Menlo Park Commute / Housing

Moving to Menlo Park in ~2 months for a new role and wanted to understand the housing / commute situation. For context, my office will be on Sand Hill Road, so near the Silver Lake / KKR / Sequoia offices. I also don't plan on having a car. 

Does everyone drive to work in Menlo Park? What are some housing / commute options for those that don't drive?

Housing-wise, I'm targeting studios that are less than $2,200/month within a reasonable distance from my office. Is that realistic? 

4 Comments
 

in the exact same position and still looking - sand hill office, no car, looking for studio. there are no studios or 1 beds walking distance to sand hill anywhere remotely near your budget. i have seen some 1 beds for 3k in walking distance but those are not common and you have to stay tuned on craigslist and zillow, etc... for those. you'll most likely have to just do with ubering to office and back to a city relatively nearby. i did some research and came up with redwood city as a potential place to stay at in driving distance.

looks like there are more options if you do a 2-bed, some in very much walking distance of sand hill which im looking into.

 

Navigating the Menlo Park commute and housing scene without a car can be a bit of a challenge, but it's definitely manageable with some planning. Here's a breakdown based on insights from the WSO Dataset:

Commute Options: 1. Caltrain: This is a popular option for those living in San Francisco or other parts of the Bay Area. The Menlo Park Caltrain station is not directly next to Sand Hill Road, but it's relatively close. You might need to bike or take a short Uber/Lyft ride from the station to your office. 2. Biking: If you live within biking distance, this could be a sustainable and healthy commute option. The Bay Area is relatively bike-friendly, with bike lanes and paths in many areas. 3. Public Transit: Depending on where you live, there might be bus routes that serve the Menlo Park area. However, public transit in the Bay Area can be less reliable and slower compared to driving or taking the Caltrain. 4. Ridesharing/Carpooling: Apps like Uber and Lyft are widely used in the Bay Area. There are also carpooling apps and platforms that could be useful for commuting to Menlo Park.

Housing Options: Finding a studio for less than $2,200/month within a reasonable distance from Sand Hill Road might be challenging, given the high cost of living in the Bay Area. However, there are a few strategies you can consider: 1. Look for Housing in Neighboring Areas: Consider areas like Redwood City, Palo Alto (though Palo Alto can be expensive), or even parts of Mountain View. These areas might offer more affordable options, though prices can still be high. 2. Roommates: If you're open to having roommates, this can significantly reduce your housing costs. There are Facebook groups and websites dedicated to finding roommates in the Bay Area. 3. Expand Your Search: Sometimes, finding affordable housing requires casting a wider net. Look at various housing websites, join local housing groups on social media, and consider reaching out to a real estate agent who specializes in rentals.

Given your preference for not having a car, proximity to public transit or the feasibility of biking to work should be a key consideration in your housing search. It's also worth noting that the Bay Area housing market can be very competitive, so starting your search early and being prepared to move quickly on potential opportunities is advisable.

Sources: Menlo Park Buyside, Housing & Roommates, Palo Alto and Menlo Park SA 2021 Housing Thread, Kellogg vs. Anderson (w/ $) vs. Ross (w/ $), Bearish on CA?, 2020 San Francisco Summer Housing

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Temporibus vitae doloremque est aliquam. Sint sed recusandae voluptatem in est consequatur dolores. Sunt deleniti veritatis illo est. Cum quo velit accusantium quas quo autem odit. Dolorem maxime praesentium quas minima. Velit ducimus ut dolor sunt.

Doloremque necessitatibus eius enim tenetur ut sint pariatur. Minus atque molestias quia sed ea at et. Dolorem ullam molestias beatae nobis ipsum. Fugiat molestiae tempore porro officiis sunt. Dolorem sed modi omnis ea. Similique omnis qui totam nostrum expedita quo odit.

Deleniti rerum ut aut dolorem repudiandae. Possimus nam repudiandae modi eveniet quibusdam ex autem adipisci.

Vel et praesentium ipsa facere. Error aut tempora cum. Modi enim quam quibusdam. Unde omnis pariatur laboriosam quae. Ratione et dolorum eveniet alias repellat rerum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”