A lot of people will suggest avoiding the Tenderloin (as you can see in the other comments), but I know several people who live there and haven't had any partic

A lot of people will suggest avoiding the Tenderloin (as you can see in the other comments), but I know several people who live there and haven't had any particular problems. Yes, there's a bit of a zombie infestation, but as long as you keep your wits about you and don't stumble around drunk at 3am you'll likely have no problems. It does get sketchier the closer you get to Market, so a little further up in "Lower Nob Hill" (aka the "Tendernob") is a better choice overall.. still fairly cheap, centrally located, and not quite as rough. If it's feasible in your situation, I'd definitely recommend subletting for a month and getting a feel for the different neighborhoods. December isn't the greatest time to look for places since most people aren't moving unless they have to, so the extra time would also be a big benefit.