What $4,700 rents 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? Today’s price: $4,700.

Starting things off with a tale of two houses, the first occupying the low ground in Visitacion Vallley, a neighborhood that itself keeps a low profile. “This is a beautifully redone three bedroom, three full bathroom unit in a desirable neighborhood,” according to the ad, which says almost nothing else except to tout the “stainless steel appliances”, the backyard and deck, and close proximity to the 101 or the 280. Beyond that it looks like they’re trusting the Marina-style charms of the place to sell themselves at $4,600/month—no mention of pets anywhere in the ad, either.

Meanwhile, the high ground in this equation is a “single family house in Russian Hill,” a two-bed, one-bath home on Union Street that’s positively saturated with woodwork. “Large living room,” “small yard,” “private garage,” and “hardwood floors” throughout get mentioned up front, but mostly this listing hopes to attract renters based on the neighborhood and devotes most of its text to the history of Russian Hill, from the Russian tombstones all the way up through the Edwardians. “Pets are negotiable,” and the rent is $4,500/month—the cheapest out of today’s five offerings.

Renters who aim neither high nor low can split the difference by way of a “split level flat” in the Marina just south of the Moscone Recreation Center, part of a nautical-white duplex squeezed between stark homes on Magnolia Street. It’s two beds and two baths, dubbed a “spacious” unit but with no particular square footage or layout mentioned. Oddly, the ad also mentions that the pictures here are of a “typical unit.” Two-car garage and balcony included, but no pets allowed; it’ll run you $4,700/month.

This Glen Park house gets billed as a “stunning single family home with back patio” and a “Glen Park jewel” but then drops the R-word—remodel. In this case that seems to mean a fairly standard package of new floors, “great remodel on kitchen with a breakfast nook,” “remodeled bathroom with shower,” and new appliances—note that the owners declined to transition the place into a more typical open floor plan. One-car garage and backyard included, but $4,700/month does not buy pets a way in here.

Finally, the Lower Haight brings a “Duboce Park Craftsman Flat” for $4,700/month off of Church Street, a “classic 1920 San Francisco flat with original details and updated kitchen and bathroom.” It’s two beds, two baths, and sporting 1,400 square feet, but no word on pets here.