What does 1700 get you? (San Francisco, Oakland: budget, apartment, condominiums)

[tlc118]

I can budget about 1,500 - 1,700 for one a bedroom apartment but want to remain relatively close to SF. What desirable areas are there for a 30 something hetero male within reasonable commuting to downtown Market Street? When I say reasonable I mean within 30 to 50 minutes of public transport. Thanks

[tlc118]

Also, I want to consider an area that is within a reasonable commute to some night life and possibly be able to have a car. What is the night life like for a single 30 something Professional male? Is the night life spread out or are there densely populated districts for nightlife for singles?

[Ultrarunner]

Are you willing to cross the Bay Bridge or looking for SF proper?

I know lot of people that work in the SF financial district, live in the East Bay and take Bart.

$1400 will get you a 2 Bedroom House in the Fruitvale/Laurel District in Oakland and $1700 will get you a 3 Bedroom... for example.

You shouldn't have any trouble finding a 1 Bedroom meeting your requirements...

[tlc118]

I am willing to cross the bay bridge but what kind of commute is it? Cost wise and time wise. In NYC we buy a monthly pass for $76 and can use the pass to go in and out of the subway unlimited times and it takes you whereever you need to go. Also in the east bay, what are the demographics and nightlife like?

[Ultrarunner]

For Clubs and Night Life in General... it is San Francisco. Other areas just don't have the concentration like SF.

My New York friends get restless in the East Bay unless they are twenty somethings and are drawn to the Campus area around UC Berkeley.

The Financial District is very accessible from anywhere along the BART lines. The trains in Walnut Creek, Lafayette and Orinda are filled to capacity each work day morning.

It is true, that some of my SF friends look down on us "Bridge and Tunnel" folks. It is not until they have their second child when most of the couples I know head for the East Bay or the Peninsula...

[humboldtrat]

Also check out Daly City, South San Fracisco or San Bruno just south of SF. No bridges to cross which can be a traffic hassle. From those towns, you can take BART which has 4 stops along Market Street BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit District. BART doesn't have a monthly pass.

You'll find that driving in downtown SF is a hassle and parking is difficult and expensive.

[tennis368fan]

Check out Castro Valley, Dublin, and Pleasanton. Those cities are on the pricey side, but there are goods deals to be had once in a while. The cities are very safe and each have their own BART Station, so they are in easy access to the city, but without the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle. Dublin is currently undergoing a lot of youth-oriented development, leading to new condominiums, shops, cafes, and bars. Of course, it will still be necessary to take BART into San Francisco and the East Bay for the nightlife.

On Craigslist.com, I found several one bedroom listings for under $1,000 per month. Here's one: Historic Downtown Pleasanton (broken link)