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Moving to San Francisco in 2024? Complete Moving Guide

This is a complete guide for Moving to San Francisco.
Get all the information you need to know about moving to San Francisco.

Planning to move to San Francisco?

A beautiful and vibrant city on the coast of California which is known for its iconic landmarks like Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. If you are thinking of moving to San Francisco then you should learn about the city in detail as surprises in a new city can be challenging. Several things you must be aware of about the city include the cost of living in San Francisco which is very high and the economy of the city is also strong. The city is home to several tech companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook. The city has some popular neighborhoods with Michelin-starred restaurants serving world-class food. Being a relatively small city, San Francisco offers great space for walking and biking. Throughout the year, you can enjoy various cultural celebrations and festivals. One of the prime features of San Francisco is its liberal politics. This is a brief about the city but is this enough information to decide the relocation and find options for living in San Francisco? The answer is no and to provide all the details in one place, we have prepared this guide.

Quick Facts of San Francisco

Let us check out some quick and interesting facts about San Francisco

It is the 13th most populous city in the country.

Iconic landmarks of San Francisco are the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Street.

Because of cultural diversity, you can find that more than 100 languages are spoken in the city.

San Francisco is a hub for finance, culture and technology.

Many Fortune 500 companies are located in San Francisco including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Salesforce and more.

San Francisco has several world-class museums like the Palace of Fine Arts, the de Young Museum, etc.

The city is very liberal and it shows positive support for LGBTQ+ rights.

A pet-friendly city with several dog parks and outdoor spaces for animals

San Francisco is the leader in the battle against the climate changes

The city has a low crime rate and thus it is very safe to live.

Top reasons to move to San Francisco

Moving to a new city means you find it better than your current city in many ways. So, we have listed all the top reasons that encourage you to move to San Francisco-

Culture- The population diversity of San Francisco makes it very diverse in terms of culture, language and food. The people are very welcoming and make it a perfect place to live.

Climate- The city experiences a Mediterranean climate where the summers are warm and winters are cold. The temperature can go from 52 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in July.

Job Market- The city is home to some top tech industries like Google, Facebook, and Apple. There are plenty of employment opportunities for various profiles and to start a career.

Walkable & bikeable- The city is comparatively small and most neighborhoods in the city are designed in a way that makes them more walkable and bikeable.

Attractions- There are several attractions in the city that you can explore like Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, and Alcatraz Island.

Food Scene- As there are people from around the world in San Francisco, therefore you can enjoy cuisines from worldwide. The city is home to several Michelin-starred restaurants.

Liberal Politics- The city is known for its liberal politics. It has been a leader in the fight for LGBT rights.

Family-friendly city- If you are looking for a city where you can settle with your family, then San Francisco is the perfect destination. There are many parks and playgrounds for kids.

Pros & Cons of Living in San Francisco

Each city has something good and something bad, but without knowing these facts you cannot decide about your move. So, check out the pros and cons of living in San Francisco

Pros of living in San Francisco	Cons of Living in San Francisco
Thriving job market with many Fortune 500 companies and startups	One of the most expensive cities with high cost of living
Diverse city with a vibrant culture and various museums and theaters	City is prone to wildfires
City offers endless outdoor activities for hiking, biking, camping and more	Tax rates are high and residents of San Francisco pay a local income tax
Public transportation system is good	Traffic is notoriously bad and it is difficult to commute during rush hours
Mild climate throughout the year	Fog and cool temperatures can be problematic for some people

Source: San Francisco Planning Department

Tip: When you've got a home to move in San Francisco, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

Best Neighborhoods in the San Francisco

A perfect neighborhood is very important as after moving to a new city your neighborhood is your new family. Your neighbors can be your fit support while settling down.

So, find the best neighborhood to make a home in a new city. In this section, we have listed some best neighborhoods in San Francisco-

Haight-Ashbury- If you are looking for a neighborhood with Victorian-style houses and hippie culture, this is the perfect site for you. You can explore various places for live music and delicious food.

Mission District- This neighborhood is rich in cultural heritage. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and murals. This is a perfect place to experience Latino Culture.

Pacific Heights- If you are looking for a neighborhood where you can enjoy the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline, choose Pacific Heights. The locality has grand Victorian Mansions and Michelin-starred restaurants.

North Beach- This is a charming neighborhood which has Italian roots. The neighborhood is famous for cozy cafes, exciting nightlife, and delicious food. The city is home to the famous Coit Tower.

Castro- This is a vibrant LGBTQ+ neighborhood with a rich history.

Japantown- A neighborhood with rich Japanese culture meant for the Japanese-American community.

Russian Hill- A beautiful neighborhood with winding streets, steep hills, and stunning views of the city.

