With its steep hills, narrow city streets, historic cable cars and sweeping Pacific Ocean views, San Francisco is a startlingly scenic place. Moving to San Francisco means that famous sights like Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Island, Union Square and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge are part of everyday life in this beautiful city.
San Franciscans enjoy a healthy job market, well-maintained historical sites and welcoming outdoor spaces. This scenic Northern California city has many attractive attributes that charm travelers and residents alike.
Nicknamed ‘The Golden City’ because of its rapid expansion during the California gold rush, San Francisco is now famous for another kind of West Coast boom. Technology is king in the Bay Area. New residents continue to move to San Francisco, attracted by well-paying job offers in the tech industry. There are nearly 50 Fortune 500 companies located in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
The people of San Francisco
There are 883,225 people currently living in San Francisco, making it the fourth most populous city in California.
The median age of the average San Francisco resident is 38.3 years old. That’s just slightly older than the national median age of 38.1. Students at San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco and several private schools help keep the city’s energy (and average age) young.
When San Francisco combines with San Jose, CA, they form the San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area. This is the fifth most populated combined statistical area in the entire country.
San Francisco is a populous metropolitan area. But geographically, it’s a lot smaller than you might think.
The city is just seven miles long from north to south, or about 46 square miles. San Francisco packs a lot of culture, food, history, art and outdoor attractions into a small footprint. That density makes San Francisco one of the most intriguing cities on the West Coast.
Popular neighborhoods in San Francisco
San Francisco’s history is woven into its neighborhoods. From the largest Chinatown outside of Asia to Haight-Ashbury (the epicenter of 1960s hippie counterculture), there are plenty of distinct neighborhoods to explore. Each has its own unique characteristics, traditions and vibe.
Nob Hill
Luxury and history combine in this upscale neighborhood. Mansions built by railroad barons, the ornate Grace Cathedral and swanky stays like the marble and gilt Fairmont Hotel are Nob Hill gems.
Rest among the fountains and perfectly manicured green spaces in Huntington Park. Or, treat yourself to high-end restaurants like Seven Hills, upscale boutiques and art galleries throughout the district.
Nob Hill offers incredible views. The steep streets show off the city’s colorfully painted Victorian homes, the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. The neighborhood is accessible by cable car. Just be aware that it’s often packed with tourists.
Mission District
The Mission District was named after the Mission Dolores, established in 1776. This neighborhood is as old as San Francisco itself — and the country, too.
With its hipster vibes and gritty atmosphere, the Mission District is a great place to stroll, settle in for live music and savor a craft cocktail in South Bay. Grab a scoop of gourmet ice cream and spot the colorful murals tucked away off the narrow streets. Or, spend an afternoon people-watching in Mission Dolores Park — you’ll never be bored. And, thanks to its numerous Bay Area Rapid Transit stops, you’re never far from a ride home.
This is the heart of the Latino Cultural District. Score excellent street food from the la taqueria of your choice and celebrate Carnaval with The Grand Parade. The event covers 20 blocks and includes over 3,000 artists representing nations from Central and South America and the Caribbean.
North Beach
Back in the day, North Beach was full of saloons and brothels. But now it’s the place to go for excellent Italian food and craft beer bars. Neighborhood favorites like Original Joe’s have served locals for more than a century. This proud community has deep Italian-American roots and a place in literary history.
City Lights, founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953, was the epicenter of the Beat Movement’s writing and activism. Broadway is home to music clubs and bars, while Grant Avenue has unusual shops.
Stately Coit Tower stands guard over the neighborhood. Built in the 1930s, it’s decorated with murals depicting scenes from California’s history.
Accessing transportation is a challenge here. But it’s easy to walk or bike to a stop in the Financial District.
Cole Valley
This small, family-friendly neighborhood is a breath of fresh air in the middle of the city. Cole Valley borders Golden Gate Park. But there are pretty parks, hiking trails and picnic spots tucked into the neighborhood, as well.
Enjoy hiking and panoramic views from Tank Hill. Or, hike, bike or run on 5 miles of public use trails that weave around the 250-foot-tall eucalyptus trees in Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve. (Leashed dogs are also welcome in this urban oasis.)
Public transit whisks professionals off to work as young families stroll the tree-lined streets, passing carefully tended Victorian homes as they go. The neighborhood has more than its fair share of interesting watering holes, coffee shops and mom and pop restaurants.
Marina District
This scenic spot is on San Francisco’s northern tip. The Marina District has an easygoing mix of bars, shops and restaurants, as well as outdoor spaces and quiet historic attractions.
