clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Mapping the 10 Most Expensive Rentals in San Francisco

By Lamar Anderson
View as Map
By Lamar Anderson

Now that we've tallied up the most expensive homes on the market, gawked at the audacity of this rather unhinged Craigslist poster, and watched the city's rents climb yet again, we got kinda curious about the most expensive housing for rent. Someone earning the current minimum wage in SF—that's $9 $10.74 an hour—could work full-time for 50 weeks a year and still not make enough to afford one month in the city's most expensive rental, a six-bedroom in Russian Hill that would set you back $25,000 per month. (If the minimum wage is voted up to $15/hour, said worker has a shot at sinking every last cent into this most luxe of rentals, but probably not after taxes.) Despite the many, many zeroes on the ends of these numbers, the offerings still can't transcend the many letdowns of Craigslist. They're chock-full of badly shot (or just plain inadequate) photos paired with inflated promises and—rather inexplicably at these prices—the same inflexibility on the pet question.


· The 25 Most Expensive Homes for Sale in San Francisco [Curbed SF]
· WTF? 372-Sq-Ft Micro-Pad with No Kitchen Wants $2,900/Month [Curbed SF]
· Yikes, Bay Area Rents Are Up Almost 15 Percent Since Last Year [Curbed SF]
· SF to put $15 minimum wage on ballot [SFGate]

Read More

Russian Hill 6BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $25,000/month
Size: 6-bed, 4.5-bath, 3,300-square-foot furnished house
The skinny: Here we have a two-level duplex with a sizable deck, lots and lots of vines, and those chandeliers with the mini-lampshades. Pets are "negotiable"; however, the horsey stays!

Vallejo Street & Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Pacific Heights 6BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $23,000/month
Size: 6-bed, 6-bath, 2,600-square-foot house
The skinny: Available staged or furnished. Word is it’s a professional kitchen, but it’s hard to tell from the two close-ups of the fridge and stove.

Green Street & Broderick Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Cole Valley 6BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $22,000/month
Size: 6-bed, 5-bath, 7,000-square-foot house
The skinny: These fancy listings are surprisingly vague! Along with a single blown-out kitchen photo, we get zero info, besides “hardwood floors,” “commanding views,” and “yard.” Meh.

Glenbrook Avenue & Saint Germain Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94114

Cole Valley 7BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $20,000/month
Size: 7-bed, 5.5-bath, 6,500-square-foot house
The skinny: This four-story modern abode on a cul-de-sac has an open floor plan, a “spa bathroom,” an exercise room, two laundry rooms, and offbeat taste in mirrors.

Glenbrook Avenue & Saint Germain Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94114

NoPa 6BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $18,500/month
Size: 6-bed, 5-bath, 6,000-square-foot house
The skinny: The brokerbabble dubs this place a “four-level villa,” and we almost believe it. It’s got an angular living room crossed by beams, rounded windows, and a third-floor master suite that reportedly has its own foyer and full bar. Bonus points for the Hello Kitty shower curtain rings.

Hayes Street & Ashbury Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

Nob Hill 4BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $18,000/month
Size: 4-bed, 4.5-bath furnished house
The skinny: Designed by Willis Polk, this home comes with an in-law suite, an elevator, and a POPOS-scale deck. However, pets are unwelcome!

California Street & Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Ritz-Carlton 3BR (Unit 1904)

Copy Link

Asking price: $18,000/month
Size: 3-bed, 3-bath, 1,960-square-foot condo
The skinny: Here we have a sizable condo on the 19th floor of the Ritz-Carlton residences. It’s furnished, has a washer/dryer in-unit, and is full of custom details like walnut herringbone plank floors and silk carpet, plus a kitchen tricked out with Viking appliances. Sorry, no pets!

690 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94104

Pacific Heights 4BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $17,500/month
Size: 4-bed, 3.5-bath, 2,853-square-foot house
The skinny: Built in 1900, this home near Lafayette Park has a double parlor and a marble fireplace, plus an upper-level office that can double as a bedroom. It's currently on the market, listed for $3.795M, with an estimated mortgage payment of, guess what, $17,500.

2418 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Pacific Heights 3BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $15,000/month
Size: 3-bed, 3-bath, 3.600-square-foot apartment
The skinny: Located on the top floor of a two-unit building, this apartment is currently undergoing renovations, and you’d be renting unfurnished. Comes with two wood-burning fireplaces, a sizable kitchen, and big views. Pets negotiable.

