Apartment searching

Nice apartments in the actual downtown (I.e. Financial district) are close to the overall city average (about $3500 for a one bedroom). I don't recommend living in FiDi area. It's kind of dead at night, homeless can be aggressive. If you're on a budget, Chinatown and the Tenderloin are close to downtown. I wouldn't recommend them though. SoMa is a reasonable place to live, probably more expensive than most, but walking distance to downtown. Good if you want to live in a modern / new building or want a building with a doorman. Feels like a city. North Beach is also walking distance, but you'll probably be living in a Victorian era place. It's an old Italian neighborhood. It has a lot of character. Russian Hill, Nob Hill, and Pac Heights are a 15-25 minute Uber or bus ride to downtown. They're nice places to live - general quieter and more residential feeling than the closer neighborhoods but a short commute. They are on the more expensive end and feel bougie. The Marina is a younger part of the city. It's pretty and pleasant, and has good restaurants, bars and retail. Some people find it too bro-y. If you're in you early to mid 20's you may like it. Similarly probably 20-25 minutes a to downtown. I like Hayes Valley. It's more expensive than most. Becoming increasingly trendy. Good bars and restaurants. Jazz Center and Nourse theater are nearby. Mission - debatably the most "SF" neighborhood and one of the most diverse. Along w the Marina, one of the younger neighborhoods. Good parks and cheap eats (burritos!) There are tons of other great neighborhoods in SF. Neighborhoods that are farther away (sunset, Richmond) feel more residential and are a better value, but you have to commute. Commuting is generally easy, with public transit, biking being common, and Uber line / shuttle.