Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Central Waterfront Neighborhood of San Francisco, CA from $603 (139 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Central Waterfront area of San Francisco.

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1101 Howard St
$1,945 - $2,431
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$1,945 - $2,431
Total Monthly Price
$1,945 - $2,431
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

1101 Howard St

1101 Howard StSan Francisco, CA 94103
Senior Living
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property at 422 Ellis St

$1,695 - $2,195

Studio Rentals

Available Now

422 Ellis St

San FranciscoCA94102

Bay Living Like a Local: The Insider's Guide to Life and Renting in San Francisco, CA

Unlock the personality of Renting and Living in the City by the Bay. Learn where to eat the best tacos, find hidden views, and embrace the charming contradictions of San Francisco life.

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property at 507 Taylor St

$2,495 - $2,695

Studio Rentals

Available Now

507 Taylor St

San FranciscoCA94102

Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals

Find income-restricted rentals and housing subsidies. Explore government programs designed to help low-income families secure stable, affordable housing.

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property at 718 4th St

$3,195

Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$3,195
Total Monthly Price
$3,195

1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Condo for Rent

Available Now

718 4th St, Unit ###

718 4th St
San FranciscoCA94107
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The Kelsey Civic Center
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

The Kelsey Civic Center

240 Van Ness AveSan Francisco, CA 94102
  • Utilities Included

Where to Live, Where to Work: Your Guide to Top Neighborhoods to Rent Near San Francisco's 5 Best Employers

Maximize your work-life balance in San Francisco. Discover the ideal neighborhoods for renting, from SoMa to Nob Hill, for employees of the city's 5 leading companies.

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Avanza 490
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Avanza 490

490 S Van Ness AveSan Francisco, CA 94103
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La Fnix at 1950
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

La Fnix at 1950

1950 Mission StSan Francisco, CA 94103
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555 EDDY Apartments
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

555 EDDY Apartments

555 Eddy StSan Francisco, CA 94109
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Oasis Apartments
Studio Apartments

Oasis Apartments

351 Turk StSan Francisco, CA 94102
  • Utilities Included
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Madonna Residences
Studio Apartments

Madonna Residences

350 Golden Gate AveSan Francisco, CA 94102
  • Utilities Included
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Burnette Apartments
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Burnette Apartments

815 O'Farrell StSan Francisco, CA 94109

San Francisco's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

Learn about San Francisco and the best places to live with original content written by our San Francisco, CA Local Expert Shannon Hilson

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474 Natoma
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

474 Natoma

474 Natoma StSan Francisco, CA 94103
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145 Fell
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

145 Fell

145 Fell StSan Francisco, CA 94102
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520 Geary
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

520 Geary

520-524 Geary StSan Francisco, CA 94102
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615 Leavenworth
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

615 Leavenworth

615 Leavenworth StSan Francisco, CA 94109
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620 Eddy St
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

620 Eddy St

620 Eddy StSan Francisco, CA 94109
  • Utilities Included
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675 OFarrell
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

675 OFarrell

675 O'Farrell StSan Francisco, CA 94109
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665 Eddy
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

665 Eddy

665 Eddy StSan Francisco, CA 94109
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1051 Post
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

1051 Post

1051 Post StSan Francisco, CA 94109
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57 Taylor
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

57 Taylor

39-57 Taylor StSan Francisco, CA 94102

Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It

From theft to fire to water damage, the unexpected can happen to any renter. Discover why renters insurance is one of the smartest and most affordable investments you can make as a tenant.

