Home to iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and numerous small communities, San Francisco has been attracting tourists since before the internet or the tech boom. However, those looking to build a life in the City by the Bay must contend with real estate prices that are even higher than the city’s notorious hills. Although the economic barriers to entry are high, there are some well-located suburbs that make San Francisco attractive to a wider audience and are beautiful in their own right.
There’s no denying that San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the United States. In fact, GOBankingRates’ 2025 study shows San Francisco ranks 14th on the list of the most expensive travel destinations in the U.S., beating out California stunners like Mammoth Lakes and San Diego. The median home price is about $1.5 million, while the median apartment rent is a whopping $4,199. It’s not just housing prices that make San Francisco expensive—the overall cost of living in San Francisco is 62% higher than the U.S. average, according to real estate platform Redfin.
That being said, “affordable” takes on a new meaning when talking about objectively expensive areas. You won’t find home prices comparable to Midwestern cities like Decatur, Illinois, but some of San Francisco’s bedroom communities and coastal communities are more affordable than you might think. Or, at least, they offer unexpected value and amenities within commuting distance of downtown. Although ranked in no particular order, our list takes into account not only home and rental prices, but also accessibility to public transportation and the availability of amenities that make daily life convenient and enjoyable. See the end of the article for more details on how we compiled this list.
Read more: These are America’s wealthiest suburbs in 2025, according to study
san leandro
Spanish style historic buildings and palm trees in downtown San Leandro. -Matt Gush/Getty Images
San Leandro is one of the only suburbs in San Francisco where the median single-family home price is under $1 million, according to research conducted by Zoocasa in 2025. Homes in the middle of the well-known price range for single-family homes sell for $881,500, while renters can expect to pay an average of $1,980 for a one-bedroom home or apartment. Situated on the Gulf Coast south of Oakland, San Leandro offers the best amenities in the East Bay and is an easy 25-minute BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) ride to San Francisco (Embargo Station).
San Leandro’s bustling downtown, featuring the Spanish-style Casa Peralta architecture, has more than 60 restaurants and a community calendar that includes events such as a night market and volunteer opportunities at the San Leandro Butterfly Garden. In addition to being walkable, the city center features a summer farmers’ market offering local produce, and the 30-acre Esplanade is just a short drive away. Here, water features abound, and playgrounds, picnic areas and large grassy areas keep everyone entertained.
Residents consistently cite the small-town feel, proximity to Bay Area city centers, and overall value for money as reasons to love San Leandro. “In terms of its location in the Bay Area, it occupies a ‘Goldilocks’ position: neither too urban, nor too suburban,” said one resident on Reddit. “I commute to downtown San Francisco for work, but have the ability to ‘turn off the city at night’ and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.”
Pacifica
The Pacifica Pier stretches from the sandy beaches of Pacifica, California, to the ocean. – Yeffman/Getty Images
As you drive over the ridge between Pacifica and greater San Francisco, it’s hard to imagine that this beach town is less than a 20-minute commute from downtown. As Highway 1 takes commuters into the city, there are views of the Pacifica Municipal Pier stretching to the ocean and the small homes surrounding the public Sharp Park golf course. With a population of just under 40,000, according to the City of Pacifica, the area is an often-overlooked stop along California’s immaculate Highway 1. However, for those who work in San Francisco and want to live on the wild California coast, this is a hidden gem.
The median price of a single-family home hovers around $1,350,000, making it less expensive than other beach towns near San Francisco. Watch surfers ride the waves at Pacifica State Beach while sipping on the Crunchwrap Supreme at Taco Bell Cantina, known as “the most beautiful Taco Bell in the world.” Or, enjoy views of the rugged coast and wildflower-filled cliffs from the hiking trail to Cape Mori.
Although Pacifica limits short-term rentals in 2025, in terms of available listings, tenants are limited to condos, beach cottages and houses. But Pacifica holds a special place in the hearts of many long-time residents. “Once you live in Pacifica for a long time, it stays with you,” one 45-year-old Pacifica resident enthused on Reddit. “It’s just a place you want to call home forever.”
Auckland
Aerial view of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, and skyscrapers and trees surrounding the water. – Jasondoiy/Getty Images
Just a short distance from the Bay Bridge, Oakland is a thriving city in its own right, but it could also be considered a suburb of San Francisco. Like neighboring San Leandro, Oakland’s real estate market offers apartments priced under $1 million. While a single-family home requires an investment of $920,000, there are a variety of rental options that are 50% cheaper on average than in San Francisco, according to Apartments.com.
