Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Japantown Neighborhood of San Francisco, CA from $603 (263 Rentals)

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

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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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

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.

property at 507 Taylor St

$2,495 - $2,695

Studio Rentals

Available Now

507 Taylor St

San FranciscoCA94102
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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
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730 Stanyan
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

730 Stanyan

700-730 Stanyan StSan Francisco, CA 94117
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1600 Larkin St
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

1600 Larkin St

1600 Larkin StSan Francisco, CA 94109
  • Utilities Included
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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

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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555 EDDY Apartments
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

555 EDDY Apartments

555 Eddy StSan Francisco, CA 94109
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947 Bush
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

947 Bush

947 Bush StSan Francisco, CA 94109
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Freedom West Homes
1 to 4 Bedroom Apartments

Freedom West Homes

820 McAllister StSan Francisco, CA 94102
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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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513-519 Bush St
Studio Apartments

513-519 Bush St

513-519 Bush StSan Francisco, CA 94108
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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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520 Geary
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

520 Geary

520-524 Geary StSan Francisco, CA 94102
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145 Fell
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

145 Fell

145 Fell StSan Francisco, CA 94102
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McAlpin Building
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

McAlpin Building

427-439 Stockton StSan Francisco, CA 94108
  • Utilities Included
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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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930 Post
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

930 Post

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

665 Eddy

665 Eddy StSan Francisco, CA 94109

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.

Japantown, San Francisco, CA Local Guide

Cheapest Available Japantown Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Japantown area of San Francisco, CA is a Studio unit found at SF House priced from $1,300. 145 Leavenworth St has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,695. Here are the most affordable Japantown apartments for rent in San Francisco, CA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
SF HouseUrban NestStudio,1BA$1,300
145 Leavenworth StStudio, 1 fullStudio,1BA$1,695
TL ResidencesStudio, 1 fullStudio,1BA$1,695
1030 Post Street ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$1,695
The Cornelia SuitesCornelia StudioStudio,1BA$1,750
925 Geary StreetStudioStudio,1BA$1,845
OSM Trade StreetStudioStudio,1BA$1,845
1101 Howard St2 Br / 1 Ba2BR,1BA$1,968
635 Ellis1 Studio 1 Bath ApartmentStudio,1BA$2,095
516 Ellis1 Studio 1 Bath ApartmentStudio,1BA$2,195

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Japantown, CA

As of August 22, 2026 the best value apartment in the Japantown area is the $4.90 price per square foot 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Model at NorthPoint Vistas in the in the Downtown San Francisco neighborhood starting from $4,700. The second greatest value Japantown apartment is the 1 Bed, 1 Bath Model at Bennett Lofts starting at $4,289 with a $4.61 price per square foot in the South Of Market neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Japantown apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
NorthPoint Vistas1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom1BR,1BA$4.90
Bennett Lofts1 Bed, 1 Bath1BR,1BA$4.61
2120 Pacific AveNo Current Availability1BR,1BA$5.29
1101 Howard St2 Br / 1 Ba2BR,1BA$2.34
AVA 55 NinthA51BR,1BA$5.45
Mt. Sutro ApartmentsOne Bedroom1BR,1BA$4.61
540 Leavenworth Street1 Bedroom 1 Bath1BR,1BA$5.51
1030 Post Street ApartmentsStudioStudio ,1BA$3.99
The Cornelia SuitesCornelia StudioStudio ,1BA$4.85
925 Geary StreetStudioStudio ,1BA$5.52

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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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
Japantown, San Francisco, CA

Ranked #1

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

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving brings you comprehensive Lifestyle Ratings of neighborhoods, cities, and rental properties across California including Japantown, San Francisco, and the greater San Francisco area. LifeStyle Ratings are a useful tool for comparing and sorting apartments and neighborhoods when choosing your rental home. This takes in many factors including searching for the best amenities, and easy access to the parks, transit availability, pet-friendly communities, family-friendliness, walking, and biking. Use Lifestyle Search in the site filter options on this page - and find your Perfect place!

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Japantown Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Japantown?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Japantown is under $2,195.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Japantown?

The cheapest apartment in Japantown is 1030 Post Street Apartments which is listed at $1,795, while the average apartment in Japantown costs $4,925.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Japantown?

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 17 regular apartments in Japantown that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in Japantown?

Cheap apartments in Japantown have an average cost of $233 which is $4,692 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Japantown.

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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Where to Live Near San Francisco: A Guide to the Best Surrounding Cities for Renters

Written by: Shannon Hilson

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

Written by: Shannon Hilson

San Francisco is so much more than just postcard-perfect views of cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge.

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

Written by: Shannon Hilson

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

Written by: Shannon Hilson

Naturally, going away to college or university is super exciting in and of itself. It’s the prelude to the rest of your life, not to mention an unforgettable experience all its own.

Articles, How-To's, and Tips

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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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Practical Tips for Renters: How to Identify a Great Rental and Avoid Red Flags

Written by: Robin Stewart

Renters want to find a great apartment, the right place for them, one that checks all the boxes of location, rental cost, amenities, safety, and more.

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First Apartment Regrets: Real Renters Share What They'd Do Differently

Written by: Robin Stewart

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

Written by: Robin Stewart

Insurance seems to be a part of life. In some states, having insurance is the law, as is the case for automobile insurance. Renters are no exception.