The AI boom is sharply driving up housing rents in San Francisco, The Guardian reports.

Employees of technology companies headquartered in San Francisco have high incomes, while expectations of future payouts from AI companies going public are pushing prices upward. Landlords are taking advantage of this—in recent months, rents overall have risen by an average of 40%.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment has now reached $4,400 a month—more than 25% higher than a year ago. A two-bedroom apartment costs $6,000, while a four-bedroom apartment costs more than $10,000.

Restaurant workers, teachers, nurses, and other professionals are being forced to share housing with several roommates or move far outside the city. Many have to travel more than 80 km to get from their homes in the suburbs to work in San Francisco.

Landlords particularly often take advantage of residents who speak little English, evicting them without explanation. Some landlords even use the threat of deportation as leverage.

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