2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Rochester, NY vs Berkeley, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Berkeley or is it cheaper to live in Rochester?
- Berkeley is 120.7% more expensive than Rochester.

Which city has more affordable housing, Berkeley or Rochester?
- Berkeley housing costs are 1,062.9% more expensive than Rochester housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Rochester or is Health Care more affordable in Berkeley.
- Health related expenses are 8.9% more in Berkeley.
 Rochester, NYBerkeley, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock195.5100
 Food & Groceries97.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock116.8100
 Housing44.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,320,600$338,100
 Utilities103  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock118.7100
 Miscellaneous148.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Rochester    79 Reviews

Stay out of the rougher patches, and you'll find a pretty solid city. I live within close proximity to it, and the crime from it DOES rub off on us (auto theft), but  More

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Rochester isn't perfect (I'll detail pros and cons), but it's certainly perfect for me and my husband. We've lived here for 4 years and are getting ready to purchase our  More

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Rochester is a scenic city with so much to offer in terms of things to do and having 4 seasons, except the summer is more like a long spring!! It's a relatively unknown  More

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Reviews for Berkeley    14 Reviews

Have lived in Berkeley for about 35 years now. Housing/Real Estate: If you're looking to move here, $1,000,000 will get you a small cottage in the "flats". Most of  More

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Over 12 years ago

We have the best climate -- summers and winters are mild. Lots of  More

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Over 14 years ago

The 60's have left Berkeley and now it is about MONEY...and the people there have plenty of it and nice hybrid cars (looks like 2 per household) and with a great bicycle  More

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