A low base rent can hide a bigger bill. If you are comparing South San Francisco warehouses, ask what you will pay for taxes and common-area charges, utilities, equipment, insurance, and move-in work. Then compare those costs over the full lease term.
Current Market Asking Rents
Cushman & Wakefield reported the following San Mateo County industrial asking rents for Q2 2026. These are countywide monthly NNN asking figures, not a quote for your unit or a WareSpace price.
| Q2 2026 category | Monthly asking rate |
|---|---|
| San Mateo County industrial average | $1.74/Sq Ft NNN |
| Warehouse | $1.64/Sq Ft NNN |
| Manufacturing and light industrial | $2.09/Sq Ft NNN |
A quoted NNN rate normally excludes some or all of the tenant’s share of property taxes, building insurance, and common-area maintenance. Utilities, internet, security, racking, equipment, and improvements may also sit outside the base quote.
Calculate the Full Lease Cost
Ask the landlord or broker for a written schedule that separates:
- Base rent
- NNN, CAM, or operating expenses
- Utilities and internet
- Building and business insurance
- Racking, workbenches, and equipment
- Security deposit and prepaid rent
- Permits, improvements, and move-in work
- Annual increases and renewal terms
Multiply each monthly charge by the number of months in the lease. Add the deposit, move-in work, and equipment separately so you can see both your upfront cash needs and the cost of staying. A cheap base rate may stop looking cheap if you need to outfit an empty unit or lease more space than you will use.
Compare Usable Space, Not Only Quoted Square Feet
Two units with the same listed area may give you different usable space. Mark where you would unload, store goods, work, stage outbound orders, and move safely around doors and columns. Ask what power, HVAC, loading, and uses each lease actually includes.
Use the San Francisco small warehouse size guide to prepare your space plan. If you pack orders, the Bay Area e-commerce guide covers receiving and outbound staging.
Keep Market Rents Separate From WareSpace Prices
The county figures above describe comparable market asking rents. WareSpace advertises all-inclusive monthly pricing starting at $1,000/mo across its portfolio, generally with 6–12 month terms. Prices, unit inventory, and final availability for South San Francisco have not been released.
WareSpace South San Francisco is coming soon to 161 Starlite St, with a Summer 2027 opening window. Join the Founders List for building-specific updates. For wider market conditions, read the San Francisco Peninsula industrial market report.
Questions to Ask Before Signing
- Is the quote monthly or annual, and does it use rentable or usable area?
- Which NNN or CAM expenses can change during the term?
- Are utilities, WiFi, HVAC, security, and trash included?
- What equipment or improvements must the tenant supply?
- Which business activities are approved?
- How do deliveries, loading, and after-hours access work?
- Can the business change its footprint if the workflow changes?
