The Most Expensive Neighborhoods in San Francisco

San Francisco’s elegance is undeniable. The picturesque housing styles, booming tech scene, and historic areas with irresistible charm can make anyone fall in love with the Golden City.

For anyone hoping to buy a home in San Francisco, visiting the most expensive neighborhoods will uncover the immaculate architecture, lively restaurant scene, and the beautiful vistas that allow these famous areas to demand hefty price tags. 

Though homes carry notoriously high prices, they also represent some of the most coveted real estate on the West Coast.

To help buyers get to know the most affluent locales in the Golden City, the team at Prevu Real Estate has put together a list of some of the most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco.

Most Expensive Neighborhoods in San Francisco

• Marina District 
• Russian Hill
• Pacific Heights
• Nob Hill
• Seacliff
• Presidio Heights
• Haight Ashbury
• Noe Valley

Marina District

All the wealthiest San Francisco neighborhoods have one thing in common: each makes you think it can’t get any better. But as you visit them, each one successfully proves you wrong. 

The Marina District rests in the northernmost section of San Francisco, where the waters of the San Francisco Bay give the area one of the most picturesque views in the city. The neighborhood is small, and many streets along the coastline feature sunset views framed by the Golden Gate bridge. 

The southern part of Marina District is home to a bustling commercial district along Chestnut Street. Boutique shops and local restaurants create a lively food scene surrounded by the Marina District's hilly streets. Homes here carry impressive asking prices, but the list of benefits on offer is irresistible.

The architectural beauty expands beyond the Mediterranean-style homes that dot the area. The western part of town features the Palace of Fine Arts, an elegant relic of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The surrounding lake and greenery offer an unbeatable daily retreat for Marina District residents.

The Fort Mason Farmers Market offers local produce served in restaurant settings for food enthusiasts. And to top it all off, Crissy Field, one of the largest beaches in San Francisco, is just a stone’s throw away from the Marina Green.

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Russian Hill

Neighboring Marina District to the East is the home to "the Crookedest Street in the World." 

Russian Hill has a lot of unique offerings that set it apart, and the zig-zaggy Lombard Street is one of them. The famous tourist attraction also showcases the breathtaking views available here to homeowners. The waters of the East Bay and the tree-filled streets that run through the neighborhood showcase why this is one of the most coveted areas in San Francisco. 

Homebuyers lucky enough to shop here will find themselves touring stunning Edwardian and Victorian estates. The fairy-tale housing style of the late 1800s is found in many homes on Russian Hill. But contemporary mansions and modern homes are also available and just as extravagant. 

The multi-million dollar price tags for most of these homes come with daily access to trendy and old-school restaurants and shops that help define the urban-yet-lively entertainment scene of Russian Hill. From local ice-cream shops established in the 1940s to chic eateries with views of iconic San Francisco cable cars, future homeowners get a taste of some of the best in San Francisco.

The Financial District is also right next door, make commuting to the office a breeze.   

 

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Pacific Heights

The eclectic mix of high-end condos, colorful townhouses, and stately mansions cement Pacific Heights as one of the most desirable and richest neighborhoods in San Francisco.

The sprawling vistas of Pacific Heights can rival those of any of its opulent neighbors. Lafayette and Alta Plaza Park, carpeted with neatly-trimmed lawns, are two prized recreational favorites for locals and offer some of the best panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. 

Pacific Heights is known for its exclusivity, due in part to the closeness of Presidio National Park. However, aspiring residents flock here not just to enjoy the bragging rights of one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the country but because it is a coveted location to set roots. Residents of Pacific Heights mesh with their community and look to establish themselves here for life.

Though not known for an electric nighttime scene, there are no shortages of exciting restaurants and bars to visit for dinner, while the daytime showcases some of the most inviting sidewalk cafes on the West Coast. 

Homeowners who command the funds to secure a home in Pacific Heights will share in a historically affluent neighborhood. A small stretch on Broadway Street, dubbed Billionaire’s Row, showcases some of the most magnificent estates in the city, many with historical significance.

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Nob Hill

The definition of old-meets-new, Nob Hill is a destination for lovers of vintage streets and irresistible architecture. 

There is an eclectic edge to Nob Hill, and many of the elegant buildings lining its streets are washed with warm colors that beckon to a bygone era. But even with the classic sepia facades establishing an old-school tone, the sparkling high-rises only compliment the old with the modern.

