Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Francisco, CA from $500 (106 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in San Francisco.

San Francisco's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

Learn about San Francisco and the best places to live with original content written by our San Francisco, CA Local Expert Shannon Hilson

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property at 627 Garfield St

627 Garfield St

San FranciscoCA94132
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1600 Larkin St
1 Bedroom Apartments

1600 Larkin St

1600 Larkin StSan Francisco, CA 94109
  • Utilities Included
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La Fnix at 1950
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

La Fnix at 1950

1950 Mission StSan Francisco, CA 94103
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Freedom West Homes
1 to 4 Bedroom Apartments

Freedom West Homes

820 McAllister StSan Francisco, CA 94102
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513-519 Bush St
Studio Apartments

513-519 Bush St

513-519 Bush StSan Francisco, CA 94108
  • Utilities Included
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1100 Ocean Avenue
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

1100 Ocean Avenue

1100-1140 Ocean AveSan Francisco, CA 94112
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980 Bush
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

980 Bush

980 Bush StSan Francisco, CA 94109
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145 Fell
Studio Apartments

145 Fell

145 Fell StSan Francisco, CA 94102
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520 Geary
Studio Apartments

520 Geary

520-524 Geary StSan Francisco, CA 94102
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McAlpin Building
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

McAlpin Building

427-439 Stockton StSan Francisco, CA 94108
  • Utilities Included
Showing Results 1-50, Page 1 of 3

San Francisco, CA Local Guide

Photo of Justin Habersaat - Editing Staff
Written By:
Justin Habersaat
Editing Staff

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in San Francisco, CA

Pricing Updated: 04/10/2025

Current apartment rentals in the San Francisco, CA area range in price from $595 to $40,000 with an overall median price of $5,464. The three San Francisco neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are The Anchorage at Marina Bay at $1,250, Allendale at $1,500, and Golden Gate Heights at $1,900. Here is today’s list of the top 10 neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for San Francisco Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
The Anchorage at Marina Bay$1,250$1,2501
Allendale$1,900$1,5002
Golden Gate Heights$1,900$1,9001
Patten$1,947$1,9001
Peralta Hacienda$1,947$1,9001
Bartlett$1,972$1,9001
Harrington$1,972$1,3704
Lincoln San Rafael Hill$2,000$2,0001
Panhandle Annex$2,200$1,7953
East Richmond$2,222$2,1951

Cheapest Available San Francisco Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in San Francisco, CA is a 1 Bed unit found at FOUND Study San Francisco in the South Of Market neighborhood priced from $700. Oasis Apartments in the South Of Market neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,095. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Francisco apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
FOUND Study San FranciscoDouble1BR,1BA$700
Oasis ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$1,095
1008 LarkinEfficiency StudioStudio,1BA$1,395
Hyde Park Apartments LLC.Studio / 1 BathroomStudio,1BA$1,445
Jones Street Apartments LLC.Studio / 1 BathroomStudio,1BA$1,475
Yerba Buena CommonsStudioStudio,1BA$1,495

Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Francisco, CA

As of April 10, 2025 the best value apartment in the San Francisco area is the $2.72 price per square foot 746 Spruce St Model at 746 Spruce St, Unit 3 in the in the Lone Mountain neighborhood starting from $4,850. The second greatest value San Francisco apartment is the 2547 Irving St Model at 2547 Irving St, Unit 2545 starting at $1,300 with a $0.93 price per square foot in the Sunset District neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for San Francisco apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
746 Spruce St, Unit 3746 Spruce St3BR,2BA$2.72
2547 Irving St, Unit 25452547 Irving St4BR,2.5BA$0.93
25 W Manor Dr, Unit 125 W Manor Dr2BR,1BA$2.71
5th Street LoftsLoft AStudio ,1BA$2.51
453 Oriente St, Unit #1453 Oriente St1BR,1BA$2.20
1550 8th St, Unit 31550 8th St2BR,2BA$2.50
1447 Jones Stunit 71BR,1BA$1.78
2120 Pacific AveNo Current AvailabilityStudio ,1BA$2.65
4742 Mission St, Unit 1034742 Mission St2BR,1BA$2.17
1346 PineSTUDIOStudio ,1BA$2.71

