In case you haven’t heard, it’s hard out there for a tenant. San Francisco rent price increases are outpacing the nation– more than three-fold. In December, rental prices in San Francisco rose 10.6%, which is higher than the national average of 3.0%. Trulia’s Rental Price heatmap above captures the median price per bedroom (not entire apt) for some of the popular San Francisco neighborhoods. Deep reds indicate high-cost areas, and yellow and green designate more affordable neighborhoods….. If we can use the words “affordable” and “San Francisco apartment rentals” in the same sentence.

Local proof

The insanity is by no means localized to one neighborhood or one type of apartment. A recent survey of “market rate” rentals proves this. Here’s a studio in the Marina. Sure, desirable location and decent size (704 square ft: gracious for a studio). Still, rent at $2,895 per month does raise an eyebrow or two.









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Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Image 2 of 7 Kitchen detail. Photos via Craigslist/Marina Pierce Apartments | California Property Services | Kitchen detail. Photos via Craigslist/Marina Pierce Apartments | California Property Services | Image 3 of 7 More of that. Photos via Craigslist/Marina Pierce Apartments | California Property Services | More of that. Photos via Craigslist/Marina Pierce Apartments | California Property Services | Image 4 of 7 Bath detail. Photos via Craigslist/Marina Pierce Apartments | California Property Services | Bath detail. Photos via Craigslist/Marina Pierce Apartments | California Property Services | Image 5 of 7 Image 6 of 7 Your one and only room. Photos via Craigslist/Marina Pierce Apartments | California Property Services | Your one and only room. Photos via Craigslist/Marina Pierce Apartments | California Property Services | Image 7 of 7 S.F. rents up more than 3 times higher than national average 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

Over in the Mission, prices don’t get much better. Here’s a recently updated 2 bed, 1.5 bath. Rent: $4295 per month.









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Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Image 2 of 12 Modern kitchen. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Modern kitchen. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Image 3 of 12 Washer dryer in-unit! Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Washer dryer in-unit! Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Image 4 of 12 Bedroom. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Bedroom. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Image 5 of 12 Image 6 of 12 Bath. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Bath. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Image 7 of 12 Bed and storage. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Bed and storage. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Image 8 of 12 More of the floorplan. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com More of the floorplan. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Image 9 of 12 Yard! Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Yard! Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Image 10 of 12 Image 11 of 12 The building. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com The building. Photos via Craigslist/www.rentmethod.com Image 12 of 12 S.F. rents up more than 3 times higher than national average 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Here’s a 1 bedroom in the USF area, Jordan Park/Laurel Village. Hard woods gleaming throughout, but $2875 a month? Ouch.









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Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Image 2 of 5 Floorplan shot. Photos via Craigslist/www.Berendt Properties.com Floorplan shot. Photos via Craigslist/www.Berendt Properties.com Image 3 of 5 Kitchen. Photos via Craigslist/www.Berendt Properties.com Kitchen. Photos via Craigslist/www.Berendt Properties.com Image 4 of 5 Facade. Photos via Craigslist/www.Berendt Properties.com Facade. Photos via Craigslist/www.Berendt Properties.com Image 5 of 5 S.F. rents up more than 3 times higher than national average 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Ostensibly, renters control the market: only the price these customers will pay can be charged. But with people willing to double, triple, quadruple and get even more creative for the privilege of living in SF, that power seems to have slipped entirely into the hands of the supplier.

Anna Marie Erwert writes from both the renter and new buyer perspective, having (finally) achieved both statuses. She focuses on national real estate trends, specializing in the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest. Follow Anna on Twitter: @AnnaMarieErwert