Apartments for Rent in Ingleside Under $3,500
As of September 2, 2026, Rentomatics tracks 43 apartments for rent in Ingleside under $3,500/month, starting at $1,150/month. Listings are aggregated from Craigslist, Zumper, and other Bay Area sources and refreshed continuously.
Ingleside sits in the southwest corner of San Francisco, a largely residential district built out along the Ocean Avenue corridor and wrapped around the campuses that define it. City College of San Francisco's main Ocean campus sits on Frida Kahlo Way (formerly Phelan Avenue) at its center, and San Francisco State University and Lake Merced lie just to the west, so the area has a steady student and staff population. The housing is dominated by 1920s-40s row houses and detached single-family homes, with the planned Ingleside Terraces tract — famous for its large sundial landmark on Entrada Court — giving parts of the neighborhood a leafier, suburban feel. Ocean Avenue is the commercial and transit spine, and by San Francisco standards the area reads as quieter and more moderately priced than the city's central neighborhoods. The broader OMI grouping (Oceanview, Merced Heights, Ingleside) extends the residential character south and east toward Balboa Park.
Capping your search at $3,500/month keeps Ingleside realistic. That's a comfortable ceiling here — above the current average of about $2,492, so you'll have real choice.
43 listings available — updated September 2, 2026, refreshed continuously
Searching for a client?
Put the outreach on autopilot.
- We watch every major listing site for each client
- Landlords get contacted in your voice, within minutes
- Voucher-ready: CityFHEPS, Section 8, HASA fields built in
- Confirmed tours land on your calendar
Living in Ingleside
The vibe
The feel is low-key and neighborhood-scaled rather than urban or nightlife-driven — mostly quiet residential streets on a grid that gives way to curving blocks in Ingleside Terraces. Ocean Avenue provides the everyday commercial life: neighborhood restaurants, a Whole Foods near City College, coffee shops, and everyday retail rather than a destination dining or bar scene. The student presence from City College and nearby SF State keeps things active during the day without turning it into a party district. Stern Grove, just to the northwest, offers a wooded park and free summer concerts, and the sundial and older architecture give the area a distinct residential identity. Fog rolls in off the ocean, so it runs cooler and grayer than the city's eastern neighborhoods.
Getting around
The K-Ingleside Muni Metro line runs right down Ocean Avenue at street level, connecting west to West Portal and then into the subway toward downtown Market Street. Balboa Park station, at the neighborhood's eastern edge near Geneva and San Jose Avenues, is a major hub served by BART — offering fast trips downtown and south toward SFO and the Peninsula — as well as multiple Muni Metro lines. Bus routes including the 29-Sunset, 49, 43, and 8 fill in crosstown and north-south connections. I-280 runs along the eastern side near Balboa Park, making it convenient for drivers heading to the Peninsula or the Bay Bridge. Street parking is generally easier here than in denser central neighborhoods.
The rental market
The rental stock skews older, with a large share of 1920s-40s row houses, flats, and single-family homes, many with converted in-law units and garden apartments. Ingleside Terraces adds larger detached houses, while newer mixed-use apartment buildings have gone up along Ocean Avenue near City College and the transit stops. Amenities in the older housing tend to be modest — expect garage parking, hardwood floors, and yards more often than gyms, doormen, or in-unit laundry, which appear mainly in the newer Ocean Avenue developments. Family-sized units and multi-bedroom homes are relatively common compared with the studio-heavy central districts. Overall the area trends more affordable than San Francisco's core neighborhoods, which draws students, staff, and value-focused renters.
Who it's for
Ingleside works well for renters tied to City College or SF State, families wanting more space and a quieter residential setting, and anyone prioritizing relative affordability with a solid rail link downtown via the K line or BART. Its transit spine and easy I-280 access make it practical for commuters heading either into the city or south to the Peninsula. The honest tradeoffs: it is far from central San Francisco's nightlife, dining, and cultural density, and evenings on the residential blocks are quiet; the persistent fog keeps it cool and gray for much of the year; much of the housing is older with fewer modern amenities; and blocks near I-280 and Balboa Park can carry freeway and transit-yard noise.
Frequently asked
How many apartments are available in Ingleside right now?
As of September 2, 2026, Rentomatics tracks 43 apartments for rent in Ingleside under $3,500/month. Listings refresh continuously from Craigslist, Zumper, and other Bay Area sources.
What is the rent for a typical apartment in Ingleside?
Among current Rentomatics listings, apartments in Ingleside start at $1,150/month, with an average of $2,492 and a median of $2,595/month. Prices reflect 43 active listings updated September 2, 2026.
How often are Rentomatics listings updated?
Rentomatics continuously refreshes listings from Craigslist, Zumper, and other Bay Area rental sources. Stale listings are removed within 5 days of last sighting.
Does Rentomatics show broker fees?
Yes. Every Rentomatics listing displays whether a broker fee applies, and users can filter to show only no-fee apartments.
What is Ingleside like?
Ingleside is residential and moderately priced by SF standards — close to SF State, City College, and Ocean Ave retail. Balboa Park BART and the K-Ingleside Muni serve it. 1BRs often sit in the $2,400-$2,800 range.