What is the average apartment size in San Francisco?

The average size for a San Francisco, CA apartment is 738 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in San Francisco?

As of Dec / 2025, the average rent in San Francisco is $3,561 per month, a 5.54% increase from last years average of $3,374.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in San Francisco?

In San Francisco, studios rent for $2,536 per month, one-bedroom units average $3,389 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $4,582 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $5,671 per month

What is the average apartment size in San Francisco?

The typical apartment in San Francisco offers about 738 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in San Francisco?

Studio apartments in San Francisco average 458 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 684 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 1,022 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,294 sq. ft.

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco?

The most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco are Russian Hill ($4,430/month), Nob Hill ($4,458/month), and Presidio ($5,375/month), often due to premium locations and high-end amenities.

San Francisco, CA Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in San Francisco?

The typical rent budget in San Francisco ranges from $3,000 to per month, with 59% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in San Francisco?

In San Francisco, 62% of households rent while 38% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Q: What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Francisco?

The most affordable neighborhoods in San Francisco include Tenderloin ($2,071/month), Downtown District 8 - North East ($2,412/month), and North Waterfront ($2,785/month), all below the citywide average of $3,561.

Last updated: January 10, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in San Francisco is $3,561, a 5.54% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,374.

Studio Apartments at $2,536 offer the most budget-friendly option with 458 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 684 square feet for $3,389, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $4,582 offer 1,022 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,294 sq ft) for $5,671, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in San Francisco, CA

Last updated: January 10, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$3,561	738 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,536	458 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$3,389	684 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$4,582	1,022 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$5,671	1,294 sq. ft.

San Francisco, CA rent trends

What's the typical rent budget in San Francisco, CA?

The largest share of rentals in San Francisco, CA (59%) fall between $3,000- per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in San Francisco, CA?

223,040 or 62% of the households in San Francisco, CA are renter-occupied while 139,610 or 38% are owner-occupied.

Most affordable neighborhoods in San Francisco?

Tenderloin $2,071/month

Downtown District 8 - North East $2,412/month

North Waterfront $2,785/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,561/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco?

Russian Hill $4,430/month

Nob Hill $4,458/month

Presidio $5,375/month

These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.

Average Rent in San Francisco, CA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
Presidio	$5,375
Nob Hill	$4,458
Russian Hill	$4,430
Mission Bay	$4,406
Potrero Hill	$4,404
South Beach	$4,395
Duboce Triangle	$4,349
Yerba Buena	$4,094
Central Waterfront - Dogpatch	$4,024
Hayes Valley	$3,982
Financial District - Barbary Coast	$3,893
Pacific Heights	$3,716
South of Market	$3,660
Mission Dolores	$3,636
Forest Knolls	$3,629
Mission Terrace	$3,563
Van Ness - Civic Center	$3,334
Inner Mission	$3,303
Lower Pacific Heights	$2,971
North Waterfront	$2,785
Downtown District 8 - North East	$2,412
Tenderloin	$2,071

San Francisco | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Central Waterfront - Dogpatch is 67% higher than in Downtown District 8 - North East

$4,024

Central Waterfront - Dogpatch rent is 13% higher than San Francisco average

Average Rent $4,024

$2,412

Downtown District 8 - North East rent is 32% lower than San Francisco average

Average Rent $2,412

How San Francisco Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
San Francisco	$3,561
Los Angeles	$2,758
East Bay	$2,644
San Diego	$2,952
Oakland	$2,627
Long Beach	$2,666
Sacramento	$1,888
Alameda	$2,976
San Jose	$3,103
Fresno	$1,624
Tulare	$1,690
Hayward, CA	$2,417
Berkeley, CA	$3,339
San Mateo, CA	$3,608
San Leandro, CA	$2,315
San Rafael, CA	$2,931
Burlingame, CA	$3,633
Richmond, CA	$2,543
Belmont, CA	$3,173
Emeryville, CA	$3,041
South San Francisco, CA	$3,367

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all San Francisco apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.