Report: $1,500 monthly rent can't buy much space in the Bay Area

Money does not go very far in renting living space in the Bay Area, according to a new RentCafe report.

The report indicates that $1,500 can get renters a micro-studio apartment in San Francisco. The study also shows Sunnyvale offers the least space for $1,500 — just 385 square feet. Better deals can be found in Santa Rosa, where $1,500 can rent a spacious, above-average studio. This highlights a simple rule of thumb for the Bay Area: the farther you move from the city cores, the more apartment space you get for your rent dollar. 

According to the report: 

• For a budget of $1,500, renters get the least amount of space in San Francisco, averaging just 325 square feet.  
• In San Jose, the same budget stretches to 435 square feet which is 110 square feet, more than in San Francisco. Meanwhile, in Santa Rosa, $1,500 offers the most space, providing 534 sq. ft. — or 210 square feet more than in San Francisco.   
• Hayward is the only other city that offers more than 500 sq. ft. for $1,500, while Oakland and Fremont offer the legroom of a typical studio apartment – 457 square feet. 

 An interactive U.S. map of the 200 cities analyzed is here: https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/rental-space-for-1500/ .