San Francisco Apartments and Rentals

San Francisco's eclectic neighborhoods offer all kinds of choices in apartments and rentals, from the funky to the elegant. Songs from icons of different generations have each paid tribute to this jewel of a city sitting on San Francisco Bay. From its beautiful vistas, to its historic roots and its unique character, San Francisco is a destination city for visitors and residents alike.

The original inhabitants of the foggy hills overlooking the large natural bay were the Ohlone people. In 1776, the Spanish founded the Presidio Army Bay at the entrance to the bay, and a mission. They captured or pushed out the native peoples. Soon the local hills were grazed by cattle. The discovery of gold in the Sierras east of this coastal settlement in 1849 changed everything. The town quickly boomed as the port city saw in an influx of 50,000 or more making their way to the California gold fields. Sitting on an immense natural bay, the city became the West Coast's most important port. The 1906 earthquake, estimated to have been about 7.8 on today's Richter scale, and the resulting fires nearly destroyed the entire city. But this scrappy city immediately set about to rebuild itself, better than before.

Today this "City by the Bay" is considered one of the world's tops cities. Forbes Magazine, in fact, in 2010 named it among the Top 10 Cities in the World. Yahoo! ranked it No. 1 in 2012 on its list of Best Cities for Health and Happiness. Also in 2012, Travel & Leisure Magazine's readers ranked it No. 3 on the list of America's Best Cities for Hipsters. In 2011, BusinessWeek's list of Best Places to Live placed San Francisco in the No. 9 slot, based on school performance, green spaces and cultural amenities, among other things.

People are drawn by the cool summers, rolling hills, visual beauty, architectural mix, landmarks and jobs. The city is a major banking and finance center with more than 30 international financial institutions.

Popular neighborhoods in the city include: Pacific Heights, Downtown, the Marina District, South of Market and South Beach.

Tourism is the largest private sector job creator in San Francisco. An estimated 16 million tourists visit annual, pumping billions into the local economy. The city has a long history has a banking center, dating back to the Gold Rush days. Today seven Fortune 500 companies are headquartered here as are many companies from the "dot.com" world. Top local employers include the city government, the University of California at San Francisco and Wells Fargo Bank.

As for educational opportunities, the city boasts 20 colleges or universities. Among the more well known are UC San Francisco, San Francisco State University, the private University of San Francisco and private Golden Gate University. The city's population is among the country's most educated, with more than 50 percent of residents holding bachelor's degrees.

There's no way around it - the cost of living in San Francisco is among the highest in the country. Compared to the average for the country, the cost of living in San Francisco is 85 percent higher. On many lists it ranks as the third most expensive city behind New York and Honolulu. Predictably, rental costs are substantially higher than average as well. Most rental buildings are mid-rise and high-rise, with some charming older buildings of 4-5 stories. You can expect to pay about $1,500 to $1,800 monthly for a studio apartment, and $2,000 to $2,500 for a one-bedroom. Costs will vary by location and amenities. The city has a significant number of luxury rentals as well, many with spectacular views, and pricing to match. Yet, many San Franciscans think the cost well worth it.

Recreational, historic, outdoor, sports and cultural attractions all can be found in San Francisco. The Bay offers boating, kayaking, sailing and more. The city has two premiere sports teams, the 49ers football team and the Giants baseball team. There are more than 300 museums in this culturally aware city. Among the more notable are the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of the Legion of Honor and the Asian Art Museum. The city also has a world class opera company, ballet and symphony. Popular attractions for residents and tourists include: Coit Tower, Alcatraz, the Cable Cars, the San Francisco Zoo, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

San Francisco's quirky and eclectic character can be seen in some of the city's fun and irreverent annual events. Popular events include the Bay to Breakers Footrace - more than 70,000 runners in costume participate in this May event from the Embarcadero. The San Francisco Pride is one of the oldest and largest gay pride parades in the country held annually in June as part of a festival. The Chinese New Year's celebration takes place in the country's oldest Chinatown includes a parade, Flower Fair and Community Street Fair. The San Francisco International Film Festival is held annually in April showcases 200 films from 50 countries at what is billed as America's oldest film festival. Fleet Week - celebrates the Navy's birthday with live bands and an air show by the Blue Angeles, in October. If you're looking to make this vibrant city your home, or simply want to find a new apartment for rent in San Francisco, let Rent.com® help in your apartment search.