The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best San Francisco Neighborhoods for Renters

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The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best San Francisco Neighborhoods

San Fran is diverse, so how do you choose where to live? Use this guide to pick the best San Francisco neighborhoods for renters.

Are you thinking about making a move to San Francisco? 

San Francisco is one of the third most expensive cities in the United States, after New York and Boston, but it’s also one of the most diverse. This diversity means plenty of options for your budget and property wishlist. 

Keep reading to learn more about San Francisco neighborhoods and questions you should ask yourself when figuring out where to live.  

How to Pick the Best San Francisco Neighborhoods 

As we mentioned earlier, San Francisco is diverse. The food scene, transportation, views, and weather can change in just a few blocks. Research before hunting for a new place and figure out what’s most important to you. 

Here are five things to consider when you’re deciding what San Francisco neighborhoods you can call home: 

1. What Do You Want to Live Near? 

Do you want to live near work? Or are you willing to commute farther if you can live by a park? Some neighborhoods in San Francisco are more urban than other areas. So you must decide if you want the actual city feel or more fresh air and open space. 

2. What Are Your Transportation Needs? 

Like most major U.S. cities, San Francisco has an excellent public transportation system. When looking for a place, consider if you’ll be bringing a car or need access to a train or bus line. 

3. What’s Your Budget? 

When you’re moving to the bay area, this is the most critical question to ask. Again, San Francisco is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the US. Before you even start to look at places, you should have a firm grasp on how much you can spend each month on rent. 

4. What Do You Like to Eat? 

San Francisco is the most restaurant-dense city in America. This is a great perk because you’ll always have new restaurants or cuisines to try.

But some cuisines are concentrated in specific neighborhoods of the city. Chinatown, for example, is the largest Chinatown in the world outside of Asia. 

5. Do You Want Waterfront Views? 

San Francisco is blessed with beautiful waterfronts and fantastic views, but some neighborhoods are closer to the water than others. How important is the water view for you? Do you want to be able to see the iconic Golden Gate Bridge? Some neighborhoods can deliver on both. 

Some neighborhoods close to the water also attract more tourists, so this is something else you’ll need to consider. 

Learn More About San Francisco Real Estate 

All San Francisco neighborhoods have something different to offer, so there’s a lot to take in and consider when you’re looking for a place to call home. The best thing you can do when home searching in the bay area is to work with a local realtor who knows the market well.