Is it worth it to Move from SF to Oakland/Berkeley to save ~$175 a month? (San Francisco: apts)

[jzt83]

Yes, I currently am apt hunting in SF and found a nice place in the mid-Richmond area for $1100. Place is beautiful but kinda expensive, as I only net $1900 - $2000 a month. I will be looking at apts in Berkeley and Oakland and the rental range is $700 and $800 for units I will be seeing Factoring in Bart costs and other costs, I have estimated that living in the East Bay, will allow me to pocket around $175 a month. Commute times will be about equal. The main things that has me worried is taking Bart at night at the Downtown Berkeley Station or 19th street Bart and the crime around Adams point.

[18Montclair]

If you'll be working in the city and really want to live there, $175 can be made up by taking MUNI instead of BART, which would be much more expensive daily.

otoh,
The East Bay offers casual carpooling which makes commuting into SF free.

Those 2 BART stations imo are no more dangerous then stations in San Francisco, but to walk from 19th street to Adams Point is quite a walk if its going to be part of your regular commute.

Downtown Berkeley might have more walkable options close to the BART station.

[NorthernCalifornia]

If your non-work life is in SF then it's probably not worth it. If you think about other ways you could add $175 to your income you may realize it is easier than moving across the bay.

The place you get in east bay is likely to be "better" to most people's standards. That is also worth noting.

[artemis78]

19th Street is our closest BART station, and I have no issues with it at night. I do try to avoid walking home from there very late at night, though--not so much because I've ever had any issues as because the stretch of Broadway/27th/24th/etc. between there and Adams Point is pretty desolate and unoccupied at night, so it doesn't seem like such a smart idea. That said, it's a quick bike ride if you're into that kind of thing. For commuting, in addition to casual carpool, there's also the NL bus from Adams Point, which is a super quick ride into the city, generally on time, and runs beyond just commute hours (unlike other Transbay buses) so you don't have to worry about missing the last one. It's $3.50 a ride and drops you at the Transbay Terminal.

I second the previous poster, though. If both work and nightlife for you are in the city, you may feel somewhat isolated living in the East Bay. If, on the other hand, your life is split between the two and you have friends on both sides, then sure, it's nice to pay less rent for a bigger/nicer space.