2 Little Known Neighborhoods in San Francisco Where You Can Still Afford Rent
San Francisco is currently one of the most desirable places to live in the U.S. People from all over the world are flocking to this unique city for the breath-taking sights, progressive culture, plentiful career opportunities, and endless outdoor adventures nearby. Everyone knows its iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Powell Street cable cars, and the winding turns of Lombard Street. It’s hard to find a place with a more diverse culture of arts, music, cuisine, and festivals.
Unfortunately, the city offers everything you could imagine except for one thing: affordable housing. The Silicon Valley tech-boom has caused prices to skyrocket, making it the most expensive place to rent in the country. According to the 2019 report from the rental website Zumper, the average one-bedroom rent has reached a mind-boggling $3,690. There is officially a housing crisis in the city and renting has become nearly impossible for many.
So where can I afford a place in SF?
While it is difficult to argue any neighborhood in San Francisco is economical, affordability is relative to the area you live in. As you move further towards the outskirts of the city, rent prices tend to drop off. Several of these neighborhoods on the city’s edges are not well known unless you are familiar with San Francisco because they are overshadowed by more popular areas like The Mission, North Beach, and The Marina. However, living on the fringes of SF still offers a great quality of life! Let’s take a look at two outer-lying neighborhoods that have some of the lowest rent in the city.
Richmond District
The Richmond District is a quiet residential neighborhood stretching 50 blocks in the northwest corner of the city. It is defined by the serene nature that surrounds it; bordered by Ocean Beach to the west, Golden Gate Park to the south, and Baker Beach to the north. Due to its location on the outskirts of the city, it is one of the most affordable places to live in San Francisco. As you move deeper west into the neighborhood closer to the coast, the cost of rent steadily drops. Zumper currently reports one-bedrooms are averaging $2,569 a month, over $1,000 below the city average. The area is truly a hidden gem as you are able to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and be in nature within minutes of leaving your doorstep. There are several buses that will take you to your office downtown within 35 minutes (38 Geary, 1 California, and 5 Fulton). If you take a stroll down Geary Boulevard, the main commercial strip in the neighborhood, you will be bombarded with countless options for ethnic cuisine, with everything from Mexican, to Burmese, Moroccan, or Korean. Clement Street has a reputation as San Francisco’s new Chinatown due to the presence of so many Chinese and dim sum restaurants. Geary and Clement also sport several neighborhood bars that are great places to gather with friends.
Sunset District
The Sunset District is also located along the Pacific Coast edge of the city limits, directly south of the Richmond. Golden Gate Park separates the two neighborhoods. Away from the urban heart of the city, the Sunset is a suburban outskirts that is home to many families and surfers. Similar to the Richmond District, the deeper west you go, the lower the rent. Averages currently sit at $2,463 for a one-bedroom. As a frame of reference, one-bedrooms in the more popular SoMa and Dogpatch areas are averaging $4,078 and $3,928 respectively. So again, quite a steal for SF standards. The Sunset is not a common place to visit in San Francisco, but residents report they love it because it is a foggy mystery to other dwellers of the city. As you get closer to the coast, the neighborhood has more of a beach town feel and surfers can be seen out in the ocean. Rows of single-family homes painted a variety of different colors line the streets. The area of 9th and Irving offers numerous cafes, ethnic restaurants, and bars all within one block of Golden Gate Park. Additionally, the Sunset is home to the San Francisco Zoo and Stern Grove, a recreational site featuring a dog park, scenic walking trails, and outdoor concerts.
Final Thoughts
Once a mecca for artists and counter-culture, it is an unfortunate reality that San Francisco is now home to the most expensive housing in the country. California has implemented new rent control laws, but the housing market still can’t keep up with the rate of people flocking for high-paying tech jobs. Fortunately, the Richmond and Sunset Districts are two of the few remaining pockets where you may be able to avoid astronomical rents. Both offer a great quality of life and many amenities. For renters looking for a relatively affordable price, it is worth giving these two neighborhoods a shot.
