Last updated on August 23, 2026

Average rent in
San Francisco, CA

Key takeaways for renters

  • Where San Francisco rent stands today

    San Francisco, CA rent rose 25.6% year over year, with a current median of $4,395/month. Renters today are paying $884 more per month than last year, reaching the peak rent level of $4,730/month in August 2026.

  • Vs. national rents

    San Francisco rent is 128.3% more expensive than the national median of $1,925/month. The market offers 585 total rentals, reflecting a limited inventory for renters in this metro.

  • Rent ranges by bedroom

    Studios in San Francisco rent for $2,765/month, 1-bedrooms for $4,200/month, and 2-bedrooms for $5,995/month. Larger units include 3-bedrooms at $7,500/month and 4+ bedrooms at $7,995/month. These figures represent the range renters face by bedroom count.

  • Price ranges

    Houses rent at a median of $5,972/month compared to $4,295/month for apartments, which make up 72.4% of total rentals. This property-type spread adds another layer to San Francisco's rental market beyond bedroom size.

Median rent

Median rent in San Francisco

$4,395/mo

increased by26%

vs previous year

The average rent in San Francisco is $4,395 per month as of August 2026. This is 128% above the national average rent, or $2,470 more per month.

$5.85

average price per square foot

Total rentals

Available rentals in San Francisco

585

for rent on Zumper.com as of August 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 increased by 3% over the last month and have increased by 26% 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 $4,295, whereas a house costs $5,972. 1-bedroom apartments in San Francisco run $4,300 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $6,009.

Listings

Studio

$2,765

2%

18%

1 bedroom

$4,200

No Change

23%

2 bedroom

$5,995

1%

29%

3 bedroom

$7,500

11%

29%

4 bedroom

$7,995

No Change

3%

Studio

Average rent

$2,765

Last 30 days

2%

Last year

18%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$4,200

Last 30 days

No Change

Last year

23%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$5,995

Last 30 days

1%

Last year

29%

3 bedroom

Average rent

$7,500

Last 30 days

11%

Last year

29%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$7,995

Last 30 days

No Change

Last year

3%

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$4,395
increased by128%

higher than the national median

Median rent price$2,672
increased by39%

higher than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in San Francisco, CA is 64% 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 & Services21% higher
Groceries16% higher
Health24% higher
Housing156% higher
Transportation41% higher
Utilities47% higher

Discover rentals in San Francisco, CA

345 Taylor St Ofc 5 - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Tenderloin apartment for rent in San Francisco

Tilden Hotel - Office 5

345 Taylor St Ofc 5, San Francisco, CA 94102

Studio

0 baths

$649

Apartment for rent

Available Aug 1

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

Apartment for rent

Available Jun 7

301 Columbus Ave #314 - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Financial District apartment for rent in San Francisco

301 Columbus Ave #314, San Francisco, CA 94133

Studio

0 baths

$750

Apartment for rent

Available Dec 30

705 Broadway #32 - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Nob Hill apartment for rent in San Francisco

Renovated, Top Floor, Street-facing Private Room

705 Broadway #32, San Francisco, CA 94133

Studio

0 baths

$780

Apartment for rent

Available May 8

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 $4,395 per month as of August 22, 2026.

Is rent up or down in San Francisco?

Average rent prices in San Francisco have increased by 3% over the last month and have increased by 26% since last year.

How does San Francisco rent compare to the national average?

Rent in San Francisco is 128% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $2,470 more per month.

Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Francisco?

The most affordable neighborhoods in San Francisco are Tenderloin ($1,917/mo), Downtown ($2,495/mo), and Mission ($4,250/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 $176,000/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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