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SAN FRANCISCO
Prepare to be Seduced
San Francisco is unequivocally the most diverse, charming, thriving metropolis in America.
The Bay Area runs the gamut of lucrative industries - from biotech to high-tech, venture capital to consumer business, legal markets to design firms.
Whatever your professional ambitions, something here is calling your name.
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San Francisco sustains a perennial temperate climate. The surrounding water, multiple hills, and Victorian buildings create a unique landscape, which serves as both a natural and architectural wonder. An epicenter for all things outdoorsy, the city sits within a few hours of mountains, beaches, trails, wine country, and national parks.
If you don't appreciate the outdoors, don't fret - San Francisco is also a Mecca for foodies and fashionistas. Come hungry and indulge your palette with ethnic cuisine, fresh seafood, innovative fusion, and organic delights. Whether you prefer the boutiques of Union Street or the flagship stores in Union Square, prepare yourself for the ultimate shopping experience.
Despite all it has to offer, no city is perfect. Here's what not to expect: closed-mindedness, inexpensive cost of living, protection from earthquakes, pretentiousness, late-night venues, copious parking, and four seasons.
Nonetheless, San Francisco has something to offer everyone - whether you're a hipster, a hippie, a yuppie...or something in between.
Neighborhoods
Craigslist is the best place to find an apartment. It's always cheaper to move into a room of an apartment with an existing lease rather than move into a vacant apartment with a new lease (due to the city's rent control law).
 Russian Hill
Russian Hill is arguably the most charming and centrally located neighborhood in the city. You can be at the office (or to any of seven other cool districts) within 30 minutes, either by bus or by foot. Here you can live on a quiet residential street but walk a couple blocks to find yourself amidst the plethora of bars, restaurants, salons, and boutiques of Hyde and Polk Street. Caveat: street parking is a nightmare, the terrain is hilly, rent is expensive, and there aren't any large grocery stores.
SoMa
If you prefer modern-day amenities to quintessential SF charm, make this your future address. Unlike other areas, SoMa remains a work-in-progress, appearing inactive and abandoned for blocks at a time. Parts can be a bit sketchy, but it's not dangerous like the Tenderloin. Expect to find trendy bars and new restaurants staggered between recently constructed high-rises. More importantly, SoMa houses Caltrain Station, AT&T Park, Safeway, Whole Foods, and Costco. Expect to pay a premium for living in a modern complex that is both walkable to the financial district and accessible to the freeway.
The Marina
This unusually flat neighborhood is literally a stone's throw to the water and close to scenic areas like Crissy Field, Baker Beach, and Palace of Fine Arts. Even though it's far from the financial district, you can zip to work on the express bus. While most districts have one famous avenue of commerce, the Marina has two -- Chestnut and Union -- both brimming with pubs, eateries, boutiques, and salons. Street parking is feasible here but not as easy as Lower Pac. The uber-yuppie crowd is atypically homogeneous for this diverse city. Imagine where frat boys and sorority girls move after college...then stick a hefty price tag on the luxury apartments...welcome to the Marina.
North Beach
It's close enough to the financial district that even lazy people can walk to work. North Beach comes alive at night with its abundance of bars and clubs (as well as porn shops and strip clubs). Since it's close to the wharf, tourists often flock to the area, and parking is rough. Despite these downfalls, it's hard to beat the amenities of Bay Street: 24-hour Fitness, Trader Joe's, and Safeway, or the numerous cafes and restaurants on Columbus. Of the suggested neighborhoods, North Beach boasts the cheapest rent...not to mention the city's best brunch at Mama's.
Lower Pac Heights
Live in Lower Pac and bus (or be ambitious and walk) to work in the morning. Swing by Whole Foods on the way home - whip up dinner for yourself or snatch something from the prepared foods section. Spend Saturday people-watching on Fillmore Street, and then drive to nearby Richmond for the city's best Asian cuisine. After dinner, park your car on the STREET (for free)! Wind down the weekend with a good book in Lafayette Park. What's not to love about living here? It's not as charming or centrally located as Russian Hill, not as modern as SoMa, not as beautiful as the Marina, and not as inexpensive as North Beach.
Transportation
If you work in the city, ride the bus or walk to work. A car proves to be useful for making trips to the grocery store, wine country, and Tahoe, but unless you suffer a daily commute, you're better off without it.
If you work outside the city, bring a car...but if you must, it is possible to rely on public transportation. BART runs to the East Bay; Caltrain travels to the Peninsula/South Bay. Within the city the only Caltrain station is located in SoMa while multiple BART stations are found along Market Street and in the Mission.
Every car owner in SF has a love/hate relationship with possessing a set of wheels. It's expensive, and parking is a major stress. Regardless of your car-ownership status, invest in comfortable shoes and prepare to rewrite your definition of "walkable." While numerous bus lines traverse the city, sometimes it's faster to just walk.
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INSURANCE |
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GAS |
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GARAGE PARKING |
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STREET PARKING |
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$120/month |
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$50/month
(work in SF)
$150/month
(work outside SF)
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$200/month |
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10 minutes to find a spot
each night in select neighborhoods
(e.g., Lower Pac Heights, Marina)
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Local Lingo
San Francisco is an interesting place to live because of its rich history and cultural appreciation. NorCal, or Northern California, is full of regional pride. Newcomers take note: don't ever call the fair city Frisco - as many locals loathe this expression and may even consider it mildly offensive. Unless you want to sound like a tourist, also avoid San Fran and SF.
There are also some location and transit terms unique to the area. San Francisco has gained worldwide notoriety for its technology industry, so folks talking about The Valley mean Silicon Valley, south of the city. If you're looking for an evening hotspot, try SoMa, slang for the area south of Market Street. The MUNI (San Francisco Municipal Railway) is the public transportation system.
Similar to the use of wicked in Boston, NorCal residents are known to use the term hella as a modifier. For example, something that is "hella cool" is very cool to the rest of us.
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Internet and Technology
• CNET
• Google
• Apple
• Hewlett-Packard
• eBay
• Adobe
• Yahoo
Banking/Finance
• Wells Fargo
• Bank of America
What do you love about working in this city?
I love that the Bay Area is the center of innovation in America: New York is business; DC is government; but the Bay is innovation...people are more excited about what their companies are doing here than anywhere else.
Chris, 24
UC Hastings, Law Student
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