And here are the three least expensive neighborhoods to rent a one-bedroom:
Outer Richmond - $1850
Outer Sunset - $1975
Inner Richmond - $2015
As for the three most expensive neighborhoods to rent a two-bedroom:
Financial District - $5800
Marina - $5450
Cow Hollow - $5400
And the three least expensive neighborhoods to rent a two-bedroom:
Outer Mission/Excelsior - $2460
Outer Sunset - $2525
Lakeshore - $2640
Zumper Co-Founder & CEO Anthemos Georgiades explained the methodology the company uses to construct these maps:
- "We use medians for the average prices to discount outlier listings and so as to not over/understate the real prices."
- "These May 2013 asking rents are perhaps different to what some readers may currently be paying if they rented a few years ago or if they are still paying rent- controlled prices. However, these are the current prevailing prices for available apartments on the market today."
- "Most units on the market tend to be newer (read: non-rent controlled) developments built post-1979, since they experience more turnover. These units are often renovated with many more amenities than their rent-controlled counterparts, making them more expensive."
As for the "least expensive" neighborhoods on the list, this too is a relative matter, especially for low-income families. Earlier this year, the National Low Income Housing Coalition reported that San Francisco is the second least affordable rental market among all U.S.cities, after Honolulu.
The rental situation is driving some of those seeking apartments to take extreme measures to enhance their chances.