Berkeley does not publish one universal housing price for every student type. International Office planning figures for 2025-26 use $2,400 per month for undergraduate living expenses and $2,800 per month for graduate living expenses, including housing, meals, books and personal expenses. Actual residence-hall, shared-rental and private-housing costs vary by location and contract; students should apply for university housing early and compare current official estimates.

Berkeley's campus and surrounding Bay Area provide varied food options, but the university's published international budget treats meals as part of living expenses rather than as a fixed universal meal plan. Students with religious, medical or cultural dietary needs should check current residential dining menus, accommodation processes and nearby grocery options directly with campus housing and student services.

Berkeley's main campus is in the East Bay, near San Francisco and the wider Bay Area. The university describes more than 40,000 students, over 300 degree programmes and 15 colleges and schools; undergraduate academic homes include Chemistry, Computing, Data Science and Society, Engineering, Environmental Design, Letters and Science, Haas and Natural Resources. Students should plan for a dense urban campus environment, Bay Area housing competition and a high-cost US city budget.

Safety planning should be based on Berkeley's current campus safety resources, emergency contacts and housing guidance rather than broad city labels. International students should save campus emergency information, review arrival and transport guidance, and confirm insurance and health arrangements before enrolment. Costs, services and local conditions can change, so use the university's current student and international-office guidance. The Berkeley International Office supports immigration and financial documentation after admission. Admitted international students complete a Non-immigrant Information Form, provide proof of funding for the first year and receive the document needed for a student visa from BIO. Graduate and professional applicants also work with their department or school for programme-specific advising, onboarding, funding and registration steps.

Berkeley does not publish one universal housing price for every student type. International Office planning figures for 2025-26 use $2,400 per month for undergraduate living expenses and $2,800 per month for graduate living expenses, including housing, meals, books and personal expenses. Actual residence-hall, shared-rental and private-housing costs vary by location and contract; students should apply for university housing early and compare current official estimates.

Berkeley's campus and surrounding Bay Area provide varied food options, but the university's published international budget treats meals as part of living expenses rather than as a fixed universal meal plan. Students with religious, medical or cultural dietary needs should check current residential dining menus, accommodation processes and nearby grocery options directly with campus housing and student services.

Berkeley's main campus is in the East Bay, near San Francisco and the wider Bay Area. The university describes more than 40,000 students, over 300 degree programmes and 15 colleges and schools; undergraduate academic homes include Chemistry, Computing, Data Science and Society, Engineering, Environmental Design, Letters and Science, Haas and Natural Resources. Students should plan for a dense urban campus environment, Bay Area housing competition and a high-cost US city budget.

Safety planning should be based on Berkeley's current campus safety resources, emergency contacts and housing guidance rather than broad city labels. International students should save campus emergency information, review arrival and transport guidance, and confirm insurance and health arrangements before enrolment. Costs, services and local conditions can change, so use the university's current student and international-office guidance. The Berkeley International Office supports immigration and financial documentation after admission. Admitted international students complete a Non-immigrant Information Form, provide proof of funding for the first year and receive the document needed for a student visa from BIO. Graduate and professional applicants also work with their department or school for programme-specific advising, onboarding, funding and registration steps.