Relocating from the East Coast: Where to live in the Bay Area? (Oakland: apartments)

[gophils1]

Looking for some help on getting a better understanding to the SF/Oakland/Berkley area! I just accepted a position working for the A's. I'm relocating from the east coast and have no clue what to expect or where to live. Any help is appreciated!

Want to rent either studio or 1 BR
Budget: 800-1200
I would like to have access to nightlife since I don't really know anyone out there
Safety is definitely important, though i understand it is a city and everywhere you need street smarts, i'd just prefer not to have to worry about constantly being mugged after dark or people selling drugs on my doorstep
I plan on having a car for transportation, so parking would need to be accessible.
No more than 25 miles from the Coliseum preferably

What neighborhoods might be a good fit?

[mayorhaggar]

Rockridge, the Piedmont Ave area, the Temescal, and Lake Merritt in Oakland. 800-1200 is doable in those areas but would mean a competitive roommate search in SF. In Berkeley you might get a studio, I'd mainly look at areas near downtown, and you might find a decent studio in N. Berkeley. Albany and Alameda would also be good to look at.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

Rockridge, the Piedmont Ave area, the Temescal, and Lake Merritt in Oakland. 800-1200 is doable in those areas but would mean a competitive roommate search in SF. In Berkeley you might get a studio, I'd mainly look at areas near downtown, and you might find a decent studio in N. Berkeley. Albany and Alameda would also be good to look at.

Agree with these recommendations. There are some cheaper apartments around University in Berkeley, but the Oakland areas will also mostly meet your needs. Rockridge would be a bit harder to find a place at that price point.

I'd add Cleveland Heights too (it is around the Lake).

Oakland has some night life, and it keeps getting better. Berkeley has some too. Places in North and Central Oakland also have very easy access to SF.

Alameda and Albany are nice but family oriented, they might be too sleepy for you. El Cerrito is cheap and also pretty sleepy.

I live near Piedmont Ave, and have lived here a while. Good neighborhood, close to everything and fairly cheap.

[mayorhaggar]

I had a studio in Rockridge for $850 but I got it in 2010, I'm sure the price has gone up by now. The main problem with Rockridge is that it's mainly houses so there aren't many apartments on the market, which probably drives up prices. It's a really great neighborhood though if you can get a place there. If you want nightlife then you'll have to make a trek somewhere else, depends on what you want though. If you want trendy nightclubs, those are pretty much only in SF. If you want neighborhood bars, Oakland has a good mix. Berkeley has some busy places like Jupiter which is a brewpub and pizza place with a big patio out back where they have live music, it's pretty much always packed with college students and grad students.