Key Takeaways
- San Francisco renters are budget-conscious and search for rentals below the city’s average rent of $3,097/month.
- In-unit washer and dryers, parking, A/C, dishwashers, and garages are the five most searched-for amenities in San Francisco on Apartments.com.
- Apartments.com tools like rent comp reports and the ROI Calculator can help you analyze the local market and set a competitive yet profitable rent price.
What Renters Search For
If you’re thinking about investing in a rental property in San Francisco, here are some things to look for.
Rental size
One-third of San Francisco searches on Apartments.com are for one- or two-bedroom rentals. This means that most San Francisco renters are footing the bill alone or with one other person.
This is important to consider as you calculate a rent price. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the median household income for one-person households in San Francisco is $85,336. According to our rent calculator, a person earning $85,336 annually should aim to spend no more than $2,133 on monthly rent. In a nutshell, the average renter living alone cannot afford San Francisco’s average one-bedroom rent of $3,097/month.
Price range
San Francisco renters are very price conscious—58% of searches filtered by price specify a range under San Francisco's average one-bedroom rent of $3,097/month. This is no surprise, given that San Francisco’s cost of living is 65.3% higher than the national average.
In-office mandates from major employers like Google and AI tech companies paired with decreasing vacancy rates, as reported by CoStar Group data, signal a sharp increased demand for rentals in San Francisco. This increased demand has caused a 5.7% increase in average rent in the last year.
With rents around the city climbing, the best way to appeal to renters is through their wallets. Use Apartments.com’s rent comp reports to analyze the local market, and use the Rental Property ROI Calculator to calculate a competitive rent price that will still make you money.
Keywords
San Francisco renters are most likely to search for keywords like “Views,” “Character,” “Unit Location,” “Deals,” or “Gas Appliances.” Including applicable keywords in your property description can help you show up in more renters’ searches.
In an expensive market like San Francisco, getting a good deal is even more important. According to Apartments.com’s 2025 Rent Concession Survey, renters want specials like a free month of rent or waived security deposit. Running rent specials can help you attract more renters searching for a budget-friendly place to live.
Amenities
CoStar Group data reveals the top amenities that renters search for in San Francisco. Understanding what renters want in a rental can help you identify features to invest in and highlight in your property description.
The five most popular amenities in San Francisco in 2025 are:
In-unit washer and dryer
Unlike cities like New York, San Francisco doesn’t have laundromats around every corner. While many properties offer community laundry facilities, hauling laundry around can get old quickly.
Renters look for in-unit washers and dryers to make their lives easier. Being able to do laundry right at home saves time and removes the hassle of waiting for an available washing machine.
While the upfront cost of installing a washer and dryer may be daunting, installing an ENERGY STAR-certified laundry set can save you money in the long run by lowering your utility bills and decreasing tenant turnover.
Parking
According to SpotHero, the average monthly cost of parking in San Francisco is $340. According to CoStar Group data, the average monthly cost of parking fees in San Francisco is $282. This means that renters could save over $700 each year with a rental that offers on-site parking.
Cost-effectiveness and parking scarcity are likely two main factors in renters’ search for properties with parking. If your rental has parking space, listing it as an amenity and emphasizing it in your property description can help you reach renters using filters to search for a place.
Air conditioning
San Francisco has a mild climate. Summer temperatures in San Francisco average 65.2 degrees, roughly 11% lower than the national average of 73.15 degrees. At 18 inches annually, the average precipitation in San Francisco is 43% lower than the national average of 31.79 inches.
Despite the lack of extreme weather, air conditioning is one of the top amenities renters search for in San Francisco. While California rental laws do not require landlords to provide A/C, units with A/C are more appealing to renters.
Dishwasher
Dishwashers are a time-saver, but they can also be more cost-friendly than hand-washing dishes. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR-certified dishwashers save over 8,000 gallons of water each year when compared to hand-washing dishes.
If you choose to include utilities in rent or charge a flat rate for utilities, an ENERGY STAR-certified dishwasher can increase your profit by lowering your tenant’s water bill. If you decide to have your tenants reimburse you for each month’s utility bill, energy-saving utilities can be appealing to cost-conscious renters.
Garage
Just like parking, parking garages are a hot commodity in San Francisco. Garages protect residents’ vehicles from weather, theft, and vandalism, providing an extra layer of security. If your property has a garage, list it as an amenity to help you show up in searches when renters filter by amenities.
San Francisco renters aren’t looking for bells and whistles, but practical ways to save money. Pricing your rental fairly, offering deals and specials, and emphasizing sought-after features in your property description can help you attract more leads, keep tenants happy, and reduce property vacancies.
Data provided by CoStar Group’s June 2025 reports.