Broadway Street & Pierce Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Pacific Heights 4BR

Copy Link

Asking price: $14,500/month
Size: 4-bed, 3.5-bath house
The skinny: This recently renovated Victorian sold last month for $3.25M and the new buyer apparently hasn’t gotten around to living in it. Don’t be scared off by the sad hot tub out back.

2608 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Russian Hill 6BR

Vallejo Street & Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Asking price: $25,000/month
Size: 6-bed, 4.5-bath, 3,300-square-foot furnished house
The skinny: Here we have a two-level duplex with a sizable deck, lots and lots of vines, and those chandeliers with the mini-lampshades. Pets are "negotiable"; however, the horsey stays!

Vallejo Street & Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Pacific Heights 6BR

Green Street & Broderick Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Asking price: $23,000/month
Size: 6-bed, 6-bath, 2,600-square-foot house
The skinny: Available staged or furnished. Word is it’s a professional kitchen, but it’s hard to tell from the two close-ups of the fridge and stove.

Green Street & Broderick Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Cole Valley 6BR

Glenbrook Avenue & Saint Germain Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94114

Asking price: $22,000/month
Size: 6-bed, 5-bath, 7,000-square-foot house
The skinny: These fancy listings are surprisingly vague! Along with a single blown-out kitchen photo, we get zero info, besides “hardwood floors,” “commanding views,” and “yard.” Meh.

Glenbrook Avenue & Saint Germain Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94114

Cole Valley 7BR

Glenbrook Avenue & Saint Germain Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94114

Asking price: $20,000/month
Size: 7-bed, 5.5-bath, 6,500-square-foot house
The skinny: This four-story modern abode on a cul-de-sac has an open floor plan, a “spa bathroom,” an exercise room, two laundry rooms, and offbeat taste in mirrors.

Glenbrook Avenue & Saint Germain Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94114

NoPa 6BR

Hayes Street & Ashbury Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

Asking price: $18,500/month
Size: 6-bed, 5-bath, 6,000-square-foot house
The skinny: The brokerbabble dubs this place a “four-level villa,” and we almost believe it. It’s got an angular living room crossed by beams, rounded windows, and a third-floor master suite that reportedly has its own foyer and full bar. Bonus points for the Hello Kitty shower curtain rings.

Hayes Street & Ashbury Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

Nob Hill 4BR

California Street & Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Asking price: $18,000/month
Size: 4-bed, 4.5-bath furnished house
The skinny: Designed by Willis Polk, this home comes with an in-law suite, an elevator, and a POPOS-scale deck. However, pets are unwelcome!

California Street & Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Ritz-Carlton 3BR (Unit 1904)

690 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94104

Asking price: $18,000/month
Size: 3-bed, 3-bath, 1,960-square-foot condo
The skinny: Here we have a sizable condo on the 19th floor of the Ritz-Carlton residences. It’s furnished, has a washer/dryer in-unit, and is full of custom details like walnut herringbone plank floors and silk carpet, plus a kitchen tricked out with Viking appliances. Sorry, no pets!

690 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94104

Pacific Heights 4BR

2418 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Asking price: $17,500/month
Size: 4-bed, 3.5-bath, 2,853-square-foot house
The skinny: Built in 1900, this home near Lafayette Park has a double parlor and a marble fireplace, plus an upper-level office that can double as a bedroom. It's currently on the market, listed for $3.795M, with an estimated mortgage payment of, guess what, $17,500.

2418 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Pacific Heights 3BR

Broadway Street & Pierce Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Asking price: $15,000/month
Size: 3-bed, 3-bath, 3.600-square-foot apartment
The skinny: Located on the top floor of a two-unit building, this apartment is currently undergoing renovations, and you’d be renting unfurnished. Comes with two wood-burning fireplaces, a sizable kitchen, and big views. Pets negotiable.

Broadway Street & Pierce Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Pacific Heights 4BR

2608 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Asking price: $14,500/month
Size: 4-bed, 3.5-bath house
The skinny: This recently renovated Victorian sold last month for $3.25M and the new buyer apparently hasn’t gotten around to living in it. Don’t be scared off by the sad hot tub out back.

2608 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94115