Did you want to live in the 'burbs though? Are you planning on living alone or getting roommates? My sister-in-law was living in a 3 bedroom house in the sunset, paying 800-900 each. It's much more manageable to live in the city with roommates.

 

Burbs is kool. Roommates would be cool, but for the time being. I like to have my space.

 

I enjoyed living in SOMA at Bayside Village (2nd and Brannan). 2br/2ba was 3400. Studios there right now are 2200-500. They have a free shuttle in the morning & afternoon that picks up / drops off along market st with stops at main st, 1st st, 2nd st, and post & Kearny.

My friend just moved into Lower Haight and got a 2/2 for $3200.

For $1500 the best chance you might be able to find is in Chinatown, Tenderloin, or Hunter's point. Or if you don't mind a longer shuttle ride + roommates, The Presidio is cheaper ($3500 for a 4 bedroom 2 bath). Last place to look would be the outskirts of Richmond or Sunset.

Potrero Hill, the Mission, and SOMA used to be cheap but are all bank these days.

100k jobs are old news, there's a crapload of startup millionaires out there to compete with. Good luck with your search.

 

I know a guy looking for a roomate in Campbell (San Jose) for ~$1000/month
It's an hour from SF, but $1000 is $1000

 

thats what i noticed.. a buncha start ups. 100k jobs are old news? dang.. how far would i be able to earn with just a college degree?

seriously? 1500 is a place in hunters point? All i hear is bad news in hunters point.

 

If you want to be in the city with that budget you could try my area: Visitacion Valley/Crocker Amazon/Excelsior. It's kinda ghetto but cheap compared to the rest of the city. Food & drinks are cheap around here too.

 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... **** San Francisco!

Not only does the weather suck, the drivers are the worst, roads are beyond terrible, traffic is a nightmare, everything is expensive as hell, dirty, smelly, homeless people EVERYWHERE, and don't even get me started on the lack of parking...

But on a plus side there's cool things to do at night?

Sorry you got sucked into working in that terrible city.

 

I would never pay such prices. Even though, between my wife and I, we easily afford it... I'd much rather save for a retirement. Because I know ain't nobody but me going to be there when I retire.

If I were you I'd live in Fremont and Bart to the city. Great value and you would be first on the train.

 

Evething has positives and negatives, just because something does not work for you, it does not mean it won't work for OP (it seems like a common trend with your posts).

Yes, the City is expensive, but guess what? It has variety of just about anything. Whether it is culinary, cultural, perforamce arts, nighlife, scenic, outdoors, sports, singles scene etc. You don't really need a car there or go to the smelly/dirty areas unless you want (just like any major city). If he is a young dude that hasn't lived in a metropolitan city and isn't ready for a sedatary/suburbian/family lifestyle...why not? He doesn't have to live there forever. It is nice to do some things while you can.

For example....It is very easy for me to go to work, work out, have a nice dinner, go see an opera or play, then go sail out on my boat and just chill/enjoy the Bay at sunset/evening. And it all will be within a quick walking/biking/public transport distance (ie no traffic, parking or road issues).

Remind me what my options are in the suburbs...housing developments that all look the same, malls, some more malls...ummm...what else (see what I did there)?

I think one of the bigger decisiding point is whether OP intends to go outside of the City (and how often). It won't be the best option if he constantly want to go somewhere else during the weekdays and/or weekends. To each his own...let him figure out what he wants.

 

You can justify getting robbed on rent however you feel fit, as long as it makes you feel better man!

 

+1 to what LxJThr said. Getting robbed on rent isn't as bad as getting robbed by commute/travel costs, something that is often overlooked.

Having moved back down to southbay last month, it actually costs me more to live here compared to SF. Bart is $11 a day plus $3 in parking. That's $70 a week just in bart fees, then another $65 a week in gas = $500 a month in commute fees which would be 0 in SF. That doesn't even count 2hrs of each day wasted sitting in a train/car, unless I can find a seat and do work on the train.

Commute time & cost aside, I do like the balance of city life during the day and quiet time at night + weekends. Then again I'm married with a baby on teh way. If i was young and single, i'd rather live in SF. It's way more convenient, lots more activities, more professional networking opportunties, food and drink at any time of the day, and way more good looking/interesting wimminz.

As for BruceLee's haterade:

Bad weather - only if you don't like 70 degrees every day, like living in a city with the AC always on. It's easier to put on a sweater than to hide from 90 degrees of sun.

Bad traffic - My commute living in SF was 15 mins walking, 10 mins by shuttle. A $2 30 min bus ride will get you anywhere in the city if you want to explore other neighborhoods, and you can sleep during your ride instead of having to drive through 101/880/280/85/87 traffic.

Everything is expensive - A $5 footlong at Subway for lunch costs $5 + $1-$2 in gas to get there in southbay. In SF, a $5 footlong is $5 after walking to the one a block away. That makes it 20-40% more expensive in southbay that in the city.

Homeless people everywhere - Only if you hang out in the tenderloin.

Lack of parking - Not a problem when you're living in SF since you just walk / muni everywhere.

 

You can also buy a boat and get a slip for around $500 in the marina and live part time on the boat, boom cheap rent!

is that what your planning on?

 

+1 to LGT Mark said I chose not to go into that much detail, but I completely agree. It all depends on individual's priorities.

As I said, it is called different lifestyles. There is a cost and benefit to everything. I prefer not to get robbed of my time or opportunities to enjoy life while I can. I will make more money, I won't make more time to be young and single again.

Not everyone has a wife, kids, dogs, cars and/or materials possessions requiring a house (the case with most suburbian residents)...which obviously changes a person's priorities. To each his own dude, no need to put the other half down with backhanded comments.

Exactly. My main residence is in Walnut Creek. It is farther away than I like, but I cannot beat $600/month rent. Hence why I picked the 28' sailing boat to use as transportation around the Bay and/or part time convinient lodging.

 

thanks for the wonderful input.

I am single, and I am looking to move in with my girlfriend and yea we can both afford a place in SOMA like mark said, but i have just been thinking what if it was myself? If i were to do this myself in soma..its like pay check to pay check and like seriously cup of noodles for every meal and zero savings hah. I tend to like to have some kinda "rainy day" fund for those just incase i lose my job or maybe some parts for my car?

I know if i do choose to live in the city, i'd probably just get rid of my car and buy some vespa or something just to commute from point A to point B and if i needed to travel long distance, i would just rent a car.

Fremont at the moment is looking like a good idea. Maybe should look for another position in the city that would pay to live in the city later. I would like to experience the city life, but without the funding after rent, I wouldn't be able to do much.

 

If you plan to be working in the FiDi, I would recommend living close to a BART station instead of CalTrain. The CalTrain is an extra 10 min walk up to FiDi, or another $2 each way MUNI ride. BART stops at Embarcadero & Montgomery, which is much closer.

Next time you're in SF, hit me up. I also work in FiDi and can tell you more about the area + show you around.