What is the average apartment size in San Francisco?

The average size for a San Francisco, CA apartment is 739 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 Sep / 2025, the average rent in San Francisco is $3,545 per month, a 6.46% increase from last year’s average of $3,330.

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

In San Francisco, studios rent for $2,530 per month, one-bedroom units average $3,356 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $4,565 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $5,693 per month

What is the average apartment size in San Francisco?

The typical apartment in San Francisco offers about 739 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 459 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 682 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 1,023 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 Nob Hill ($4,429/month), Mission Bay ($4,489/month), and Presidio ($5,165/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 60% 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 ($2,062/month), Downtown District 8 - North East ($2,437/month), and North Waterfront ($2,780/month), all below the citywide average of $3,545.

Last updated: November 03, 2025 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in San Francisco is $3,545, a 6.46% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,330.

Studio Apartments at $2,530 offer the most budget-friendly option with 459 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 682 square feet for $3,356, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $4,565 offer 1,023 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,294 sq ft) for $5,693, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in San Francisco, CA

Last updated: November 03, 2025

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$3,545	739 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,530	459 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$3,356	682 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$4,565	1,023 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$5,693	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 (60%) 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.

Access comprehensive real estate data and information on Yardi Matrix

Most affordable neighborhoods in San Francisco?

Tenderloin $2,062/month

Downtown District 8 - North East $2,437/month

North Waterfront $2,780/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,545/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco?

Nob Hill $4,429/month

Mission Bay $4,489/month

Presidio $5,165/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	$5,165
Mission Bay	$4,489
Nob Hill	$4,429
Duboce Triangle	$4,349
Potrero Hill	$4,346
South Beach	$4,318
Yerba Buena	$4,041
Hayes Valley	$3,990
Financial District - Barbary Coast	$3,958
Russian Hill	$3,928
Central Waterfront - Dogpatch	$3,912
Mission Terrace	$3,870
Mission Dolores	$3,707
Pacific Heights	$3,675
South of Market	$3,656
Forest Knolls	$3,463
Van Ness - Civic Center	$3,316
Inner Mission	$3,237
Lower Pacific Heights	$3,168
North Waterfront	$2,780
Downtown District 8 - North East	$2,437
Tenderloin	$2,062

San Francisco | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Central Waterfront - Dogpatch is 61% higher than in Downtown District 8 - North East

$3,912

Central Waterfront - Dogpatch rent is 10% higher than San Francisco average

Average Rent $3,912

$2,437

Downtown District 8 - North East rent is 31% lower than San Francisco average

Average Rent $2,437

How San Francisco Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
San Francisco	$3,545
Los Angeles	$2,762
East Bay	$2,685
San Diego	$2,959
Sacramento	$1,921
Oakland	$2,651
Long Beach	$2,665
San Jose	$3,170
Fresno	$1,594
Tulare	$1,576
Vallejo	$2,121
Berkeley, CA	$3,314
Hayward, CA	$2,464
San Mateo, CA	$3,671
San Leandro, CA	$2,321
San Rafael, CA	$2,966
Alameda, CA	$2,969
Richmond, CA	$2,643
Burlingame, CA	$3,526
Belmont, CA	$3,181
Emeryville, CA	$2,983

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.