What $1,800 rents you in the East Bay right now

Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a regular column exploring what you can rent for a set dollar amount in different neighborhoods. Today we head beyond Oakland to ask, is one person's studio is another person's townhouse? Today's price: $1,800.

↑ It’s hard not to love those rolling East Bay hills behind this one-bedroom, one-bath apartment in Hayward, seeming to promise a zen-like calm as they gallop off to meet the horizon. This place tries to have the best of both worlds, promising “tranquility” but also proximity to the freeway and nearby retail—although “nearby” in this case means more than four miles. It’s $1,750/month, but “absolutely no pets” allowed.

↑ Now, it goes without saying that the utility and aesthetic appeal of tile in a modern home may be taken for granted. Is it possible to overdo the tile floor as a basic element? Well, this studio apartment in South Berkeley seems to want to put that experiment into the works, opting for wall to wall tile in the entire place; what’s standard for a kitchen is a bit surprising in the context of a living room. The place does have some compelling curb appeal and a remarkably verdant yard. The price is $1,750/month, and this apartment allows cats.

↑ Strangely enough, this exact same price point in Berkeley features yet another one-bath studio apartment with yet another wall to wall tiling job.. Truth be known, it’s clear that this competing studio just can’t compete with its contemporary to the south in terms of aesthetic appeal. But this place sits right on the north side of the UC Berkeley campus on Hearst Avenue and just a couple of blocks from the Gourmet Ghetto. The call might be tougher than it appears.

↑ Longtime San Francisco apartment renters will find a lot familiar in this one-bed, one-bath Alameda offering on San Antonio Avenue. It is, after all, a slightly dinged up but still sturdy Victorian with bay windows, clawfoot tub, and hardwood flooring. It sports the old bricked up fireplace that’s a common sight in similar San Francisco apartments. The apartment is half of a duplex and asks $1,750/month. No mention of pets.

↑ Sticking to Alameda to finish, we find a Vic of a different color, this one with all of the same rich texture and curb appeal of a San Francisco or Oakland home from the same period, in contrast to its somewhat faded competitor a few blocks away. Alas, the interiors on this one-bed, one-bath apartment, located near Park Street, are serviceable at best. The deal is $1,700/month, and no pets allowed once again. Guess this town isn’t going to the dogs after all.