What is the average apartment size in San Francisco?

The average size for a San Francisco, CA apartment is 732 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 Feb / 2026, the average rent in San Francisco is $3,724 per month, a 9.24% increase from last years average of $3,409.

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

In San Francisco, studios rent for $2,648 per month, one-bedroom units average $3,591 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $4,744 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $5,911 per month

What is the average apartment size in San Francisco?

The typical apartment in San Francisco offers about 732 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 682 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 1,017 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,293 sq. ft.

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco?

The most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco are Mission Bay ($4,795/month), Duboce Triangle ($4,966/month), and Presidio ($5,701/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 67% 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 ($2,136/month), Downtown District 8 - North East ($2,445/month), and North Waterfront ($2,963/month), all below the citywide average of $3,724.

Last updated: April 07, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in San Francisco is $3,724, a 9.24% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,409.

Studio Apartments at $2,648 offer the most budget-friendly option with 458 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 682 square feet for $3,591, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $4,744 offer 1,017 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,293 sq ft) for $5,911, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in San Francisco, CA

Last updated: April 07, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$3,724	732 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,648	458 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$3,591	682 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$4,744	1,017 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$5,911	1,293 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 (67%) 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 $2,136/month

Downtown District 8 - North East $2,445/month

North Waterfront $2,963/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,724/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco?

Mission Bay $4,795/month

Duboce Triangle $4,966/month

Presidio $5,701/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	$5,701
Duboce Triangle	$4,966
Mission Bay	$4,795
South Beach	$4,719
Russian Hill	$4,679
Potrero Hill	$4,587
Nob Hill	$4,394
Yerba Buena	$4,379
Central Waterfront - Dogpatch	$4,348
Financial District - Barbary Coast	$4,294
Hayes Valley	$4,236
Forest Knolls	$3,991
South of Market	$3,837
Pacific Heights	$3,751
Mission Dolores	$3,733
Mission Terrace	$3,721
Van Ness - Civic Center	$3,623
Lower Pacific Heights	$3,376
Inner Mission	$3,345
North Waterfront	$2,963
Downtown District 8 - North East	$2,445
Tenderloin	$2,136

San Francisco | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Central Waterfront - Dogpatch is 78% higher than in Downtown District 8 - North East

$4,348

Central Waterfront - Dogpatch rent is 17% higher than San Francisco average

Average Rent $4,348

$2,445

Downtown District 8 - North East rent is 34% lower than San Francisco average

Average Rent $2,445

How San Francisco Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
San Francisco	$3,724
Los Angeles	$2,738
East Bay	$2,684
San Diego	$2,962
Oakland	$2,628
Long Beach	$2,685
Sacramento	$1,880
San Jose	$3,167
Alameda	$3,031
Fresno	$1,618
Anaheim	$2,470
Berkeley	$3,395
Hayward, CA	$2,425
San Mateo, CA	$3,672
San Leandro, CA	$2,301
San Rafael, CA	$2,901
Richmond, CA	$2,664
Burlingame, CA	$3,896
South San Francisco, CA	$3,428
Belmont, CA	$3,264
Emeryville, CA	$3,027

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.