What $5,350 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: $5,350.

↑ Points to whoever furnished and decorated this two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Cole Valley for opening up the throttle a little bit and letting the place stand out. True, it takes a certain kind of renter to peel off $5,295/month for cranberry upholstery and lime green and watermelon pink accents in the kitchen, but to each their own; the light gold hues in the dining room and the sunset-like atmosphere they provide are less showy. Note that this is a furnished rental, so what you see is what you get. Pets are allowed, but as they’re mostly colorblind they won’t have a lot of opinions to offer on the place.

↑ Renters who prefer a more restrained look for $5,350/month won’t have to go very far, as just a few blocks away in Corona Heights (called Ashbury Heights in the ad itself), where a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment on Clifford Terrace now rents for that amount. Red walls in the kitchen aside, this one opts for a much more restrained palette, relying on the standby appeal of bay windows, built-ins, and large spaces to attract a resident. No pets though—it’s always something.

↑ Note that the furnishings are both optional and extra in this Glen Park house, but the bare essentials version rents for $5,195/month. That includes three bedrooms and two baths on Chenery Street, along with the plank ceilings, track lighting, and centerpiece metal spiral staircase that connects the kitchen and dining room to the common area downstairs. Cats and dogs both go here as well.

↑ In fact, three bedrooms and two baths seems to be the ideal formula at this price point, coming up once again at this house over in Ingleside, this time at $5,250/month. The slight increase compared to the Glen Park house presumably goes toward maintaining all of that woodwork inside—or maybe just keeping the five skylights in good working order. Note that the in-law unit in this house is already occupied. (No word on how many skylights there are down there.) No pets though; if it’s not one thing it’s another.

↑ Finally, any renter who doesn’t mind moving in next door to many ongoing lawsuits or going in for $5,150/month for a two bedroom and two bath condo, there’s always Millennium Tower, here described as “the renowned luxury condo [building] of San Francisco.” The landlord’s attitude about pets remains a mystery from the ad, which plays up the building amenities and finishes on the unit, like the “dark marble countertop” and limestone floors instead.