States › Missouri › Berkeley

Is Berkeley, MO expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 30 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,18832% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$47,740about $3,978/month · 45% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$82,30075% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 77% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $47,520 a year. That is $23 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Missouri cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Missouri. It is number 59 of 142 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Berkeley
$1,188
Brentwood
$1,935
Maplewood
$1,241
Murphy
$1,168
Nevada
$1,011
Carl Junction
$1,473
Dexter
$955

How much do households earn in Berkeley?

Under $25k
22.7%
$25k–50k
27.9%
$50k–100k
32.5%
$100k–150k
7.2%
$150k+
1.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 8.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Berkeley

SizeBerkeleyU.S. average
1 bedroom$798$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,230$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,170$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Berkeley overall?

Everyday prices in Missouri overall are 9% below the U.S. average (index 90.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
70
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
79
Other services
95
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Berkeley, so the Missouri figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Berkeley

🏛️ Property tax$1,264a year · 1.54% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$121a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Berkeley

Commute to work21.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree14.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home52.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line35.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Berkeley?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $617 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,188
Owning
$571

Owning assumes a typical $82,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $8,230 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Berkeley, MO?

Renting in Berkeley costs a median of about $1,188 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Missouri median is $1,285.

How much do I need to make to live in Berkeley?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $47,520 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Berkeley cheap or expensive?

Berkeley is rated OK: rent takes 29.9% of the typical household income of $47,740. It ranks 59th cheapest of 142 Missouri cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Berkeley?

The median homeowner in Berkeley pays $1,264 a year in property taxes, about 1.54% of the median home value.

Is Berkeley more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Missouri are 9% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Berkeley?

The median home value in Berkeley is $82,300, about 1.7 times the typical yearly household income.

8,123 people live in Berkeley. Numbers are typical (middle) values.