Stroll or bike along the waterfront promenade at Crissy Field. Grab a tea or hot chocolate from The Warming Hut and enjoy some of the city’s best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito across the bay. Or, picnic on one of the most popular beaches in San Francisco.
Fort Mason, a former military base, hosts film festivals, book sales, free concerts and other entertainment options. The Mexican Museum and the Museo Italo Americano are also housed in the building. Or, explore the Palace of Fine Arts, the only remaining building from the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition.
Outer Richmond
If you want a low-key beach town shaped by immigrants from all over the world, Outer Richmond is for you. This oceanside neighborhood doesn’t just have access to one beach — it has access to three.
Watch the sunset over the pale sands of Ocean Beach. The north end is popular with surfers, while the south side attracts dog walkers and hang-gliders. Baker Beach has some of the prettiest views of the Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge, so it’s usually busy. Notice the concrete bunkers and cannons along the mile-long beach — and politely ignore the nude sunbathers on the northern end. Nearby China Beach is quieter. It’s also one of the few places in the city where it’s calm enough to swim.
Visit Lincoln Park, home to the standout Legion of Honor art museum. Or, catch a European or indie film at Balboa Theatre.
The neighborhood’s shops and restaurants are just as global. Russian and Cantonese are still spoken along Geary Boulevard, and Mexican, French and Italian roots run deep.
South Beach and SoMA
South Beach and nearby SoMA are in transition. The city’s southern waterfront was once lined with warehouses. After the 90’s dot com and tech boom that prompted a wave of building projects, San Francisco homeowners and renters snapped up the converted condos and lofts.
Oracle Park, built in 2000, gives residents easy access to Major League Baseball games. They can also walk to the shops and restaurants at the Westfield San Francisco Centre and pick up something savory from the artisans and gourmet food vendors at the Ferry Building Marketplace. Five acres of trees and fountains inside Yerba Buena Gardens help visitors tune out the noise of the city. And be sure to check out SOMA StrEat Food Park, where the beer is cold and the food is second to none.
Moving to San Francisco and getting a taste of the diverse culture and art is easy here. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Children’s Creativity Museum and the San Francisco Railway Museum are nearby. So is The Museum of the African Diaspora and The Contemporary Jewish Museum. The Folsom Street Fair celebrates the leather subculture annually.
Hayes Valley
This close-knit neighborhood is one of the best shopping spots in San Francisco. Hayes Valley boasts upscale boutiques, designer fashion and unique home decor along Hayes Street. Shops specialize in particular passions — including sake, corsets, collectible sneakers and California-made sandals — so you’re sure to find the perfect thing.
The walkability of the neighborhood is rare in a populous city. Hayes Valley residents enjoy community gardens and locally-owned coffee shops, brassieres, biergartens and cafés. Picnic among the art installations in the central park along Octavia Boulevard. Or, see what’s new at PROXY Project, two blocks of constantly changing outdoor shopping, food and cinema.
The central location is convenient. And there are several BART and Muni stops nearby for people who rely on public transportation.
Dogpatch
Dogpatch is a dockside community and former shipbuilding center that still retains its working-class roots. Warehouses and art galleries combine for an artistic/industrial vibe. If you want to live in an artist’s loft or be part of a community of artisans, craftspeople and other makers, Dogpatch is the place for you.
Walk along Third Street, stopping at trendy brunch spots, wine bars and brewpubs along the way. The Museum of Craft and Design is a perfect fit for the neighborhood.
Dogpatch is actually part of the greater Potrero Hill neighborhood. Even though it’s next to a hilly district, the district is relatively flat, so it’s a favorite with cyclists.
The Castro District
The Castro District (or The Castro) is a beacon of LGBTQA2I+ life, art, history and culture in the South Bay area. Castro Street is the spine of the main Eureka Valley business district. Look for local restaurants and shops with cheeky double-entendres for names. When night falls, revelers spill out of the bars and clubs and onto the sidewalks throughout the area and into nearby Noe Valley.
But this neighborhood is more than just party spots. The historic Castro Theatre is a favorite for films and sing-along musicals. The GLBT Historical Society showcases LGBTQA2I+ art, history and culture. Mission Dolores Park is a popular place for picnicking and people-watching.
Don’t miss the annual Castro Street Fair. Live music on multiple stages has the entire neighborhood dancing in the streets.
Mission Bay
Mission Bay area is full of young professionals and their families. From Mission Bay, you can catch CalTrain, a commuter train that connects the Peninsula (Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Mateo) to San Francisco. This makes the neighborhood popular with workers moving to San Francisco for Silicon Valley tech jobs.
This new neighborhood is known for its modern buildings, sleek condos and wide boulevards. Many homes on higher floors have waterfront views.
