How much is it to live in San Francisco?

Question

Like in Downtown San Francisco or close to
Pier 39. Is it expensive?
How much is rent a month? I want to rent first in San Francisco.

Answer 1

San Francisco, like many other citties, has seen a rise in rent costs over the last decade or so. A one bedroom apartment will run about $1200.month. Studio apartments are a bit cheaper, but are being replaced all over San Francisco by Condominiums and pricey upgraded apartments. The area you are looking at is also called the Ambarcadero district because of the many piers there. A lot of renovation has gone on in that area and many old wharehouses that used to go for fairly cheap have been replced with high rise apartment complexes. You will likely get a good value for youe=r rent, but it isn't cheap.

Answer 2

First off its the Embarcadero, not the Ambarcadero. To the poster that claims to pay $1600 for a 4br Apartment anywhere? $400 each? That's a too good to be true deal, not sure how you scored that, but its awesome if you really did and you aren't lying through your teeth.

I pay $900 for a 1br in-law apt in the Inner Sunset and I agree that its a good n'hood. Not totally central, but has what I like.

Personally I wouldn't want to live by Pier 39, but then again I hate Pier 39. I do like North Beach though, but thats more expensive over there. Figure $1400 for a Studio, closer to $2000 for a 1br.

To get an idea of housing prices in SF, go to www.craigslist.org and look through the apartments for rent pages. You can search by n'hood to find what you want. You can also search by price.

With the home sales market dropping many people are holding off from buying houses/condos/apts etc.. so there is a correlated tightening of the rental market. Good deals are out there, but you have to put some serious time into them. Be aware also that you will have to probably put down last month's rent/a deposit of 50%-100% of a month's rent as well as your first month when you move in to a place.

That means for a $1500/month place you will have to put down a minimum of $3750 in cash (or a check) to just sign the lease. keep that in mind.

Answer 3

I disagree with the previous poster's comment about having to pay $1600 + for a 1 bedroom apartment in SF. My friends are renting a 4 bedroom apartment for $1600 in the inner Sunset. It's quite palacial, if you ask me. Is it downtown? No, but it's not on the outskirts of the city like the outer Sunset is. I don't know why you'd want to live by Pier 39 because it's crowded as hell. Commuting downtown really isn't a problem, so I don't think you should limit yourself to that area.

Answer 4

Downtown or near Pier 39 will be very, very expensive.

However, I define "downtown" as the area around Montgomery and Market, the financial district. Some people define it as the area around Union Square; there would be some apartments there; more affordable the closer you get to the Tenderloin.

And contrary to what the above poster said, it's extremely doubtful you could find a one-bedroom apartment for $1200 in a reasonably liveable area. That's the price for a studio in the dicier neighborhoods.

Plan on $1600-2500 (depending on neighborhood) for a one-bedroom.