A common perception among immigrants in Auckland is that they come here for the cheap rent and stay for the community as a whole. Oakland is a high-profile culinary capital of the United States, known for its thriving arts scene and diverse population. Oakland’s monthly First Friday arts and culture celebration draws visitors from across the Bay Area, while Brooklyn Basin hosts an annual waterfront Latin dance event during the summer. The Grand Lake Farmers Market at Splash Pad Park hosts more than 40 local producers every Saturday, while the trails surrounding adjacent Lake Merritt welcome walkers every day.
Even if you don’t have a car, San Francisco is easily accessible from Oakland via BART and AC Transit buses. For example, taking BART from 12th Street-Oakland City Center Station to Embarcadero Station takes about 10 minutes. Oakland is also considered one of the best places to travel to other parts of the Bay Area. Berkeley is a 20-minute drive away, while Sonoma’s vineyard-covered hills (and more than 500 wineries) are just over an hour away.
Hayward
Aerial view of Hayward Street and City Hall on a sunny day. – Dee Liu/Getty Images
Hayward is another East Bay gem that could be considered the Bay Area’s “forgotten city.” Many people think of it as just a stopover from one place to another, but according to the city of Hayward, more than 160,000 people call Hayward home. It’s centrally located and ideal for commuting to San Jose, San Francisco or San Mateo.
While you won’t find Oakland’s creative arts hub or beaches like Pacifica, home prices (for both rentals and purchases) are relatively low. $927,450 will get you a home for a small family, while the average rent for a one-bedroom unit is $2,075 and for a two-bedroom unit is $2,326. One new homeowner recently called Hayward “one of the last few places in the Bay Area that’s both centrally located and affordable” on Reddit. This is definitely a bedroom community in the sense that you won’t find Hayward in area travel guides.
Although downtown Hayward is dominated by shopping at Target and Ross Dress For Less, the hills adjacent to the city are home to Garin Regional Park and the Five Canyons. Head to Sulfur Creek Nature Center to see the reptiles at the Discovery Center and learn about other native creatures. Alternatively, the Japan Gardens off Interstate 580 can provide a moment of tranquility. If you’re looking for a livelier environment, downtown San Francisco is about 40 minutes away, or just 30 to 40 minutes on BART.
daly city
Aerial view of densely packed houses overlooking the ocean in Daly City, California. – Hal Bergman/Getty Images
Located off Interstate 280 and arguably San Francisco’s first suburb, Daly City was home to city residents displaced after San Francisco’s devastating fire and earthquake in 1906. Today, the Bay Area census shows a population of more than 100,000 people, 51% of whom use BART or the highway network to get to work in San Francisco, according to Daly City. Driving to downtown San Francisco takes about 15 to 20 minutes during off-peak hours (although finding parking may take longer), while taking BART will get you to Civic Center-United Nations Plaza Station in 10 to 15 minutes.
Many flights only pass through Daly City on their way to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). But there’s plenty to see and do, including more than 2,000 acres of parkland for exercising or relaxing in nature. Located south of San Francisco, Daly City is a starting point for exploring San Jose and other South Bay destinations. Residents also have access to the coast, including the windswept bluffs of Mussel Rock Park and all that Pacifica has to offer. Daly City also has an amazingly diverse culinary scene, from Koi Palace dim sum that’s enough to tempt people to leave the city, to Filipino classics at Fil-Am Cuisine.
When it comes to housing, expect to pay about $2,385 to rent a one-bedroom and $1,257,000 to rent a single-family home. Many of the units are nearly identical “townhouses.” These homes usually have a garage at the bottom and living space at the top.
methodology
The Golden Gate Bridge crosses the rough ocean and enters the hills of Marin. – vivooo/Shutterstock
As mentioned, the ranking defines the “affordability” of the San Francisco real estate market, and according to Redfin, San Francisco homes sell for 239% more than the national average. We looked at the median purchase price for single-family homes and the median rental price for one-bedroom units. We also took into account general cost of living, public transportation options, and the distance (measured in minutes, not miles) of a specific location to San Francisco. The ranking does not include neighborhoods within San Francisco, even if they are lower priced, such as the Tenderloin.
Our research relies on home price data and statistics from the California Association of Realtors, as well as research reports compiled by real estate experts such as Zoocasa, Apartments.com and Zillow. We also relied on information provided by local governments, transportation departments, and real estate groups to support first-hand accounts and the author’s own experiences as a native Bay Area native.
Although beyond the scope of this ranking, we recommend researching the Bay Area’s first-time homebuyer programs for more information. For example, the nonprofit Housing Trust Fund’s Home Access Program, launching in May 2025, provides eligible low-income households with loans of up to 40% of the purchase price, with a maximum limit of $200,000.
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Read the original article about the islands.