On a budget, Mission District Murals / Clarion Alley still earns its price.
Free (guided tours ~$25)
Clarion and Balmy Alleys pack decades of vivid, righteous mural art into a few blocks — the most authentic, alive public art in the city, and free. The catch: it's a working neighborhood, parts feel gritty, and you get the most from it on a guided walk that explains the politics.