Mission Bay is also a great place to move to in San Francisco for sports fans. The Chase Center, where the Golden State Warriors play, is right in the neighborhood. Oracle Park is also nearby.
The pros of moving to San Francisco
Living in San Francisco is an adventure. San Franciscans enjoy a dynamic urban atmosphere and some of the most gorgeous scenery in the country. Whether you settle into a new neighborhood or spend your free time exploring new places, San Fran will always surprise you.
Diverse culture
If living in a global city is important to you, you’ll love living in San Francisco. This proudly diverse community welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life. From the endless variety of food and restaurant options, cultural events and outdoor activities, San Francisco is a true melting pot with so much to see and do.
High wages
Many San Francisco residents enjoy high salaries. (Silicon Valley jobs pay very well.) The median (household) income in San Francisco is $123,859. That’s well above the national median family income of $67,521.
The weather
Even the weather is scenic in San Francisco. Cool air rolls in from the Pacific Ocean and lingers as San Francisco’s atmospheric fog.
San Francisco’s 40 hills trap this fog. This means living in San Francisco you’ll experience much cooler weather than in other cities in California like San Diego, Santa Clara or Los Angeles. Expect cool weather in the 50s, 60s and 70s, even during the summer months. That’s not to say warm weather is nonexistent here. You’ll still enjoy the classic California benefit of being able to spend your days outside.
The chilly ocean air contrasts with the much warmer air from the scorching Central Valley. This creates microclimate pockets. It can get cold and foggy at work, while across town, it’s sunny and warm. Locals always bring an extra layer or two.
A walkable city
San Francisco’s Walk Score is 93. That makes it the most walkable large city in the U.S.
This high rating means that while living in San Francisco, residents can run almost all of their errands on foot. Recreation, retail and restaurants are accessible to pedestrians. Streetlife is vibrant. The city streets and sidewalks are safe for walkers.
Dog-friendly
San Francisco is an excellent place for dogs and dog owners. In fact, a Smart Asset survey once ranked San Francisco as the top spot in the country for pups, thanks to the city’s walkability and accessibility.
Dogs are an integral part of San Francisco street life. They’re visible in city parks and sidewalks and welcome on most city beaches. Dog waste bags are available all over town, so you and your four-legged friend can explore the city together.
As an added bonus, there are over 100 dog-friendly dining establishments in San Francisco. The city also offers many dog parks to explore. Some are pretty impressive, like the one in Golden Gate Park, which recently got a $2.4 million upgrade.
Outdoor recreation
San Francisco contains many beautiful parks, rugged beaches and secluded nature preserves. Residents enjoy access to breathtaking hiking and biking trails and quiet green spaces throughout the city.
The paved San Francisco Bay Trail is perfect for hikers, joggers, walkers, cyclists, skaters and wheelchair users. The 350-mile trail network connects communities around San Francisco Bay.
Explore Golden Gate Park on foot, bike or Segway. (Bike rentals and Segway tours are available on-site.) Stop by for art classes, live music and meditation and yoga events. Acres of lakes and gardens and several restaurants, food trucks and a biergarten make Golden Gate Park one of the most-visited parks in the country.
The many beaches in San Francisco are the perfect place to walk in the sand or contemplate the natural beauty of the waves. Bring a wetsuit — it’ll be chilly. But if you’re dressed for it, you can swim and surf just a few minutes from home.
Or, get out onto the water. Kayak the marshland around Islais Creek or take a City Kayak tour out into the Bay. You can even paddle out to McCovey Cove to try to catch a ball that a Giants slugger knocked out of Oracle Field.
Accessible day trips
Living in San Francisco makes it easy to visit other scenic spots in California. Hike or swim at Stinson Beach just outside the city. Sip wine in Napa Valley or cruise south to Pacifica for scenic ocean views. Yosemite National Park is only a four-hour drive away from San Francisco.
Cross the Golden Gate Strait and drive into Marin County. Hike the rugged Marin Headlands, view the Point Bonita Lighthouse and see the Golden Gate Bridge from the east bay at a new angle. Then, stare at the massive redwood trees of Muir Woods National Monument in wonder.
Cutting-edge food
A vibrant San Francisco food scene tempts travelers and locals. Fresh seafood, plentiful Northern California produce and excellent wine from Napa Valley and Sonoma County make dining a pleasure. Local chefs and bakers were among the first to embrace the farm-to-table movement. They also perfected sourdough and pioneered plant-forward cuisine.
The city’s rich global food traditions inspired its most famous creations. San Francisco is the birthplace of the Mission-style burrito, cioppino fish stew, green goddess dressing and chicken Tetrazzini. Chinese-American classics like Chop Suey and fortune cookies were also dreamed up here.
