What does $1.5M buy in San Francisco?

$1,500,000 is right around the median for San Francisco. As of Q1 2026 the city's median sale price is roughly $1,400,000, which means a buyer at $1.5M is shopping in the workable band of San Francisco's market. 3-bedroom Sunset or Richmond District home, ~1,300–1,700 sq ft.

What you typically get

• 3-bedroom, 2-bath single-family home
• 1,300–1,700 sq ft, 1920s–1940s Edwardian/Marina-style
• Small backyard
• One-car garage (tandem common)
• Often original kitchens needing updates

Where to look in San Francisco

The neighborhoods where $1.5M listings cluster in San Francisco as of Q1 2026 include:

These aren't the only options — they're where supply tends to concentrate. A licensed San Francisco agent will know the four to seven specific streets in each of these neighborhoods that consistently produce homes at this price.

What you give up at $1.5M

View neighborhoods, modern remodels, top private school proximity.

Monthly carrying cost — rough estimate

With 20% down and a 6.75% 30-year fixed mortgage, a $1,500,000 purchase in San Francisco produces an estimated principal-and-interest payment of $7,783/month, plus property tax (~$1,563/mo at 1.25% effective), insurance (~$625/mo), and maintenance (~$1,250/mo). Plug your real numbers into our mortgage payment calculator for an exact figure, and use the rent-vs-buy tool for San Francisco to see when buying breaks even versus renting.

How San Francisco stacks up at this price

San Francisco sits in City and County of San Francisco. The same $1,500,000 budget produces meaningfully different homes elsewhere in California — typically smaller and more central in higher-cost metros, larger and farther-out in lower-cost ones. Compare what $1.5M buys in nearby markets:

Other price points in San Francisco