Finding Rooms For Rent In San Jose

San Jose is the largest city in Northern California in terms of both population and area. Located just South-East of San Francisco Bay, it is Silicon Valley’s cultural, financial, and political center. Being the heart of Silicon Valley, it is also home to the headquarters of many big tech companies like Cisco, eBay, and Adobe Systems. Whether you’ve landed a job in Silicon Valley or are here to study, this guide will help you know the city and find rooms for rent in San Jose.

Getting To Know San Jose

‘San Jose’, which is Spanish for ‘Saint Joseph’ became the first chartered city in California in March 1850 after many periods of rule under different empires. San Jose had established itself as a major trade depot with railroad connectivity in 1864 improving the trade capabilities and enabling the shipping of produce from farms. Like most of the Bay Area, San Jose has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. Read on to learn about renting in San Jose!

Finding Rooms For Rent In San Jose

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 180.0 square miles, making it the fourth-largest city in California by land area. With a vast difference in topography, it can sometimes be hard to believe that you are still in the same city! Let us help you with a list of the best places to find rooms for rent in San Jose whether you are looking for a studio apartment in San Jose or looking to rent with roommates.

Find rooms for rent in San Jose

Top Neighborhoods in San Jose

Willow Glen

Willow Glen is a charming neighborhood in San Jose known for shopping, indie cloth boutiques, specialty food stores, and an all year round Saturday Farmer’s Market with fresh local produce and foods. With regular art and wine festivals and great options for dining, Willow Glen and its tree-lined streets are a great place if you are planning on renting in San Jose.

Almaden Valley

Located in a valley and nestled between the Santa Teresa Hills to the east and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west, Almaden is a great place to find a room for rent in San Jose. Known for being a great school district, Almaden offers a peaceful and safe environment to rent a studio apartment in San Jose. It is also home to many technology and research companies along with the IBM Almaden Research Center.

Evergreen

Evergreen is known for its stunning views of the foothills and many parks, green spaces, and recreational and sports areas. Groesbeck Hill Park is also located in the heart of Evergreen with basketball courts, baseball fields, playgrounds, and hiking trail. These make this a great neighborhood to find rooms for rent in San Jose if you are active and enjoy an outdoor lifestyle.

Average rent in San Jose

Having such an important location in the world of technology and research, the rents in San Jose can be much higher than in other neighboring cities. However, with its varied topography, there is something for everyone depending on the kind of neighborhood you would like. Whether you plan to rent a studio apartment in San Jose or something bigger, here is a breakdown of rents you can expect on average.

Rooms in San Jose	Average Rent
2 Bedroom Apartment	$2,738
6 Bedroom Apartment	$3,246

University life in San Jose

If you are looking to work in technology, San Jose is a great place to study. It has great Universities and opportunities to gain exposure to Silicon Valley and the many big-tech companies situated there. While San Jose can be more expensive than other cities if you plan to study here due to higher living expenses and expensive rents, it does make up for it with great exposure and a fast-paced city life that comes with being the biggest hub for the tech industry.

Here is a list of some of the top Universities in San Jose.

How transit friendly is San Jose?

Downtown San Jose is easily walkable with streets arranged in a grid format making it relatively easy to navigate and locate addresses. Beyond the downtown area, however, things are more spread out and you will need to look towards driving or using public transportation.

1. Subway

The local VTA light rail system connects downtown to Mountain View, Milpitas, Campbell and Almaden Valley. A VTA day pass lets you use buses and Light Rail lines all day which can be a great option if your commute requires an interchange.

2. Buses

The local Valley Transport Authority buses are another great way to get around the city. VTA buses cover most areas and you can easily check the routes to make sure your area is serviced before deciding to find rooms for rent in San Jose.

3. Taxis

Taxis are readily available in San Jose with rates being as follows.

Taxi Type	Normal Tariff
Taxi Start	$4.25
Taxi 1 Mile	$3.25
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting	$30.00

4. Cycling

Many roads in San Jose have designated bike lanes and/or wide shoulders that allow easy transit by cycling. For shorter commutes, cycling is a popular option that is also a great way to save money if you plan to find a room for rent in San Jose that is nearby.

Cultural activities in San Jose

Being a hub of technology, finance and culture, there is plenty to see and do in San Jose with several museum of different genres and lots of outdoor activities as well.

The Tech Museum of Innovation: A great place to learn how technology affects our daily lives with an IMAX Theater, a cafe, and a retail store.

San Jose Museum of Art: An established museum known for its contemporary collection of modern art, focusing on the West Coast as well as other national and international pieces.

Downtown San Jose Public Art Walk: An ever changing collection of street and public art of all kinds that provides a 3-dimensional depth to the city.

Historical spots in San Jose

With its rich history and the different Empires that ruled San Jose in the past, there is a lot to learn about San Jose’s history. If you are settling in and looking for rooms for rent in San Jose, you might as well experience and learn about the fascinating history of this city.

San Jose City Hall: Designed by architects Richard Meier & Partners, it offers guided tours for its visitors.
Opera San Jose: Home to San Jose’s resident opera company with a restored 1920s vaudeville stage.
Heritage Rose Garden: Initially planted by volunteers in 1995, it has a collection of almost 4,000 plants of more than 3,000 rose varieties with free entry!