What $4,000 rents you in SF 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: $4,000.

The Shipyard in Bayview continues to make berth on the rental listings, with prices in the neighborhood slowly rising but still well below sea level compared to similar homes elsewhere in SF. But this particular offering, a two-bed, two-bath townhouse on Avocet Way, outstrips the usual Shipyard prices at $4,000 per month for 1,177 square feet. The listing designates this a “smart townhouse” on account of additions like the Nest thermostat and electric car outlet inside the two-car garage, a kitchen with a big quartz island, hardwood flooring, and other high-end touches. Alas, no pets allowed.

On the other hand, Telegraph Hill has long been a spot where renters pay top dollar for the topmost perch. In this case, the ad promises “Telegraph Hill enchantment” with a location “at the very top of Telegraph Hill’s East Side,” just below Coit Tower. (Technically, Coit Tower is the true top of the hill, but nothing resides up there except Depression-era art.) This one-bed, one-bath apartment is available for the Telegraph Hill-like price of $4,000 per month. It promises “superb views” (of course), private garden and deck, and working fireplace. Pets are allowed.

Phrases like “industrial-chic loft condo” don’t usually call to mind beautiful, polished woodwork. In fact, neither does “South Beach.” Nevertheless, this one-bed, two-bath loft on Fourth Street benefits significantly from the warm, natural tones of all of that hardwood. For a lofty $4,000 per month, the listing offers a quiet home “with tons of character,” including an open floor plan, large soaking tub, built-in desk office area, high ceilings, and other “warm design elements.” Unfortunately, the landlords have not warmed up to pets.

The only single-family home on the sheet today is this house in Glen Park, a two-bed, split-bath setup with over 1,400 square feet for $4,000 per month. “Great home in an excellent neighborhood near the heart of trendy Glen Park Village,” notes the ad. Glen Park is usually thought of as quaint rather than trendy, but maybe it’s never too late for a trend to start. “Great natural light” and “original details from the 1930s” are promised, but the ad adds that Airbnb is prohibited in this deal, as are pets—one of those is a much bigger bummer than the other, but we’ll let potential renters decide which.

Finally, here’s a “cottage” on Treat Avenue in the Mission, a two-story setup with one bed and one bath upstairs and the living space downstairs, all of it separated by a distinctive yellow ceiling hovering above the kitchen. The ad notes that it was originally built as a carriage house in the late 1800s, later converted into a garage and an apartment. The current owners have now renovated the apartment into “a comfortable and modern home,” which sound like a lot for one home to go through. Maybe that’s why it comes with so much baggage—that is to say, this offer is for the furnished cottage only. It’s $4,000 per month but no pets allowed, former carriage house or not.