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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in South San Francisco, CA is $4,084. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is South San Francisco cheaper than other California cities?

South San Francisco is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #40 out of 387 cities tracked at $4,084/mo.

When was South San Francisco rent data last updated?

South San Francisco rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

South San Francisco

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

Pop. 64,305·40th most expensive in California·South San Francisco rents are up 19.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$4,084/mo

Year-over-Year

+19.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

+$2,119

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

South San Francisco · $4,084

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

23/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 13% above what South San Francisco's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$4,084/mo

Expected by trend

$3,605/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where South San Francisco's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,130

1 BR

$2,610

2 BR

$3,110

3 BR

$3,880

4 BR+

$4,120

Research median

$3,110/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$49,008/yr

At $4,084/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 19.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+19.3% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

64,305

Median income

$136,578

Median age

43.2

Renters

41%

Age distribution

17.2%

20%

29.3%

14.3%

19.2%

Under 1817.2%

18–3420%

35–5429.3%

55–6414.3%

65+19.2%

Gender

50.1%

49.9%

Male50.1%

Female49.9%

Race & ethnicity

23.7%

32.1%

42.3%

White23.7%

Black1.6%

Hispanic32.1%

Asian42.3%

Education (25+)

14%

19.5%

25.7%

40.8%

No HS diploma14%

HS diploma19.5%

Some college25.7%

Bachelor's+40.8%

Housing tenure

59%

41%

Owner59%

Renter41%

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

2021 vs 2026

How South San Francisco, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,025 → $4,084

up 35.0%

Income

$112,818 → $136,578

up 21.1%

Population

66,331 → 64,305

down 3.1%

Renter share

38.1% → 41%

+2.9 pts

Bachelor's+

38.4% → 40.8%

+2.4 pts

Median age

42.1 → 43.2

+1.1 yrs

Rent in South San Francisco, CA has climbed 35.0% since 2021, going from about $3,025 per month to roughly $4,084 today. Census figures show median household income at $136,578 today, compared with $112,818 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 13.9 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.

Community

Discussions about South San Francisco

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View South San Francisco rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in South San Francisco on your salary?

At $4,084/mo, how South San Francisco rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 44% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 61.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 53.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 30.1% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 23.5% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 66.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 73.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 59.4% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

South San Francisco rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in South San Francisco

About renting in South San Francisco, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in South San Francisco is $4,084/mo as of July 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 19.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is South San Francisco an affordable city for renters?

South San Francisco is considered moderate for renters. At $4,084/mo, rent takes approximately 36% of the local median household income ($136,578/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. South San Francisco slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $163,000/year (~$78/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,084/mo in South San Francisco. The local median household income is $136,578/yr, meaning the typical South San Francisco household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in South San Francisco?

Rent in South San Francisco has increased 19.3% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

South San Francisco is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #40 out of 387 tracked cities at $4,084/mo.

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

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than South San Francisco ($4,084/mo): Daly City ($2,706/mo), San Bruno ($3,260/mo), Millbrae ($3,481/mo).

What percentage of South San Francisco residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 41% of South San Francisco households are renters, while 59% are owner-occupied. South San Francisco leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does South San Francisco rent compare to the national average?

South San Francisco's median rent of $4,084/mo is $2,119 (108%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #40 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

36%

MODERATE

At $4,084/mo, rent takes ~36% of South San Francisco's median household income ($136,578/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

South San Francisco 36%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the South San Francisco affordability calculator →

Nearby cities