How much rent can you afford in South San Francisco, CA?
Run your salary against South San Francisco's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in South San Francisco
At a median rent of $4,084/mo, South San Francisco is moderately stretched when measured against South San Francisco median household income of $136,578/yr. Rent would consume roughly 36% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $163,360 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How South San Francisco compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in South San Francisco?
On a $136,578 salary (the South San Francisco median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $3,414/mo. South San Francisco's median rent is $4,084/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in South San Francisco?
To keep South San Francisco's $4,084/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $163,360/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is South San Francisco affordable on the median California income?
South San Francisco is moderately stretched on a $136,578 income. Rent would take 36% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".