Berkeley, CA vs Glendale, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Glendale, CA has a modeled overall cost index 1.0% higher than Berkeley, CA.

Berkeley, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,790 / month
Glendale, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,045 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Berkeley, CA and Glendale, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Berkeley, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $17.62/month in Glendale, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,211 in Glendale, CA

Regional cost estimates: Berkeley, CA uses Oakland, CA. Glendale, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 1.0%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$17.62

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$211

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Berkeley, CA

Population:119K

Cost Index:

160.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.14M

Glendale, CA

Population:187K

Cost Index:

161.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.15M

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Berkeley, CA

The Golden State

119K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 119K residents.

Glendale, CA

The Golden State

187K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 187K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Berkeley, CA vs Glendale, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Berkeley, CA	Glendale, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,689/mo	$4,006/mo	↑ $317more	8.6%
Other	$1,120/mo	$994/mo	↓ $126less	11.2%
Healthcare	$428/mo	$329/mo	↓ $98.92less	23.1%
Groceries	$703/mo	$618/mo	↓ $84.36less	12.0%
All Utilities	$272/mo	$331/mo	↑ $59.65more	22.0%
Transportation	$1,289/mo	$1,240/mo	↓ $49.78less	3.9%

Housing

↑ 8.6%

Berkeley, CA

$3,689

Glendale, CA

$4,006

Difference

$317

Other

↓ 11.2%

Berkeley, CA

$1,120

Glendale, CA

$994

Difference

$126

less

Healthcare

↓ 23.1%

Berkeley, CA

$428

Glendale, CA

$329

Difference

$98.92

less

Groceries

↓ 12.0%

Berkeley, CA

$703

Glendale, CA

$618

Difference

$84.36

less

All Utilities

↑ 22.0%

Berkeley, CA

$272

Glendale, CA

$331

Difference

$59.65

Transportation

↓ 3.9%

Berkeley, CA

$1,289

Glendale, CA

$1,240

Difference

$49.78

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,050

To$2,180

↑ $130

1 Bed

From$2,285

To$2,445

↑ $160

2 Bed

From$2,790

To$3,045

↑ $255

3 Bed

From$3,565

To$3,860

↑ $295

Berkeley, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,020–$2,580/mo

Glendale, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,220–$2,550/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Berkeley, CA

$7,518

Monthly in Glendale, CA

$17.62

Difference

Home Values

Berkeley

Glendale

$1.14M

Median Value

$1.15M

↓ -2.8%

YoY Change

↓ -0.9%

↓ -0.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +29.8%

$967K - $1.87M

Price Range

$760K - $1.69M

Homes in Glendale are 1% more expensive than Berkeley

Calculate payment - Berkeley Calculate payment - Glendale

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Berkeley, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Glendale, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Berkeley, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Glendale, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Berkeley

Glendale

49 Good

Air Quality

80 Moderate

53%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Berkeley, CA to Glendale, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Glendale, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Berkeley, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Berkeley to Glendale moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Glendale, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Berkeley, CA vs Glendale, CA

How do the cost estimates for Berkeley, CA and Glendale, CA compare?

Glendale, CA has a modeled overall cost index 1.0% higher than Berkeley, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Berkeley, CA, the model estimates $150,211 in Glendale, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Berkeley, CA and Glendale, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,790/month in Berkeley, CA and $3,045/month in Glendale, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.