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Showing Results 1-50, Page 1 of 3

Central Waterfront, San Francisco, CA Local Guide

Cheapest Available Central Waterfront Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Central Waterfront area of San Francisco, CA is a Studio unit found at SF House priced from $1,300. TL Residences has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,695. Here are the most affordable Central Waterfront apartments for rent in San Francisco, CA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
SF HouseUrban NestStudio,1BA$1,300
TL ResidencesStudio, 1 fullStudio,1BA$1,695
1030 Post Street ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$1,695
145 Leavenworth StStudio, 1 fullStudio,1BA$1,695
925 Geary StreetStudioStudio,1BA$1,845
1101 Howard St2 Br / 1 Ba2BR,1BA$1,968
747 Ellis1 Studio 1 Bath ApartmentStudio,1BA$1,995
The Sophie Maxwell BuildingStudio2BR,1BA$2,183
516 Ellis1 Studio 1 Bath ApartmentStudio,1BA$2,195
540 Leavenworth Street1 Bedroom 1 Bath1BR,1BA$2,495

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Central Waterfront, CA

As of September 01, 2026 the best value apartment in the Central Waterfront area is the $5.74 price per square foot B3 Model at AVA 55 Ninth in the in the South Of Market neighborhood starting from $5,453. The second greatest value Central Waterfront apartment is the 1 Bed, 1 Bath Model at Bennett Lofts starting at $4,359 with a $4.69 price per square foot in the South Of Market neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Central Waterfront apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
AVA 55 NinthB32BR,2BA$5.74
Bennett Lofts1 Bed, 1 Bath1BR,1BA$4.69
1101 Howard St2 Br / 1 Ba2BR,1BA$2.34
The Grid SOMAA41BR,1BA$5.90
Soma ResidencesThe Executive1BR,1BA$6.01
925 Geary Street1 Bedroom 1 Bath1BR,1BA$5.81
540 Leavenworth Street1 Bedroom 1 Bath1BR,1BA$5.30
1030 Post Street ApartmentsStudioStudio ,1BA$3.99
516 Ellis1 Studio 1 Bath ApartmentStudio ,1BA$5.46
Yerba Buena CommonsStudioStudio ,1BA$5.02

Don't Settle: How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Discover the insider tips from an attorney and real estate agent on how to negotiate your next apartment lease. Find out what's on the table and what's not, so you can save money and get the best terms possible.

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Local Guide To the Best Student Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent Near Colleges in San Francisco

A Local Experts guide to the Best Student Friendly Neighborhoods Near Colleges in the Bay area for affordable living. Find your perfect San Francisco Student apartment, condo, or rental home today at ApartmentHomeliving.com

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Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary | ApartmentHomeLiving.com Renter University

From the letter A all the way to the letter Z, the Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary from the content team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provides our visitors and shoppers with a little clarity and helpful guidance in navigating the real estate world through definitions and explainers for the top subjects and terms that someone may come across during the leasing, buying, or selling process.

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Quick Rent Budget Calculator

How much rent can you afford?

The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Central Waterfront, San Francisco, CA

Ranked #4

Among cities in California for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Best Local Schools in
Central Waterfront, San Francisco, CA

School data provided by Great Schools

Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving brings you our detailed rental analysis called 'Lifestyle Ratings' - a comparison of rentals and neighborhoods across the USA, including Central Waterfront, San Francisco, and the greater San Francisco area. Our Lifestyle Ratings help you zero-in on the perfect place to call home. This takes in many factors including rankings of the best places for the best outdoor access, luxury amenities, pet-friendly features, apartment complexes for the kids, proximity to transit, and other valuable search options. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Central Waterfront Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Central Waterfront?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Central Waterfront is under $2,495.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Central Waterfront?

The cheapest apartment in Central Waterfront is 1030 Post Street Apartments which is listed at $1,795, while the average apartment in Central Waterfront costs $4,922.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Central Waterfront?

Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 10 regular apartments in Central Waterfront that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

Expert Rental Resources

The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

Helpful Local Expert Guides

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San Francisco is absolutely the type of city that pulls a person in right away, and it’s not hard to see why.

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Deciding to move to San Francisco for work is a huge deal. San Fran is exciting and just weird enough to let you know you’re in for an amazing adventure, right from day one.

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Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals

Written by: Robin Stewart

The idea of affordable housing can be subjective. Every individual is in a different place financially and vocationally. What one may easily afford could be a struggle for someone else.

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Hindsight is 20/20. Live and Learn. With age comes wisdom. We’re familiar with all those expressions, and all of them apply to lessons first-time renters learn.

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