3 Budgets, 9 Rental Properties
Living alone in San Francisco is outrageously expensive when it comes to housing. Studios often feel like the best — and most inexpensive — solution. However, once you see how the cost of a Studio, or even a one-bedroom, compares to a room in a two or three-bedroom Apartment, you might be blown away by the differences in amenities and comfort.
So, what exactly are the costs to live in downtown San Francisco, with or without roommates?
Consider this comprehensive breakdown of the Soma neighborhood.
If your budget is $1500
Living alone — Studio
And you want to live alone, your options in SoMa are limited. This is what a studio looks like:
Living alone — 1 Bed
Unfortunately, if a studio isn’t enough space for you, it is nearly impossible to find a one-bedroom for $1500 in SoMa or elsewhere, for that matter.
Sharing with roommates — 2 Beds
If compromising space isn’t an option, consider landing one roommate. Here is what a two-bedroom apartment, in the same location, and price range could get you.
By sharing a space with one roommate, a luxury apartment in SoMa becomes available. Among the listed amenities at this complex are a fire pit, BBQ grills, waterproof TV/speakers, and ping pong table. The cost of one room in this apartment is $1460. And yes, that’s a view of the bay.
Sharing with roommates — 3 Beds
If you’re looking for even more space and efficiency, consider two roommates in a three-bedroom apartment.
This three-bedroom apartment in SoMa is slightly above the $1500 budget ($1600 to be exact), but as you can see it is updated with brand new features.
If your budget is $2500
Living alone — Studio
A studio in SoMa looks something like this:
As you’d expect with a budget of $2500, your options start to become a little more luxurious. Surprisingly though, a studio in an area like SoMa can still be a stretch. At the SoMa Residences, a studio ranges from $1983 to $2968.
Living alone — 1 Bed
If a studio isn’t enough space for you, but you still want to live alone, a one-bedroom apartment in SoMa would look something like this:
This space is in the same complex as the studio apartment listed above, but a little different floor plan. The cost of this one bedroom is $2575. This complex has some pretty interesting accommodations like 24-hour emergency maintenance, parking, and a fitness center.
Sharing with roommates — 2 Beds
If you’ll consider one roommate, here is what a two-bedroom apartment in SoMa is like:
As we’ve seen in other price ranges, adding a roommate or two can make a significant difference when it comes to finding available options. This space is a beautiful upgrade. The cost per room in this SoMa apartment is $2497.50. As you can see, life at 340 Fremont comes with views of the bay, and downtown.
Sharing with roommates — 3 Beds
Lastly, you’re looking for space and efficiency, consider two roommates in a three-bedroom SoMa apartment.
Also located in the 340 Fremont tower, this three-bedroom apartment has many of the same features, like the views of the bay and downtown as the listing above. The primary difference is the space. The two bedroom apartment is listed at 982-square feet, and by adding an additional room, it expands to 1624-square feet (642-square feet larger).
If your budget is $3500
This is what a studio in SoMa looks like:
Gorgeous, yes. But for $3500 the proximity of the kitchen to the bedroom seems unsettling.
Living alone — 1 Bed
If a studio isn’t enough space for you, a $3500 one-bedroom apartment in SoMa looks like this:
Compared to the tiny studio above, this is a pretty remarkable floorplan. A washer and dryer onsite is actually a pretty cool perk.
Sharing with roommates — 2 Bed
Here is what a two-bedroom apartment — for $3500 — in SoMa is like:
The apartment itself is stunning, but we wanted to draw attention to the amenities at the Edgewater apartments, too. The luxury apartment could be difficult to afford alone, but with roommates, you can enjoy this cozy rooftop.
Share with roommate — 3 bedroom
Finally, if you combine rent with two roommates in a three-bedroom apartment, your SoMa apartment could look like this:
Landing a spot at the Jasper complex is peak luxury. The lowest price in this complex, for a studio, is $4035, whereas a three-bedroom is $7895. Every photo of the Jasper is stunning. The building has an unprecedented number amenities like the beautiful pool shown above, a spa, a Jay Wright-designed fitness center, and a lounge, just to name a few.
Clearly, in a pricey market like San Francisco, it pays to have roommates. By adding a few names to your lease, your space becomes larger, more luxurious and often equipped with more amenities.
It’s also very much a cultural norm to seek roommates.
Want to live downtown without breaking the bank? Want to find perfect roommates? Check out Wanderful.
Living alone is not an option in San Francisco was originally published in Wanderful on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
