The San Francisco Bay Area in California is renowned as one of the most prestigious and temperate places to live in the world. It’s approximately an hour’s drive away from San Jose, and Silicon Valley is even closer. Excellent weather and luxurious amenities make it an ideal spot for seniors looking to retire in an exclusive neighborhood. Although the cost of living is sky-high, it’s a reflection of how iconic and sought-after residing in the Bay Area is. San Francisco is surrounded by the ocean and studded with beautiful parks, including the Presidio National Park, so there are plenty of places to go walking and sightseeing.
Within San Francisco itself, there are around 79 assisted living facilities for seniors to choose from. According to Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey the average cost of assisted living in the heart of San Francisco is $6,100 per month. This is pretty expensive when you compare it to the national average of $4,300 and the California average of $5,000, but the spoils it has to offer make it worthwhile for many.
65 Results
1001 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94109
5.0
(6 reviews)
"Coterie Cathedral Hill was a beautiful facility. The people were very nice. The food was excellent. Everything was nice there, but it was just too expensive. The lady who gave me the tour was very nice. The whole place was immaculate. It was a brand-..."
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1601 19th Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94122
4.3
(12 reviews)
"We chose The Ivy at Golden Gate for my husband because of the location to our home and I was very pleased with the tour of the facility. I like the staff's attentiveness to the residents and consistency of attention. The chef prepares very good meals..."
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624 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102
4.4
(11 reviews)
"I toured The Village at Hayes Valley. I liked it very much, and I liked the man who gave me the tour. One of the rooms was very small and dark, and had a window that looked out at nothing. But all the rooms looked clean and adequate. The living atmos..."
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3400 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA, 94111
5.0
(2 reviews)
"I saw Heritage on the Marina for the fourth time now. It’s a three-tiered community with independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. I like the cleanliness, the friendliness, the knowledgeability, the quality, and the payment structure ..."
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1450 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My parents are now in the assisted living of The Carlisle, and our experience so far has been very good. We're very satisfied and happy with it. The meal I had there was quite good, and they had a very nice, varied menu, and it's very high quality. I..."
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1550 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109
4.6
(5 reviews)
"Ivy Park at Cathedral Hill was nice. All the people there were nice. They explained what it would involve getting my mom in, all the all the legal work and paperwork. They then gave me a tour of the facility, the kitchen area, and the rooms. They sho..."
READ MORECaring's Family Advisors are here to help you with questions about senior living and care options.
399 Buena Vista Ave E, San Francisco, CA, 94117
4.5
(2 reviews)
"My great uncle resides here and I highly recommend it. The Staff is kind and responsive and have made the difficult transition very easy for my uncle. He has been there 7 months now and I visit him at least once a week and he is doing very good. H..."
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350 University Street , San Francisco, CA, 94134
3.7
(6 reviews)
"Portola Gardens is beautiful, wonderful, and the staff is excellent. My mom has been there a month now, and she has shown great improvement. I'm really proud of what they're doing for my mom. I recommended them to a couple of my friends' moms. They h..."
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2180 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115
4.2
(18 reviews)
"Rhoda Goldman Plaza is very, very good, but too expensive. What negates all of it is that they will not take care of someone who needs 24-hour care. The interior impressed me more than the other facility I saw. It was very good, warm, and welcoming. ..."
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2750 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA, 94118
4.5
(13 reviews)
"Can’t say enough about how great sagebrook has been for my grandpa. The staff are so loving and supportive. The programs and opportunities they offer create the best environment. The rooms are beautiful and spacious. I work in the elderly care in..."
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1400 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA, 94109
4.7
(10 reviews)
"Mom is at The Sequoia right now. It's a very nice and beautiful facility. Their cafeteria is beautiful. They have all kinds of activities going on like music and games. ..."
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One Thomas More Way, San Francisco, CA, 94132
4.3
(11 reviews)
"We toured AlmaVia of San Francisco, which is a much larger community. They have various amenities and activities to offer, because they have independent living, assisted living, memory care, and hospice. They cover all levels of care. We've tried the..."
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1531 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109
5.0
(3 reviews)
"Kimochi Home is a senior living center that caters to the Japanese-American community as well. Most of the staff speaks Japanese and the food served is also Japanese. The people tend to be a bit older and requires more nursing care. They seemed to be..."
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1661 PINE STREET, San Francisco, CA, 94109
4.6
(7 reviews)
"I truly liked this care facility. The staff there was very professional and took great care of my great grandmother, but they also gave her time and space to herself. While we were there, she needed some assistance (I can't remember exactly what sh..."
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1363 5th Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94122
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My sister has been living in Julie's Care Home for eight years now. They helped her with showering, and taking care of her medications. They feed her and they're careful about her diet, and they get her to medical appointments. The staff is very good..."
READ MORE1 Avalon Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94112
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My parents moved into the Frank Residences last November. I think it's a very good community. I think it's very well-run, well-managed, clean and very, very good. My parents are very, very happy there. The staff is excellent, very attentive, very goo..."
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1035 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94109
4.7
(3 reviews)
"The Avenue offers assisted living with medical support and memory care, as well as retirement living. I've visited it and have referred three clients there. It's in a prime location--near the corner of Van Ness and Geary--in a good neighborhood: saf..."
