Some students at skyline may have noticed that renting an apartment has raised a lot in price recently. In fact over the last year, rent prices in San Francisco have jumped 12 percent making the average rent for an apartment in San Francisco over $2,000 a month according to Real Facts of Novato.

While it is true that San Francisco boasts a $3.29 increase over federal minimum wage at $9.19 an hour, most students find that insufficient.

“I barely make enough money working thirty hours a week as it is, and if you add gas, food and college, how am I supposed to pay for all that?” says college student Alexia Burrell.

If you take the hourly $9.19 minimum wage and times it by the average number of hours a week (20), part time students annually make around $9,505.60 before taxes. That’s a little more than four months worth of rent.

Because of a high influx of educated workers and the offering of higher paying jobs, competition for apartments have driven up the price for apartments in San Francisco. According to City-data.com, this tight labor market has made San Francisco’s cost of living the third highest place for personal spending income in the United States.

Students have tried multiple things to try and compensate for this staggering rise of rent. Most students who live on their own have found that having roommates is a great way to battle the price of rent. The more roommates you have, the more you can split the rent, which in turn means less you have to directly spend. Whether they are friends, family, or people met through roommate(s) wanted ads, many students have chosen this route of lack of privacy for better monetary holdings.

“There are people now who have lost their apartments and rooms, who are double, tripling, and even quadrupling up to try to share the cost,” says Beverly Muse from Skyline’s psychological and personal counseling offices.

Another way students counteract the rising price of rent is to move into an in-laws house or apartment. An in-law apartment is usually when a family rents out a single room in their house. Usually with in-laws, the utilities are already paid for and since you’re only renting a room, the price of rent is dramatically lower. One Craigslist.com ad was listed for $450 a month, and is located near San Francisco State University.

Students have also cooped simply by moving to a farther bay area location where rent is lower. However according to Real Facts of Novato, just like San Francisco, there has been a 12 percent raise in rent in San Jose, but unlike San Francisco the average monthly rent there is $1,622; therefore, students often find themselves being drawn to more rural places like Mountain View or Gilroy for the cheaper rent.

In the end, what most community college students wind up doing is living at home with their parents. By living with your parents, this allows students to save up money by not just paying for rent, but also on utilities, food and toiletries. While this path may be less glamorous for some, for others it is the only option available.

“It’s hard,” Beverly Muse says. “Some cut (school) down to one class or if they can’t get enough financial aid. Many find it hard to continue their education.”