San Francisco. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t know the name. Dubbed ‘The Golden City’ of the highly prolific Golden State, San Francisco brims with action, flair, lights, opportunities, scenic sights, and so much more. The place truly gives light to the phrase, name it and you have it!
With all the great things going around the city, from the warm people to unlimited perks and convenient amenities, it’s no question that San Francisco ranks top in one of the best areas to live in America.
However, as with any other city, San Francisco also has quite a few drawbacks to note. As you may already know, it’s important to consider both when moving to a new home.
If you want to learn more about this, continue reading to find out whether moving to San Francisco is a good fit for you.
The Pros of Living in San Francisco
Life in San Francisco is truly like no other. Curious as to why that is? Here are the advantages of living in the city.
Plenty of Job Opportunities
The economy is booming big-time in San Francisco. This makes job hunting particularly easy. All the more so if you work in tech, thanks to Silicon Valley and other high-tech industries in the city. If you have the skills, you can work in reputable companies, such as Google, Netflix, Facebook, Tesla, and Apple. There are also many opportunities for startups. And in case you’re not working in technology, you can still find jobs in hospitality and healthcare, among others.
San Francisco is Diverse
There are a lot of reasons why people love the idea of living in San Francisco. One of those is diversity. But what does this mean? To put it simply, this means that everyone is welcome in the city regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Isn’t that wonderful?
Good Food is Everywhere
When talking about a great city, you can’t take good food out of the equation. That’s why in San Francisco, you can find delicious varieties of food at every corner. From luxurious cuisines to affordable eats, there’s always a choice for everyone. So if you’re a foodie, that’s one more thing to love about the City by the Bay.
The City is Close With Nature
If you’re one of the people who like to go out and appreciate nature, San Francisco is perfect for you. Whether you want some relaxation, a fun adventure, or look at beautiful sceneries, there’s always something to enjoy. Green Spaces? Beaches? How about lakes and hiking trails? San Francisco checks all those so you can have an excellent time outside your home. Better yet, the city has one of the most popular parks in the country, the Golden Gate Park.
Life in San Francisco is Fun
You’ll never utter the word ‘boring’ if you’re ever in San Francisco. Why? That’s because there’s always something fun for everyone. To start, you can feast your eyes on the beautiful culture and arts present in the city. Love music? San Franciscans do, too! You can watch baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and hockey when it comes to sports. Fishing and boating are also common recreations in the city. Not to mention, the nightlife in San Francisco also never disappoints. In there you’ll realize the true meaning of the phrase party till you drop. Can’t go wrong with all the fun that awaits you here!
The Cons of Living in San Francisco
The benefits aren’t the only thing to think about when moving to a new place. Considering the disadvantages is just as crucial. Here are the cons of life in the City by the Bay.
Housing Price is Unreal
Perhaps one of the biggest turn-offs about San Francisco is its real estate pricing. According to Fortune Builders, median housing costs in the city can reach up to $1,522,827. The same goes for rents, averaging at $2,270 a month. Expensive, right? So if you’re ever planning to move to San Francisco, it’ll be for the best if you save up hefty amounts of cash to afford a home.
High Cost of Living
If you think that housing is the only pricey part of the city, you’re wrong. Because you know what else is expensive in San Francisco? Everyday life. That’s right, from your needs down to your wants, everything can get costly. When living in the city, be prepared and form a proper budget as you’ll likely spend a ton. However, with all those amazing perks San Francisco offers, it’s all worth it. And when you land a good-paying job, that’s as good as solved.
Taxes Aren’t the Best in the City
After all that spending, you still have one more thing to worry about. Taxes! Yes, tax rates in California are high. However, it’s even higher in San Francisco. This is also a significant disadvantage of the city as it affects your take-home pay. Because of this, many people are hesitating to live in San Francisco. But, if that’s not an issue to you, the City by the Bay is still an ideal place to call home.
Traffic is Terrible
Another downside about San Francisco is its horrible traffic. It’s so awful that the city is among the top congested places in all of America. It ranks at seventh place with a total of 97 hours lost due to congestion. Worse, you can get stuck on the road at any time of the day, not just during rush hour.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, San Francisco provides countless benefits. But it’s also not a secret that living in the city comes with a cost, a high one at that. Remember what you’ve read here as you think through whether you’re going to live in San Francisco or not.
