Student Housing San Francisco, CA

San Francisco is one of the most charming student cities in the United States of America and attracts thousands of students from across the world every year. This is largely due to the presence of top universities like the San Francisco State University (SFSU) and the University of San Francisco (USF), known for their academic excellence and vibrant student life.

There are several popular neighborhoods in San Francisco for student living, such as Inner Sunset, Mission District, Nob Hill, and North Beach, which offer a variety of options, including shared apartments, En-Suite / Non-En-Suite rooms, and studio apartments. Some top student housing in San Francisco includes The George, Mosso Apartments, and Richelien Suites, and the starting rent for these properties is just $1600 per month.

However, with so many options available, choosing the best student rooms in San Francisco can feel overwhelming for students. This is where University Living comes in. With over 10+ years of experience in the housing abroad industry, we have helped more than 2,000,000 students find their home away from home. So, if you are an international student looking for stays in San Francisco, you are at the right place.

In order to boost convenience and provide students with better options in terms of the type of properties, student housing in USA is divided into 2 basic types, namely: Student Housing and Private Apartments. Both of these have their own pros and cons and therefore are suited for different sets of people with different budgets. Student housing is further divided into 4 types, which have been detailed in brief below:

Student Housing

Also popularly called PBSAs (Purpose-Built Student Accommodations), these are special properties that are made specifically for students. The best part about these properties is that their rent includes major utility bills like electricity, water, gas, and Wi-Fi bills, along with several facilities that students might require while pursuing their education in the Scottish student capital. To cater to the needs of students with all sorts of economic backgrounds, PBSAs are further divided into 4 types, which are also explained briefly below:

• Shared Apartments: These are the most affordable type of student rooms in San Francisco. Students get to share a room with 2/3 other occupants along with a shared bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Since everything is shared, the per-person costs turn out to be incredibly low.

• En-Suite Accommodations: These are the most preferred type of student apartments in San Francisco. In these properties, students get to have an entire room to themselves along with a personal bathroom and comes with a shared living room and kitchen.

• Non En-Suite Accommodations: These properties are very similar to En-Suite Accommodations. The only difference between the two is that, unlike its counterpart, a Non-En-Suite Accommodation does not come with a personal bathroom. Students get a personal room, but the bathroom, living room, and kitchen are shared among all occupants of the property.

• Studio Apartments: These are the most comfortable and private student apartments in San Francisco. In these properties, students get to have an entire unit to themselves that comes with a bed, bathroom, and a kitchen.

Private Apartments

Private Apartments are the most comfortable type of stays. These are not a part of PBSAs and are leased out on an individual basis as independent units. Students who book these properties get the entire apartment with 2/3 rooms with bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen to themselves. Students must note that the rent for these properties does not include any utility bills like electricity, water, or gas. Every expense is on top of the rent you already pay. These properties are suited for both university students and working professionals.

San Francisco is a city built on steep hills, surrounded by water on three sides. It is known for its cool weather, beautiful views, and friendly, open-minded culture. Some of its most famous sights include the Golden Gate Bridge (the big red bridge), cable cars that climb up and down the streets, and Alcatraz, an old prison on an island in the bay.

For students, San Francisco is an exciting but expensive place to live. The city is made up of many small neighborhoods, each with its own personality. For example, the Mission District is famous for cheap, delicious burritos and colorful wall paintings. North Beach feels like a small piece of Italy with great pizza and coffee shops. The Inner Sunset is quieter and sits right next to a huge park called Golden Gate Park.

The average rent for student apartments in San Francisco is around $2500 month, and therefore, there are a plethora of options for affordable housing for students! These properties are quite in demand, and the best part about these is that they provide all necessary services that are required by a student during their stay in San Francisco. Some of the best options for student housing in San Francisco under $2500 are mentioned below:

• 2555 College Avenue

• 1725 Berkley Way

• The Durant

• The Bosco

• Identity Logan Park

• Found Study Southside Berkley

• Found Study Downtown Berkley

Note: Looking for best student properties in San Francisco? Speak to our accommodation experts and secure your seat right now!

There are a plethora of options for students to choose from when it comes to top student housing in the USA. However, not every property is worth it. There are certain criteria that a good property should fulfil. The property should be located close to the university and the city center, and should be located in a neighbourhood that has great transport links to the rest of the city. Therefore, here are some of the top properties for student housing in San Francisco starting at just $1600 per month!

• The George

• Mosso Apartments

• Richelien Suites

• Three Crown

• Marine View

• Taylor Suites

• Cornelia Suites

• Standard Berkley

• University Park Berkley

• The Logan

Note: Book the top student rooms in San Francisco at the most affordable rates only at University Living!

The cost of living is a major concern for international students in any city, and therefore, it's important to make a note of it before deciding on the university and city! Although San Francisco is a major city, the cost of living is quite high. One of the major expenses for students in the city is for student housing, followed by transportation and food costs. If students make a proper budget and follow it properly, they can expect to spend a month in the city in well under $2,200! The table below highlights some of the major expenses that students might undertake during their stay in the city:

Note: Students must note that these figures are tentative and are subject to change based on their actual consumption and expenses. If you wish to have a better estimate of the cost of living in San Francisco, you can use University Living’s exclusive cost-of-living calculator!

