What $4,300 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 is another person’s townhouse? Today’s price: $4,300.

↑ This Cole Valley duplex dubs itself “a newly renovated community.” The ad specifically mentions two apartments, but it’s not clear whether or not the $4,250/month price applies to both or just the one; in either case, this is a two-bed, one-bath apartment on Ashbury Street. The ad boasts of “hardwood floors, black granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and all new cabinetry” across 920 square feet. Notice that the pattern and polished sheen on the kitchen tile is working its hardest to look like marble. The house is just down the block from Buena Vista Park and the lease allows both cats and dogs to come along.

↑ Any renters hoping to stretch their dollars a little bit further might consider this live/work loft in SoMa—a one-bed, two-bath setup on Brannan Street that tacks on extra square footage to the tune of 1,104 feet, on top of (or more particularly, underneath of) the lofty high ceilings. Whereas many SoMa and South Beach lofts on Craigslist appear essentially interchangeable with new construction condos, this building favors sheet metal ceilings and concrete floors. The price is a very specific $4,253/month, dogs and cats included. Note that the ad cautions these photos are of a similar unit in the building; the one up for rent has the kitchen on the opposite side.

↑ But it’s Portola that beats out the rest for sheer size, weighing in at three beds and one bath in a 1,500-square-foot single family house on Cambridge Street near John McLaren Park. The ad does mention “main floor is being rented only,” so it seems there’s an in-law of some sort on the grounds as well. In any case, the landlord touts “all new cabinets, granite counters, [and] both bathrooms have been remodeled as well.” But be warned, “no pets of any kind.” The monthly bill: $4,300.

↑ Opera Plaza, a building that sits across the street from the Tenderloin and on the backside of the Western Addition, usually shows up on Comparisons for its relatively affordable yet respectable-looking apartments. Comparatively speaking, $4,290/month seems a touch premium for a two-bed, two-bath apartment in this building, dubbed a “two-level townhome” replete with “living room with balcony, newly installed hardwood floors [and] wood-burning fireplace.” The ad also notes a “surplus of amenities,” but other than the pool and spa, it’s a bit vague. Also left ambiguous is the status of potential Plaza pets.

↑ And finally, here’s a one-bed, one-bath flat on Dolores Street offering a long list of favorites: Mission locale, immediate proximity to Dolores Park, and a “recently remodeled” offering “beautiful white cabinets, granite counter tops, [and] refinished hardwood floors throughout.” Possibly less popular is the $4,300/month rental price, but that’s the way it goes in the city these days, along with the equally bummer vibe of the “no pets” policy.