Get a taste of the city at San Francisco food festivals. Eat Drink SF is one of the largest events. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival showcases delicious food and sweet treats made from (and inspired by) the San Francisco chocolatier.
World-class museums
San Francisco is an exciting, multi-cultural city. The museums match its energy.
Get your art and culture fix at the Randall Museum, the de Young Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Asian Art Museum. Kids (even the grown-up kind) will enjoy The Children’s Creativity Museum, The Exploratorium and The Cartoon Art Museum.
Team sports
Moving to San Francisco is great if you’re a sports fan. The city is home to professional football, baseball and basketball teams. It also hosts the San Francisco Marathon.
Head to Levi’s Stadium to cheer on the San Francisco 49ers. (San Francisco company Levi Strauss & Co patented blue jeans here way back in 1873.)
Embrace the energy of a Golden State Warriors basketball game. Or, watch the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, where boats bob in the Bay just beyond the outfield.
Other Bay Area cities have pro sports teams, too. The San Jose Sharks, Oakland Athletics and San Jose Earthquakes attract thousands of fans.
Public transportation
This is a pro or a con, depending on your patience with public transportation. While it’s not perfect, it’s still an inexpensive and quick way to get around town.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is public transit that serves 50 stations and makes living in San Francisco without a car more convenient. MUNI (The San Francisco Municipal Railway) operates the city’s aboveground and underground tram system, as well as buses and cable cars. There are also e-scooter rentals and bike shares available.
The cons of moving to San Francisco
Moving to San Francisco (like any big city) has disadvantages. In San Francisco, the most obvious drawbacks are budget-related. Whether you rent or buy, the cost of living is high, especially compared to other large cities in America.
High housing costs
The average monthly rent prices in San Francisco are higher than the national average. According to February 2022 rent price data from Rent., people living in San Francisco pay an average rent of $2,752 for a studio apartment every month. A one-bedroom rents for an average of $3,430. A two-bedroom goes for $4,366. Those are some of the highest prices in the nation.
- Median income: $112,376
- Studio rent (average): $2,881
- One-bedroom rent (average): $3,533
- Two-bedroom rent (average): $4,675
- Cost of living index: 194
The Bay Area housing market is one the most expensive in the country. Redfin reports that the average median home price in San Francisco was $1.325 million in January 2022. That’s an increase of 10 percent since the year before.
A last thing to keep in mind before moving to San Francisco. The last major earthquake to hit the city was in 1989 and caused over $6 billion in property damage.
High cost of living
The cost of living refers to the necessary expenses required to live in a particular area. These expenses include food, housing, healthcare, clothing and transportation.
In many cost of living indexes, the number 100 represents the national average. San Francisco clocks in at 194.
Many residents struggle to find affordable housing and raise children because living in San Francisco is so expensive. The unequal distribution of wealth and the high cost of living are major challenges for San Franciscans. Price concerns affect other Bay Area communities like Oakland and San Jose, as well.
Traffic
Even though San Francisco is an easier place to have a car than big cities, like Manhattan, you’ll still have to deal with constant stop-and-go traffic. Traffic is a stressor for most residents.
Nothing is more energy-zapping than being stuck in a traffic jam of buses and commuters who need to get in or out of the city. The Bay Bridge, which connects San Francisco to the East Bay, eventually merges into one lane. The freeways around the city aren’t much better.
Parking
Finding a parking spot in San Francisco is a challenge. In some neighborhoods, locals recommend skipping the car altogether and taking public transportation instead.
On top of that, parking is expensive. Garages around the downtown area typically cost $35 a day or more.
But don’t be tempted to park illegally. Getting a parking ticket in San Francisco is expensive, too. Just one ticket could cost you between $76 and $110.
Homelessness
While San Francisco is known for its extreme wealth, the income disparity is real. A lack of affordable housing still plagues the city. San Francisco has one of the highest populations of unsheltered homeless residents in the country.
Air quality issues
There are environmental concerns in San Francisco, too. The same landscape that catches the fog can also trap pollutants generated by cars and the California wildfire season.
This can cause hazardous air quality. San Francisco’s poor and minority communities bear more of this burden.
Plan your move to San Francisco
Living in San Francisco is expensive. But this diverse city has many perks and surprises.
Moving to a new place is exciting. But it’s also stressful. Visit the Rent. Moving Center to get free quotes and information to help you plan your move to San Francisco.
Check out the apartments for rent in your favorite neighborhoods from Noe Valley to Inner Richmond so you can find the perfect home for your new adventure.
