Named after Saint Francis Assisi by Spanish colonizers, San Francisco city and county is a major cultural, commercial and financial center in Northern California, as well as the 16th most populous city in the U.S. Also the seventh richest county in the U.S., it was ranked 12th in the world and second in the United States on the Global Financial Centres Index as of March 2021, after New York City. And if you’re on the hunt for rooms for rent in San Francisco, it makes sense to get to know the city through and through. That’s what we’re here for! Let’s get right to it.
Getting to know San Francisco
The riches of San Francisco can be dated back to 1849, when the California gold rush brought rapid growth, making it the largest city on the West Coast at the time. Exactly as it sounds, the gold rush was the sudden discovery of gold in California that brought lakhs of new people into California, also inevitably declining the native Californian population as a result.
After destruction due to natural causes, and the consequent rebuilding of the city, and after playing a major role in the World War 2, it became the birthplace of the UN in 1945. After the war, the confluence of returning servicemen, immigration, along with the rise of countercultures, like the Sexual Revolution and the Peace Movement led to the Summer of Love and the gay rights movement, making San Francisco as a center of liberal activism in the United States. So if you’re looking for rooms for rent in San Francisco, you know it’s a pretty cool place to be in.
San Francisco is mainly known for its cool summers, fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of architecture, and landmarks. Moreover, San Francisco has several nicknames, including The City by the Bay, Golden Gate City, SF, San Fran, and Fog City, or as locals call it, ‘The City’.
Finding rooms for rent in San Francisco
There are five broad districts in San Francisco, namely, Central/downtown, Richmond, Sunset, Upper Market and beyond (south central) and Bernal Heights/Bayview and beyond (southeast). Within each of these five districts are located major neighborhoods of the city where you can find 1 bedroom or rooms for rent in San Francisco.
Top Neighborhoods in San Francisco
The Haight-Ashbury
Trendy, affordable, and with a bright arts history, this neighborhood has been home to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin in the past. The best part of this neighborhood has to be Haight Street with everything you need, from breweries and trendy coffee shops to late-night pizza joints and sushi restaurants. So whether you’re looking for 1 bedroom or rooms for rent in San Francisco, this is a hip neighborhood to explore.
Outer Sunset
Close to Ocean beach and the western half of the Golden Gate park, this neighborhood is affordable and might be the closest you’ll get to a suburban feel without actually leaving the city’s borders. Located right next to the Pacific Ocean, this neighborhood is the perfect spot for nature lovers, surfers, families, and professionals to find rooms for rent in San Francisco
Lone Mountain
If you want to live close to the University of San Francisco in a small suburban neigborhood, explore this one for 1 bedroom in San Francisco! Fun fact: The Spanish name for Lone Mountain was El Divisadero, from the Spanish divisadero, which means a point from which one can look far!
Average rent in San Francisco
Since San Francisco is one of the important cultural and financial hubs of California, it can be quite expensive to live here. However, here is the breakdown of the average rent if you’re looking for rooms for rent in San Francisco.
| Rooms in San Francisco | Average Rent |
| Studio apartment in San Francisco | $2,428 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in San Francisco | $2,409 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment is San Francisco | $3,656 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in San Francisco | $4,341 |
University life in San Francisco
The city, and the surrounding Bay Area is a global center of the sciences and arts and is home to a number of educational and cultural institutions. As an International student, costs can range from $26,820-36,880. For state residents however, the average cost of tuition and fees are US$10,230 as per College board.
Some of the top universities in San Francisco are:
- University of California
- University of San Francisco
- San Francisco State University
- Academy of Art University
- San Francisco Conservatory of Music
How transit friendly is San Francisco?
San Francisco ranks first for public transit on the West Coast and third overall in the United States. However, the Bay area is reliant on a complex multimodal transit infrastructure consisting of roads, bridges, highways, rail, tunnels, airports, and bike and pedestrian paths. So when you look for rooms for rent in San Francisco, you can rely on its many methods of public transit.
1. Walkability
If you like walking, you’ll like San Francisco. Pedestrian traffic is quite widespread here. It has been ranked as the second-most walkable city in the United States, after New York, of course. Moreover, In 2014, San Francisco committed to Vision Zero, with the goal of ending all traffic fatalities caused by motor vehicles at dangerous intersections within the city by 2024.
2. Trains
The railway system in San Francisco is extensive, to say the least. It includes one heavy rail/commuter rail system, one commuter rail line, two light rail systems, and an Amtrak inter-city rail service.
The Bay Area Rapid Transit or BART provides the major subway services in the area. Then there’s Caltrain, which provides commuter rail service on the San Francisco Peninsula, linking the cities of San Francisco, San Jose, Gilroy, and numerous peninsula cities in between.
Additionally, Millbrae Intermodal Terminal provides transfers between Caltrain and BART. And this is just one of the many rail methods available for the public.
3. Buses
The Transbay Terminal serves as the terminus for long-range bus services and as a hub for regional bus systems.
Moreover, San Francisco riders can choose from three routes (SF-San Jose-LA, SF-Oakland-LA, & SF-Sacramento-Reno) for using the Megabus. Other intercity bus services include California Shuttle Bus, Hoang Transportation, and USAsia.
4. Cycling
Bay Wheels serves as the regional bicycle sharing system for the public. The bicycles are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to anyone who purchases a membership. Additionally, bikes can be picked up at any of the stations using a key fob or electronic code, and dropping them off at any station.
You can also find dockless bike sharing and scooter sharing services in San Francisco, meaning you can drop the bikes freely on the street when you’re done using them.
5. Ferries
There are multiple public and private ferry services, such as Golden Gate Ferry and the San Francisco Bay Ferry services. Most of the larger agencies accept the Clipper Card (a reloadable contactless smart card) as a universal electronic payment system.
Cultural activities in San Francisco
Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture
A 13-acre complex of former military buildings, transformed into a beautiful venue for art, it is one of the more prominent cultural hubs in San Francisco. It has concerts, theater performances, exhibitions, culinary events, and more all year round.
California Academy of Sciences
One of the world’s largest natural history museums, it includes a planetarium, enclosed rainforest exhibit, and the Steinhart Aquarium. Yes, all of that! So if you’re a natural science lover, make this your go to place!
American Conservatory Theater
Love performance art? Then this one’s for you! A non-profit theater company, founded in 1965, it hosts both classical and contemporary performances across two venues. The performances are very high in quality, owing to the theater also being a reputable acting school.
Historical spots in San Francisco
Fort Point
We know you’re not going to miss the Golden Gate bridge, so when you do head there, check out Fort point. Located at the foot of the Golden Gate bridge and originally built to protect the Bay from naval attacks, it is truly one of its kind in the west.
The Cable Car Museum
Watch the engines and winding wheels pulling the cables and how they work. Learn about tracks, grips and brakes. And then of course, take a ride and enjoy the view!
The Cliff House
This one’s a must visit during the day time for the panoramic ocean views, martinis, oysters, and more! Don’t forget to take a look at the camera obscura while you’re there! Fun fact: The Camera was nearly shut down twice. But public support has kept it open, and in 2001 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and saved from destruction. So there’s no missing out on this one!
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