How much does it cost to rent in San Francisco, CA?

As of June 2026, the median monthly rent in San Francisco, CA is $4,253. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is San Francisco cheaper than other California cities?

San Francisco is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #26 out of 384 cities tracked at $4,253/mo.

When was San Francisco rent data last updated?

San Francisco rent data reflects June 2026 and was last refreshed on June 22, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Mauro Lima / Unsplash

City Report · CA

San Francisco

Name: Average Rent Prices in San Francisco, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 830,235·26th most expensive in California·San Francisco rents are up 23.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$4,253/mo

Year-over-Year

+23.3%

Month-over-Month

+3.7%

vs US Median

+$2,302

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

San Francisco · $4,253

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,951/mo

Affordability

36% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $4,253/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income — slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$170,000/yr

Local median income

$140,970/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using San Francisco's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,319

1 BR

$2,842

2 BR

$3,390

3 BR

$4,185

4 BR+

$4,505

Research median

$3,390/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: June 22, 2026

Annual cost

$51,036/yr

At $4,253/mo median

Market timing

Rents rising

Act sooner rather than later.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

San Francisco, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 60.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

830,235

Median income

$140,970

Median age

Renters

61.8%

Age distribution

13.7%

27.2%

29.5%

17.6%

Under 1813.7%

18–3427.2%

35–5429.5%

55–6412%

65+17.6%

Gender

51.3%

48.7%

Male51.3%

Female48.7%

Race & ethnicity

39.1%

16.2%

35.2%

White39.1%

Black5%

Hispanic16.2%

Asian35.2%

Other4.5%

Education (25+)

17.4%

60.3%

No HS diploma11%

HS diploma11.3%

Some college17.4%

Bachelor's+60.3%

Housing tenure

38.2%

61.8%

Owner38.2%

Renter61.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How San Francisco, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,928 → $4,253

up 45.3%

Income

$126,187 → $140,970

up 11.7%

Population

865,933 → 830,235

down 4.1%

Renter share

61.8% → 61.8%

+0.0 pts

Bachelor's+

59.5% → 60.3%

+0.8 pts

Median age

38.7 → 40

+1.3 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in San Francisco, CA has increased from $2,928 to $4,253, a 45.3% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $126,187 in 2021 to $140,970 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 4.1% since 2021, moving from about 865,933 residents to roughly 830,235. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the San Francisco, CA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about San Francisco

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View San Francisco rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in San Francisco on your salary?

At $4,253/mo, how San Francisco rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 45.8% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 64.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 56% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 31.3% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 24.5% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 68.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 76.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 61.9% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

San Francisco rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in San Francisco. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in San Francisco

About renting in San Francisco, CA

Last updated: June 22, 2026

The median rent in San Francisco is $4,253/mo as of June 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,319/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,842/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,185/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($140,970/yr), San Francisco ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 23.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is San Francisco an affordable city for renters?

San Francisco is considered moderate for renters. At $4,253/mo, rent takes approximately 36% of the local median household income ($140,970/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. San Francisco slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in San Francisco?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $170,000/year (~$82/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,253/mo in San Francisco. The local median household income is $140,970/yr, meaning the typical San Francisco household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in San Francisco?

Rent in San Francisco has increased 23.3% over the past year as of June 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which San Francisco neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in San Francisco are 94132 ($3,289/mo), 94108 ($3,315/mo), and 94116 ($3,346/mo). Citywide, the median rent in San Francisco is $4,253/mo.

How does San Francisco rent compare to other cities in California?

San Francisco is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #26 out of 384 tracked cities at $4,253/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Francisco?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than San Francisco ($4,253/mo): Daly City ($2,708/mo), Alameda ($2,927/mo), Emeryville ($3,026/mo).

What percentage of San Francisco residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 61.8% of San Francisco households are renters, while 38.2% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, San Francisco has a strong rental market.

How does San Francisco rent compare to the national average?

San Francisco's median rent of $4,253/mo is $2,302 (118%) above the US national median of $1,951/mo. Within California, it ranks #26 out of 384 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

36%

MODERATE

At $4,253/mo, rent takes ~36% of San Francisco's median household income ($140,970/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

San Francisco 36%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the San Francisco affordability calculator →

Nearby cities