READ MORE2970 25Th Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132
4.5
(2 reviews)
"My wife and I were very pleased with the care her father received from the time he entered dementia until his recent passing. They were always very attentive to their guests. Very fortunate find for us! ..."
READ MORE302 Silver Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94112
4.3
(6 reviews)
"San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living is so large, and my friend has a tendency to feel completely lost. They showed me a studio. It's quite good, but there was an industrial sense of the whole place that I didn't like. It was too large and more imp..."
READ MORE1881 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109
4.2
(5 reviews)
"My friend is in Kokoro Assisted Living in Japantown. Overall, it's very good, but I think the only complaint, and it's a common one, is the food. They're working on improving things though, but right now, the food is not that great. The facility is f..."
READ MOREWhen comparing the cost of assisted living in San Francisco with the national and state averages using Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, it’s clear that it’s not a cheap place to live. In fact, it’s nearly $2,000 more expensive than the U.S. average of $4,300, and more than $1,000 above California’s average of $5,000.
Although San Francisco is expensive for assisted living, Salinas, which is just outside of the Bay Area, costs exactly $1,000 more, at $7,100. Inland but only 110 miles away from San Francisco, Merced costs $3,750. This might be better for seniors looking for the sunshine and scenery of California without the high price tag. Another great choice for retirees on a budget is San Diego, where the price is slightly above the national average, at $4,525. Redding, in the most northern part of the state, costs less than the state average, at $4,500, as does Fresno, in the west, at $4,750 per month. El Centro, at the south of the state, is a little more affordable than the Bay Area, with a monthly average price of $5,825.
San Francisco
$6,100
California
$5,000
The United States
$4,300
Redding
$4,500
El Centro
$5,825
San Diego
$4,525
Fresno
$4,750
Salinas
$7,100
Merced
$3,750
The Bay Area, and California as a whole, is focused on keeping seniors in their own homes for as long as possible. Financial help in paying for assisted living facilities is extremely limited when compared to in-home or nursing home care as a result of this statewide policy. The Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) program is available in San Francisco for people with full-scope Medi-Cal eligibility, although this does not cover all aspects of assisted living.
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in California page.
While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in California page.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Community Service Employment Program | (415) 982-7007 | These work-based job training opportunities are a community service for older adults over age 55 who are unemployed and have a family income of below 125% of the state-sanctioned poverty level. The average work week is around 20 hours and there’s the potential to earn the maximum out of federal, state or local minimum wages. Seniors over the age of 65, veterans, those with disabilities, living in a rural area, at risk of homelessness and with low employment prospects will get priority treatment. |
| Seniors Against Investment Fraud | (866) 275-2677 | Older adults over the age of 50 are targeted by scammers who commit financial and investment fraud, and SAIF is dedicated to preventing Californians falling victim to this type of crime. The goal of the organization is to empower seniors so they’re vigilant and informed about how to safely make investments and other important financial decisions. |
| California Department of Justice | (415) 510-3476 | It’s crucial that seniors are informed about the various ways elder abuse can occur as they get older and potentially become more vulnerable. Abuse isn’t just a physical phenomena, but it can also be financial or emotional. The website contains useful information about how to spot the signs of elder abuse. There are also plenty of resources for anyone who’s concerned that they or someone close to them is suffering as a result of this terrible crime. |
| Bay Area Older Adults | (408) 774-0593 | Bay Area Older Adults is a charity that aims to enrich the lives of individuals aged 50 and over. It does this by organizing fun events and giving seniors the opportunity to socialize on nature trails, sightseeing and learning to cook new foods. People who prefer going solo or taking part in activities with friends and family can still use its wealth of resources to explore the local area safely and joyfully. Membership is free. |
| San Francisco Senior Beat | (415) 821-1003 | San Francisco Senior Beat is a digital magazine created for seniors in the Bay Area by seniors in the Bay Area. It includes various inspirational and moving stories and aims to give a platform to people who don’t necessarily always have their voices heard. The website also includes helpful links and local events for seniors. |
The Bay Area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in California are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in California page for more information about these laws.
Assisted Living
Irene
4
Review of The Ivy at Golden Gate
I toured the Ivy at Golden Gate. They had bingo and arts and crafts. It was a guided tour, and the staff was excellent. He was very good, nice, and thorough. He offered for us to eat there if we...
Provider response
Irene, we are so pleased you enjoyed your visit to The Ivy at Golden Gate! We sincerely thank you for the positive review, and hope to see you again soon!
Assisted Living
Alan
5
Review of Ivy Park at Cathedral Hill
Ivy Park at Cathedral Hill was nice. All the people there were nice. They explained what it would involve getting my mom in, all the all the legal work and paperwork. They then gave me a tour of...
Provider response
Hi Alan, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this wonderful review! We're so pleased that you enjoyed your visit to Ivy Park at Cathedral Hill.
Assisted Living
Alan
4
Review of Portola Gardens
The tour at Portola Gardens was good. The people were nice. The facility is really old. It's probably 1918 designed, so it's like a dormitory or institution. My dad was there for like two weeks for...
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