San Francisco is a gorgeous city to live in and is home to over a million residents. The city is also home to a strong student community of more than 30,000! Therefore, there are several localities that have a high student population, and new recruits are advised to live in such neighborhoods as they are located close to major universities and offer everything that a student might require while studying in the city. These neighborhoods have been explained briefly below:

North Beach

Located in the heart of the city, one of the top neighborhoods for student housing in San Francisco is North Beach, and it is located just under a mile away from the city centre. This is a major student hub and is also popularly known as Little Italy due to its strong literary repute. North Beach is a lively area which is known for its Italian food scene! Some of the best pizza places in North Beach are Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, known for its award-winning pizzas, and Liguria Bakery, which sells some of the most legendary focaccia in the city! It is also located pretty close to Chinatown, which is preferred by students for its extremely cheap produce and groceries. The average rent for student properties in North Beach ranges between $2700 and $3500 per month!

Nob Hill

One of the other top neighborhoods for student apartments in San Francisco is Nob Hill, and it is located very close to Union Square and the Financial District! This is an older, central yet social locality which is known for its gritty-but-real city feel. It has some of the most vibrant student populations in the city and is famous for its Spanish food, with El Lopo being the best place to devour a good Spanish Tapas and live flamenco. This locality also houses McTeague's Saloon, a classic Victorian-era Irish Bar, which sells the most authentic Irish whiskey in the city. Whole Foods has a major outlet in Nob Hill, which makes grocery and utility shopping easier for students! The average rent for student properties in Nob Hill ranges between $2400 and $2800 per month!

Mission District

Located within a 3-mile radius of the city centre, one of the major hubs for student properties in San Francisco is the Mission District, which is a sunny and vibrant neighborhood that is famous for its Latin culture and murals. The Mission District is known for serving the best affordable foods in the entire city. The best place, which is always packed with students, is Taqueria El Farolito, which sells the iconic $10–$12 super burritos that are massive and sufficient for one person! La Taqueria is a famous James Beard award recipient which serves some of the best tacos in the city. The neighborhood also houses the Alemany Farmers' Market, which is a Saturday market and is one of the oldest in San Francisco! The average rent for PBSAs in the Mission District ranges between $2000 and $2500 per month!

Inner Sunset

When it comes to affordable student housing in San Francisco, one of the best neighborhoods for students is Inner Sunset and is located just 4 miles away from the city centre. This neighborhood is best suited for students of UCSF and is located adjacent to Golden Gate Park. If you love fried chicken, San Tung is the best place for you to be and is famous for its dry-fried chicken wings; however, students must note that this eatery is cash only. Another famous bakery in Inner Sunset is the Arizmendi Bakery which sells affordable $3 and $4 pizza slices, sourdoughs and pastries! The Fireside Bar is a major recreational spot and is famous for its unique craft beers. The rent for student properties in Inner Sunset ranges between $1600 and $2000 per month!

San Francisco is one of the best student cities in the United States, home to over 50,000 students. The city is also home to almost a million residents, and in order to make the daily commute easier for these people, the city has developed an extensive network of public transit systems. The best modes of transport for students in San Francisco include the Muni Bus & Light Rail services and the BART system! These have been explained briefly below:

Muni Bus & Light Rail

One of the best and most convenient ways of travelling anywhere across the entire San Francisco is the Muni Bus & Light Rail service. It also caters to suburban neighborhoods like Mission, Richmond, and Sunset. This service boasts a vast network of over 50 bus routes and 7 light rail lines, which provide last-mile connectivity throughout the city! The charges for each ride are $2.50 per ride. Some of the most important routes and lines of this service include N-Judah, F-Market & Wharves, and 38-Geary. These services run 24/7, however, the frequency drops after midnight.

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)

One of the best ways to travel to SFO airport or to the East Bay and regions like Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, and beyond. The fare varies based on the ride distance and ranges between $4.70 to $8.65. Some of the major stations include Embarcadero, Montgomery St., Powell St., Civic Center, 16th St. Mission, 24th St. Mission, and Balboa Park. BART provides connectivity to areas that are left untouched by Muni Bus and Light Rail.

San Francisco is a very aesthetic city and has some of the most picturesque tourist attractions in California. The best part about these attractions is that most of them do not charge any entry fee to students, while some offer discounted tickets. Thousands of tourists come to visit these attractions, and they are also a major source of recreation in the city! Some of the most visited places in SF have been mentioned below:

The Golden Gate Bridge

One of the most photographed bridges in the world is the Golden Gate Bridge, and can be spotted from anywhere in the city due to its International Orange color and Art Deco Elements. This iconic suspension bridge was completed in 1937 and is a trademark of San Francisco. The bridge is 1.7-mile long and offers breathtaking views of the bay, Alcatraz, and the city skyline. If you want to have the best views of the bridge, the best time to visit is during sunset as watching the Bridge sink in the famous San Francisco is just unreal!

Alcatraz Island

One of the most famous prison locations in the world, Alcatraz Island was once a Civil War fortification, a military prison, and then the most infamous federal prison in American history, housing notorious criminals like Al Capone and "Machine Gun" Kelly. The ferry ride to the island offers spectacular skyline views, and once you there, the award-winning self-guided audio tour features real voices of former inmates and guards, bringing escape plots and prison riots to life.

Golden Gate Park

Stretching from the center of the city all the way to the Pacific Ocean, this park spans across 1000 acres and is 20% larger than New York’s Central Park. This Park is a hub of tourist attractions and includes places like the California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, and the Japanese Tea Garden. The Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest public Japanese garden in the U.S., featuring koi ponds, pagodas, and cherry blossoms. Students can literally spend an entire day here without repeating an activity, from paddle boating on Stow Lake to catching a concert at the outdoor music venue.