Last updated on October 23, 2026

Average rent in
San Francisco, CA

Key takeaways for renters

  • Where San Francisco rent stands today

    San Francisco, CA rent rose 28.5% year over year, with a current median of $4,620/month. Renters today are paying $1,060 more per month on average than last year, with rent near the peak of $4,835/month reached last month.

  • Vs. national rents

    San Francisco runs roughly 2.4× the $1,900/month national median, placing it among the priciest major metros in the country. The market offers 673 total rentals, mostly apartments, for renters who prioritize location and amenities.

  • Rent ranges by bedroom

    Studios in San Francisco rent for $2,858/month, 1-bedrooms for $4,413/month, and 2-bedrooms for $6,245/month, with 3-bedrooms at $7,300/month and 4+ bedrooms at $9,000/month. Apartments make up 77.3% of rentals, while houses rent for a median of $6,600/month.

  • Neighborhood spotlight

    Anza Vista rents climbed 133.1% year over year to $6,050/month across 21 rentals, a rise well above the citywide 28.5% increase. Meanwhile, Seacliff rents fell 29.2% year over year to $5,825/month, showing a contrasting local trend within San Francisco.

Median rent

Median rent in San Francisco

$4,620/mo

increased by29%

vs previous year

The average rent in San Francisco is $4,620 per month as of October 2026. This is 143% above the national average rent, or $2,720 more per month.

$6.11

average price per square foot

Total rentals

Available rentals in San Francisco

673

for rent on Zumper.com as of October 2026

Rent price distribution

Share of San Francisco rentals at each price point

30%23%15%8%0%
$0 - $1,500
$1,501 - $3,000
$3,001 - $4,500
$4,501 - $6,000
$6,001 - $50,000

Rent trends in San Francisco, CA

Average rent prices in San Francisco have decreased by 1% over the last month and have increased by 29% since last year.

Rent trends

Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.

Compare rent prices in San Francisco, CA

Rent prices in San Francisco vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in San Francisco is $4,495, whereas a house costs $6,600. 1-bedroom apartments in San Francisco run $4,495 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $6,245.

Listings

Studio

$2,857

No Change

30%

1 bedroom

$4,413

1%

30%

2 bedroom

$6,245

2%

28%

3 bedroom

$7,300

No Change

19%

4 bedroom

$9,000

23%

20%

Studio

Average rent

$2,857

Last 30 days

No Change

Last year

30%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$4,413

Last 30 days

1%

Last year

30%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$6,245

Last 30 days

2%

Last year

28%

3 bedroom

Average rent

$7,300

Last year

19%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$9,000

Last 30 days

23%

Last year

20%

The table above reflects average rent prices in San Francisco, CA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.

How does rent in San Francisco, CA compare to other cities?

Compare median rent prices in San Francisco and Alameda by all bedroom counts and property types.

San Francisco

Median rent price$4,620
increased by143%

higher than the national median

Median rent price$2,622
increased by38%

higher than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in San Francisco, CA is 76% higher than the median rent in Alameda, CA.

Cost of living in San Francisco, CA

Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.

Expenses
accrued by most renters
Average cost
compared to national average
Goods & Services23% higher
Groceries17% higher
Health23% higher
Housing161% higher
Transportation42% higher
Utilities44% higher

Discover rentals in San Francisco, CA

345 Taylor St Ofc 4 - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Tenderloin apartment for rent in San Francisco

Tilden Hotel - Office 4

345 Taylor St Ofc 4, San Francisco, CA 94102

Studio

0 baths

$499

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
858 Washington St #40 - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Financial District apartment for rent in San Francisco

Private SRO Room in the Heart of Chinatown

858 Washington St #40, San Francisco, CA 94108

Studio

0 baths

$700

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
1353 Bush Street - 105: Bed - Photo 1 of 1

1d ago

Nob Hill apartment for rent in San Francisco

Music City Hotel - 105 - Bed#1 (Lower)

1353 Bush Street - 105: Bed, San Francisco, CA 94109

Studio

1 bath

$715

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
301 Columbus Ave #215 - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Financial District apartment for rent in San Francisco

301 Columbus Ave #215, San Francisco, CA 94133

Studio

0 baths

$750

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.

Stay up to date with rental market insights

Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.

Frequently asked questions for San Francisco, CA

Quick answers to common questions about the San Francisco rental market.

How much is rent in San Francisco?

The average rent in San Francisco is $4,620 per month as of October 17, 2026.

Is rent up or down in San Francisco?

Average rent prices in San Francisco have decreased by 1% over the last month and have increased by 29% since last year.

How does San Francisco rent compare to the national average?

Rent in San Francisco is 143% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $2,720 more per month.

Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Francisco?

The most affordable neighborhoods in San Francisco are Tenderloin ($1,995/mo), Downtown ($2,537/mo), and Potrero Hill ($4,422/mo).

What salary do I need to afford rent in San Francisco?

To comfortably afford rent in San Francisco, you'd need to earn approximately $185,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.

When is the best time of year to rent in San Francisco?

Winter months offer the best rental deals in San Francisco, with February showing the lowest prices and November through December being the least competitive periods. September has the highest rent levels, creating about a 4% difference between peak and off-peak months.

Methodology

Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.

Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).

For additional insights into rental trends, including month-over-month changes and historical comparisons, see Zumper's Monthly Metro Report.

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