There is a more lively and accessible feel to Nob Hill than some of its more exclusive neighbors. While swanky homes with high asking prices are still the norm here, the healthy stock of amenity-packed condos draws a crowd more accustomed to a city-like flow. 

The neighborhood's pulse is felt through its multitude of mom-and-pop shops, high-end restaurants, and bars. There are enough flavors here to satisfy even the most demanding palette. 

But even with a lively hustle that colors day-to-day life, Nob Hill has plenty of green nooks for rest and relaxation, many with historical monuments that date back to San Francisco’s storied past. These include the iconic Grace Cathedral and a replica of the famous Fontana delle Tartarughe, a Renaissance masterpiece originally crafted in the mid-1500s. The copy now rests in Nob Hill’s Huntington Park and was made in the early 1900s.

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Seacliff

Though the name does not exude originality, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone not familiar with the luxury of Seacliff. 

Few locations in the world can rival the beauty of Seacliff’s locale. The extravagant mansions overlook the Pacific Ocean, some perched on top of the cliff and some built into it. Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, and Kirk Hammett, lead guitarist for Metallica, are just some of the high-profile names that owned coveted property in the cliffside oasis. 

The predominant home style here is Spanish-influenced, with many luxury manors sporting a pristine facade and stucco roof tiles. Even more impressive, many of these polished estates date back to the early 1900s. Their meticulous upkeep helps preserve a fresh look and commands exorbitant prices in the tens of millions. 

For the outdoor-minded, Seacliff is sandwiched between two of San Francisco’s biggest parks, Presidio of San Francisco and Lincoln Park, both packed with hiking trails and observation decks.

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Presidio Heights

The quintessential manors and palatial estates are a sight to behold at Presidio Heights, but one of the most desirable neighborhoods to live in San Francisco has a unique call to fame. 

The exclusive enclave for tech wizards and well-off professionals is situated on the southeast corner of the Presidio of San Francisco, a 1,500-acre escape to some of the most scenic hiking trails in the state. Residents can access the park directly from Presidio Avenue on the eastern part of town and via Arguello Boulevard to the west. 

One of San Francisco’s most treasured golf courses, the Presidio Golf Course, is among the weaving hiking trails and scenic views. 

Proximity to the park helped bring a lifestyle full of recreation to the residents of Presidio Heights, and the prices for the lavish homes here reflect that. But manors and luxury houses are not the only available real estate options. Sacramento Street has some examples of top-notch condos for sale, even though the prices don’t trail too far behind.

The signature feel of Presidio Heights is tranquility and elegance, but it doesn’t lack in fine dining and shopping either. Clement Street, a short distance from the neighborhood,  showcases a swathe of local restaurants, longstanding shops, and high-end boutiques. 

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Haight Ashbury

For the homebuyers who want to stay outside the high-society mold of San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury is the ideal location. 

Home to the counterculture movement of the 1960s and a monument to hippie culture, Haight-Ashbury still retains the groovy colors and vibes of that era throughout the neighborhood. From the picturesque and decorated Edwardians to the historical collection of colorful Victorians, the air of Haight-Ashbury exudes carefree and hip.

But don’t let the laid-back vibe fool you. Though the neighborhood doesn’t have the typical mansion-lined layout with pruned lawns, home prices here are among the most expensive in San Francisco. In addition, the vintage clothing shops and rows of restaurants with live music are almost all high-end, and the area’s proximity to the Golden Gate Park and San Francisco Botanical Garden only adds to the price point.

Haight-Ashbury is the perfect place for those willing to heft an expensive home and remain in an action-packed neighborhood close to some of the best San Francisco offers. 

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Noe Valley

South of the poshness of northern San Francisco and its mansion-filled areas lies Noe Valley.

There is a marked difference here compared to the glamor and money of Marina District or Seacliff. Low-key cafes and cheerful shops fill the sun-kissed 24th street, Noe Valley’s main thoroughfare. A cruise along 24th reveals calming views of the hills beyond, and each second spent here will cement just how quaint and tranquil Noe Valley is.

It is the primary calling card for anyone looking to move here seeking a quiet lifestyle without isolation from centric San Francisco. Homes here don’t demand the sky-high prices of the northern side of the city, but the median home price for a house with all the comforts can quickly reach several million dollars. 

The lucky few who snag a home in the southwestern part of town will be close to Glen Canyon Park. It is a prime destination for hiking trails and expansive views of the city proper. 

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