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San Francisco Overview

In the year 1849, many Americans began moving to San Francisco in their pursuit of gold. While these men never found much of this precious metal, they found something that would become even more valuable: a city that would become known as “The Paris of the West.” It is a wonderful nickname, but San Francisco needs no comparison as its vibrant citizens would be happy to tell you. Many revolutions in the name of love and harmony were brought to life in this city and it is filled with happy people. In fact, San Francisco is highly regarded as one of the greatest cities to live in due to its focus on harmony and happiness for its residents. The city is alive with breathtaking views and sophisticated culture. San Francisco is a prosperous community in many regards, and witnessing this all-American city will brighten the heart of tourists and citizens alike, which makes finding a home in one of the many available San Francisco apartments or rental homes a must.

Why live in San Francisco, CA?

San Francisco is one of the most beloved and unique cities in America. It is draped in gorgeous scenery and filled with a loving vibe from many people. From its introduction to American history, San Francisco has always been something completely different than the typical American city. It has always offered something that people want and changes the world for the better with its beliefs and culture. In a city founded on peace and love and located on the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Pacific coast, it is easy to see why San Francisco has cemented its name as one of the most iconic American cities. With a variety of options for apartments in San Francisco, finding a place to live here can be a breeze.

Remember the 3 Rules of Real Estate:
Location, Location, Location!

Explore San Francisco, CA Rentals by Map

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See the most popular apartments and homes in San Francisco, CA

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Getting Around San Francisco, CA

Walk Score®

95 / 100

Walker’s Paradise

Daily errands do not require a car

Bike Score®

81 / 100

Very Bikeable

Biking is convenient for most trips

Transit Score®

83 / 100

Excellent Transit

Transit is convenient for most trips

What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?

  • Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
  • Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
  • Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

San Francisco, CA Area Reviews

  • Parks
  • Entertainment
  • Local Vibes
  • Restaurants
  • Location
  • Traffic
  • Public Transportation
  • Outdoor Access
  • Cost of Living
  • Safety

Shannon

February 25, 2025

Gorgeous parks and a wonderful place for those who appreciate culture, great food, and incredible ocean views. The arts and culture scene here is world-class!

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap San Francisco Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in San Francisco?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in San Francisco is under $1,495.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in San Francisco?

The cheapest apartment in San Francisco is FOUND Study San Francisco which is listed at $700, while the average apartment in San Francisco costs $5,464.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in San Francisco?

Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 12,028 regular apartments in San Francisco that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in San Francisco?

Cheap apartments in San Francisco have an average cost of $1,001 which is $4,463 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in San Francisco.

Expert Rental Resources

Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips

The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

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A San Francisco Local Expert’s Guide to the Top Budget-Friendly Bay Area Neighborhoods to Rent

Written by: Shannon Hilson

If you’re anything like me, the thought of San Francisco is synonymous with concepts like creativity, character, and quirky local style.

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Understanding Amenity Fees: Know Where You Might Be Able to Save Money

Written by: Amber Kanuckel

With the rising costs of housing, a lot of renters are asking this question: Is it possible to opt out of various amenities that your rental property offers so that you can avoid paying the fees.

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Renting Smart: Lease Basics Every Renter Needs

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Often, in the excitement of finding a new place to live, there’s a rush to make it happen, and - too often - a new tenant signs a lease without reading it carefully.

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Battling the Butts: Your Guide to the Reality of Smoke-Free Renting

Written by: Andrea Lee Negroni, JD

While many apartment buildings are “no smoking” properties, it’s hard to know exactly how many. In 2017, the National Apartment Association reported more than half of rental properties had smoke free policies.