What $4,900 rents you in San Francisco right now

Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a regular column exploring what you can rent for a set dollar amount in different neighborhoods. Is one person's studio another person's townhouse? Let's find out. Today's price: $4,900.

↑ There aren’t very many enduring truisms in San Francisco, but year after year people still love living in Noe Valley. And even just an address in the neighborhood is enough to attract some renters to the tune of $4,900/month for a three-bedroom, three-bath apartment. (The landlord even uses an exclamation point with the name of the neighborhood, but note that this place is actually a couple blocks south of 30th Street and might not count.) Truth be known, the space itself look surprisingly stark, and there seems to be some confusion about the building’s identity, described as a “Victorian” but built in 1989—but it probably won’t be vacant for long regardless.

↑ Speaking of neighborhood appeal, here’s a two-bed, two-bath condo in South Beach. However, rather than the high-rise new construction, usually featured in Comparisons, this building (once a warehouse) at 88 Townsend is only a couple of floor and dates to 2004, which makes it an old-timer compared to nascent construction all over this neighborhood. Asking $4,850/month, this corner unit also has a lenient attitude toward cats and dogs.

↑ It’s a lucky day for Nob Hill renters who love pastel colors and can fit a $4,850/month into their budget. Of course, there is more to this two-bed, one-bath flat on Washington Street than just the color scheme; the ad plays up the coffered ceilings, redwood deck, and original tile surrounding the fireplace. (It’s not entirely clear what “original” means in this context, but the building dates to 1909.) The purples, oranges, and soft greens on display are hard to miss. “Dogs will be considered on an individual basis subject to breed and size restrictions,” according to the ad.

↑ On the other hand, renters who prefer a white interior but without the antiseptic look common in contemporary remodels might lean toward the Spanish-style tabula rasa look of this three-bed, one-and-a-half-bath house in Monterey Heights, one of many big, beautiful, gleaming white Spanish and Mediterranean homes around the West Portal side of town. Also a good pick for anyone who never wants to risk running short of miniature chandeliers. Some really beautiful tile floors pop up here in unexpected places. It’s $4,900/month, no mention of pets anywhere.

↑ Finally, anyone shopping around for a lot of room might look at this four-bed, two-and-a-half-bath house in the Richmond that wants $4,800/month—technically a bargain in this slate. Notice the gorgeous painted ceilings. No dogs allowed, but cats are okay.