
Features: 5-minute walk to campus; mostly single rooms, with single-occupancy hallway bathrooms; 12-month leases, some spring-only availability; staffed front desk; furnished with a bed, dresser, desk and mini-fridge; all utilities included except cable and Internet; communal kitchen and laundry room
Pricing: Rates begin at $1,250 per month for a single; $750 per bed in shared rooms.
Visit Spectra Southside.
Location: 10-minute bus ride or 20-minute walk to class
Features: Furnished single, double and triple rooms with mini-fridges; laundry facilities; Wi-Fi; and community kitchens to prepare meals
Pricing: Rates begin at $1,295 per month for a private room; $687 per month for a shared room. See website for details and how to apply.
Location: Downtown near Union Square and Theatre District (16 Turk St.)
Features: Fully furnished private and shared bedrooms with private bathrooms, communal kitchens, study lounge and library, on-site laundry, controlled access entry with 24/7 security and front desk, Stockwell Automated Grocery Store, Notfii Package service, high-speed Wi-Fi, and more.
Pricing: Rates begin at $1,400 per month for a single or $700 per month for a shared double. See website for seasonal and semester pricing.
Location: In and around Berkeley
Features: Fully furnished, ready-to-live-in units
Pricing: See website for details and to apply.
Location: 2120 Grant St. (downtown Berkeley, quiet residential area very close to the UC Berkeley Extension office)
Features: Fully furnished 2-bedroom/2-bathroom apartment at Grant Street; 3-bedroom/2-bath and 1-bedroom/1-bath available at Tyler Street; 12-month leases preferred, but semester leases possible
Pricing: Rates begin at $1,200 per month for a single room; $1,050 per bed per month.
Contact: berkeleyflats.com/rent
Location: 13 communities all less than a quarter-mile from campus
Features: Singles and doubles in co-living situations, utilities and cleaning included
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Visit The Berkeley Group.
Location: 2500 and 2508 Benvenue Ave.
Features: 10-minute walk to campus; 10-month leases; on-site coin laundry; water and garbage included in rent
Pricing: Large, unfurnished studio apartments for $1,700 per month; one-bedroom unfurnished apartments from $2,050
Visit Bratcher & Gray Apartments.
Location: 10-minute walk to class
Features: Studios to 3-bedroom pet-friendly apartments (unfurnished) with fully equipped kitchens, garage parking, resident lounge with Wi-Fi and on-site laundry
Pricing: Rates begin at $3,100 for a single studio. See website for more details and to apply.
Location: 10-minute walk to class
Features: Furnished and unfurnished one- and two-bedroom apartments with kitchen, Wi-Fi, private terraces, on-site laundry, roommate matching, parking garage and City Car Share on premises
Pricing: Rates begin at $2,342 for a one bedroom, unfurnished apartment.
Location: 2556 Telegraph Ave. (Southside)
Features: Boutique building with fully furnished apartments, washer/dryer in unit, 3- and 4-bedroom floor plans, living room with sofa and TV, a minimum of 2 bathrooms per unit
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Location: Two locations in North Berkeley, both less than 10 minutes from campus
Features: Fully furnished one-bedroom apartments that can be converted to accommodate more tenants; on-site laundry; long- or short-term rentals for the full academic year (spring, fall or summer semester)
Pricing: Pricing varies by apartment. See website for details.
Contact: Visit the Oxford Apartments site; email oxford-apartments@comcast.net
Location: Upscale, modern apartment buildings in central Berkeley
Features: Studios to three-bedroom apartments (unfurnished), fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, garage parking available at most locations
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Location: Heart of the Elmwood neighborhood
Features: Furnished apartments and studios for short-term stays, 15-minute walk to Berkeley campus, one block from bus stop, Wi-Fi and expenses included
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Location: 2580 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Features: From fully furnished studios to 5-bedroom apartments; roommate matching available; amenities include a gym, lounge, computer room, outdoor patio and in-unit washer/dryer.
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Visit The Standard.
How it works: Aggregate search of furnished rooms—searches Anyplace, Blueground, Faros, Housing Anywhere, Roomster, Airbnb, sublet.com, homestay. Works through partners such as those listed, not individual landlords, so more reliable than Craigslist.
Benefits: Have furnished apartments, private rooms, shared rooms, in Financial District, South of Market (SoMa), North Beach, Union Square. "Verified" option means the partner has met with the landlord or toured the apartment personally to verify it.
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Suitable for: individuals, groups, families.
Location: Downtown and Lower Nob Hill locations.
Features: Private and double rooms in fully furnished units and student housing buildings, including utilities and short-term leases.
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Visit the Rexidence Residential Services site, or check availability by calling (415) 484-6040 or emailing bayarea@rexidence.com.
How it works: Search site for sublets. Can search furnished, 6–12 month lease term or 1–6 months, neighborhood, and size, sort by price.
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Memberships: Paid and unpaid memberships. For unpaid membership can only view "free" listings. Membership costs $10 for 90 days.
Benefits: Has "trusted" landlords, verified phone number, office, and listing as valid.
Suitable for: Individuals, groups, families.
Location: Recommended properties: 845 Pine St. (between Nob Hill and Union Square) and Crystal Tower, 2140 Taylor St. (in North Beach/Russian Hill)
Features: One- and two-bedroom furnished apartments with fully equipped kitchens, short-term leases, on-site laundry and linens
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Location: Locations by request
Features: Short-term or long-term housing available; personalized matching with host families; meals; internet
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Location: Locations by request
Features: HomestayMatch is a website for students who would like to choose their own homestay. Students can see room pictures, prices and host details before applying.
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Location: Locations by request
Features: StudentRoomStay is a website for students that provides all forms of off-campus housing on a safe and user-friendly platform, matching services to help students find housing and 24/7 support.
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.
Location: Locations by request
Features: Airport transfers, monthly stays available, meal plan options
Pricing: See website for rates and to apply.