Rents are 18% above what South San Francisco's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $4,141 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in South San Francisco usually run 1.8% below trend in December and 1.5% above it in June, about $137 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in South San Francisco is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2018.
Rent in South San Francisco changed +19.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in South San Francisco rose 9.3% while median household income rose 29.5% ($105,459 to $136,578). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in South San Francisco is 27% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 13 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($136,578) is $3,414 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,110); a 3-bedroom is $3,880.
San Bruno, 2 miles away, rents for 19% less ($3,346/mo), about $9,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for South San Francisco. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
South San Francisco, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 40.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How South San Francisco, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in South San Francisco, CA has climbed 38.6% since 2021, going from about $2,987 per month to roughly $4,141 today. Census figures show median household income at $136,578 today, compared with $112,818 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 17.5 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 66,331 to 64,305 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.1% change. About 41% of households rent today, against 38.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 38.4% to 40.8%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in South San Francisco on your salary?
At $4,141/mo, how South San Francisco rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
South San Francisco rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in South San Francisco. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in South San Francisco
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in South San Francisco is $4,141/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,130/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,110/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,610/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,880/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($136,578/yr), South San Francisco ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 19.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does South San Francisco rent compare to other cities in California?
At $4,141/mo, rent takes ~36% of South San Francisco's median household income ($136,578/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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