Written by Undercover Phoenician| Last update: May 6, 2025
(First-Hand Travel Experience & Price Comparison)
Tired of trying to find cheap places to stay in San Francisco? This guide brings you the cheapest hostels in San Francisco, with real prices and real savings. No fluff, no BS—just the tools you need to stretch your budget further. We’re Hostelz, the only site where you can compare all hostels in San Francisco to see prices and availability from Hostelworld, Booking.com, and more—side by side.
Table of Content: The Perfect Guide to Hostels
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San Francisco - the foggy city with steep hills, Victorian houses, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge - is a must-see destination for travelers who crave culture and history.
From the street art in the Mission District to the vintage bookstores in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco offers endless opportunities to explore and discover.
Here are the most affordable and cheap hostels in San Fransico.
Sorted by Price: The Cheapest Hostels in San Francisco
European Hostel is conveniently located near public transportation options including the subway, bus stops, and Greyhound/BART transit. Private rooms and dorm beds with affordable rates for 4-6 guests per room. Just a few blocks away from Union Square shopping and dining. Less than a 5 minute walk to popular destinations such as the Asian Art Museum and City Hall.
Visitors can save by taking the direct BART run from the airport. Street parking is available with city restrictions or visitors can utilize nearby parking garages. All within walking distance of major attractions including Cable Cars, Fisherman's Wharf, and Chinatown.
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Sf Travelers Inn offers a prime location in the heart of San Francisco's North Beach district, making it the perfect base for exploring the city's top attractions. Guests can easily access iconic spots like Coit Tower, Union Square, and Pier 39, while also being close to popular areas like Ghirardelli Square, Moscone Center, and Alcatraz. The property is equipped with a range of convenient amenities, including a 24-hour front desk, airport transportation, and a shared kitchen for guests to enjoy. Free WiFi is available throughout the hostel, ensuring guests can stay connected during their travels.
The rooms at Sf Travelers Inn provide a cozy and functional setup, with some offering stunning city views. Guests share bathroom facilities, which include showers. For those who enjoy exploring the city's vibrant culture and landmarks, this hostel offers the ideal starting point for an unforgettable San Francisco adventure.
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Amsterdam San Francisco Hostel, located in Central San Francisco, is the perfect place for backpackers or those on a budget. Only three blocks from Union Square, you'll be right in the heart of the city's best shopping, food, and sights. Plus, you're only seconds away from the famous Cable Cars, Theatre District, and Chinatown.
This hostel is great for meeting and hanging out with other travelers, with plenty of common space available for use. Enjoy breakfast in the huge common kitchen or dine outside on the terrace. They also offer organized pub crawls and bike rentals for guests. And best of all: free linen, free luggage storage, and free coffee and tea all day.
Orange Village Hostel, located in the heart of San Francisco, offers affordable accommodations with a friendly and welcoming environment. Guests can choose from shared dormitory rooms or private rooms equipped with all the necessary amenities. The hostel also provides free WiFi, community kitchen, laundry facilities, and discounted tour services.
Plus, the location is ideal for exploring the city's major metropolitan area, shopping, and entertainment districts.
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Chapter San Francisco offers a sleek and comfortable getaway for adults, with rooms equipped for ultimate convenience. Each room comes with free WiFi, so guests can stay connected throughout their stay. Chapter San Francisco provides a relaxed atmosphere with a lounge, concierge service, and housekeeping to ensure all needs are met.
Chapter San Francisco boasts modern amenities like a kitchenette for quick meals, a refrigerator, microwave, TV, and streaming services. Guests will appreciate the walk-in shower and a peaceful view of a quiet street, adding to the comfort of the stay. A designated dining area is also available for a more relaxed setting.
Its location is ideal for exploring the city, being just a short walk to popular spots like San Francisco City Hall and Union Square. Guests have easy access to top attractions such as Ghirardelli Square and the Golden Gate Bridge, making it a perfect base for city adventures. Guests rave about the clean rooms and comfortable bathrooms.
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Green Tortoise Hostel in San Francisco is an inclusive and authentic family-owned and operated experience for adventure and business travelers. The hostel provides free breakfast, Wi-Fi, Sauna, and under bed lockers. Guests can also participate in nightly events like famous Pub Crawls and Beer Olympics.
Additionally, the hostel has a fully equipped kitchen, fully informative tour desk, bicycle rentals, and discounted dinners for guests. The hostel's prime location in North Beach Little Italy puts it within walking distance to popular San Francisco sites.
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7 Music City Hotel - The San Francisco Music Experience
Quick Overview:
Rating: 7.4
1.5 km to city center
Breakfast not included
Prices
Dorm from $19.60 per night
Music City Hotel - The San Francisco Music Experience is a music-themed, boutique lodging that celebrates local music culture. A private or shared room is available, including capsule sleeping pods for a comfortable night's sleep. Stay in the San Francisco Music Hall of Fame and get free tickets to local music venues! Take the daily guided tours of the hall with SF Flower Child Blandina Farley.
Free Wi-Fi and luggage storage are provided, and the hotel offers a drop-off airport service. Daily maid service is included, and free coffee/tea and fresh fruit are available. On a budget and want to rock out? Music City Hotel - The San Francisco Music Experience is the place.
Music City Hotel - The San Francisco Music Experience
8 HI - San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf Hostel
Quick Overview:
Rating: 8.9
3.67 km to city center
Breakfast included
Prices
Dorm from $17.65 per night
Overlooking the stunning San Francisco Bay, the HI - San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf Hostel is the perfect spot for travelers on a budget. With free WiFi throughout the property, guests can stay connected while enjoying the lively atmosphere. Both dormitory-style and private guest rooms offer shared bathroom facilities with towels and linens provided.
The hostel boasts a shared lounge, theater-style TV room, recreation room, and fully-equipped kitchen for guests to use. A tour desk and luggage storage are also available on-site. Located just 1.7 mi from Union Square and 1.9 mi from The Place of Fine Arts Theater, guests can easily explore the city.
We've got your back when it comes to finding a great hostel location in San Francisco. We've gone ahead and mapped out all the hostels for you so you can get a good idea of where they're all at. This map will make your life so much easier!
Let's talk about hostel prices in San Francisco. This graph shows you typical, average prices for a bed in a dorm and for a private room. Simply mouse-over to see rates for each month.
Prices can vary a lot, especially on high-season, weekends, and special holidays such as New Years Eve.
Average Dorm Price per Month in San Francisco
Average Private Room Price per Month in San Francisco
When to book a hostel in San Francisco?
Let us have a closer look on some statistics and graphics.
The cheapest months to travel to San Francisco is January. Hostels in San Francisco cost $38 in January.
The most expensive month is August with $47.
Total number of hostels in San Francisco: 13
Total number of Party Hostels in San Francisco: 5
Total number of hostels in San Francisco with a +8.5 top-rating: 8
Most hostels are located in the neighborhoods of Downtown, Telegraph Hill, Financial District.
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About the author: Undercover Phoenician
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