Source: San Francisco Travel Board: https://www.sftravel.com/neighborhoods

Cost of living in San Francisco

The cost of living in any city is one major factor that decides your relocation. A high cost of living means all the amenities available in the city are highly expensive. If you are moving to San Francisco then you must know how much you will be spending monthly.

Currently, the cost of living in San Francisco is 79% higher than the national average. This means the cost of all the amenities is 79% more than it is in the US as a while.

Expense	Average monthly cost
Housing	$3,700
Utilities	$250
Transportation	$200
Groceries	$500
Healthcare	$300
Other expenses (clothing, entertainment, etc.)	$500
Total	$5,450

Source: Numbeo

Housing Market in San Francisco

The housing market in San Francisco is somewhat competitive. The median home price in San Francisco is $1.3M and according to Redfin, the home prices have declined by 5.4%. Since last year, the housing market of San Francisco has cooled down and the major factors contributing to the slow sales are rising interest rates, economic uncertainty and inflation.

Source: Redfin, October 2023

Average rental cost in San Francisco

The average rental cost in San Francisco is $3,336 per month according to the latest report provided by RentCafe in November 2023. This value is significantly higher than the national average rent of $2,036 per month. Several factors affect the average rental cost in the city including the age of the building, the location of the property, and amenities provided.

Source: RentCafe, November 2023

San Francisco job market

The job market of San Francisco is strong with a high demand for skilled professionals. The unemployment rate in the city is lower than the national average.

The job market of the city is flourishing with the presence of several industries. According to the reports, the tech industry in San Francisco is the major employer while other industries also contribute to the economic growth.

Source: Glassdoor Job Market Report, November 2023

In this section of our guide, we have provided different data and details about the job market in San Francisco.

Top Career Options in San Francisco

If you are moving to San Francisco for better employment opportunities or a change in the industry, check out the data available for various career options.

Job title	Average salary	Entry-Level Salary	Number of Employees
Software Engineer	$151,277	$116,923	52,000
Product Manager	$147,422	$112,400	25,000
Data Scientist	$144,922	$109,500	18,000
Marketing Manager	$128,922	$102,400	15,000
Sales Representative	$118,922	$95,400	12,000
Registered Nurse	$115,922	$90,400	10,000
Financial Analyst	$112,922	$87,400	8,000
Accountant	$109,922	$84,400	6,000
Customer Service Representative	$55,922	$45,400	5,000
Hotel Manager	$99,922	$82,400	4,000
Restaurant Manager	$95,922	$79,400	3,000

Source: Indeed, November 2023

Median Salary in San Francisco

The median salary in San Francisco is $119,136 and this is due to the high cost of living in the city so that the employer can live comfortably.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Major industries in San Francisco

The city is home to several industries, though the tech industry is dominating the industry as compared to the others. Here we have listed all the major industries employing in the city-

Technology

Healthcare

Finance

Tourism

Education

Media and Entertainment

Manufacturing

Professional service

Retail and Wholesale

Transportation

Logistics

Source: San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

Best things to do in San Francisco

San Francisco is a city that has something for everyone. If you want to spend a day in the city then there are plenty of options to enjoy-

Visit the Golden Gate Bridge which is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world.

You can explore Fisherman’s Wharf where you can pay a visit to Pier 39 to see the sea lions and more.

Chinatown in San Francisco is the oldest in North America, you can explore a variety of shops, temples and restaurants.

Visit The Mission District and explore the Latino culture, variety of murals, shops and more.

Visit the Exploratorium which is a science museum with interactive exhibits.

Visit Golden Gate Park which is one of the largest urban parks in the world. It has gardens, museums, playgrounds and sports fields.

Source: TripAdvisor

Education System in San Francisco

Moving to a new city with children means you need a new school, college or university. Finding a perfect school for your kid takes time, and you can start your search before moving to the city. To simplify your search, we have listed the top schools and colleges in San Francisco-

Elementary Schools in San Francisco
Clarendon Alternative Elementary School
Lawton Alternative Elementary School
McCoppin (Frank) Elementary School
Ortega (Jose) Elementary School
Sunset Elementary School

Middle Schools in San Francisco
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School
Fletcher Middle School
Giannini (A.P.) Middle School
Presidio Middle School
Gateway Middle School

High Schools in San Francisco
Lowell High School
Galileo High School
George Washington High School
Mission High School
University High School

Universities and Colleges in San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco State University (SFSU)
University of San Francisco (USF)
Golden Gate University (GGU)
Academy of Art University (AAU)

Source: US News & World Report

Transportation & Navigation in San Francisco

The transportation system in San Francisco is comprehensive which includes trains, buses, cable cars, and more. There are various bike-sharing and scooter-sharing programs. The city is highly walkable and bikeable, so you can get around the city while enjoying the sights.

Public transportation- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) operates the public transportation system in San Francisco. It maintains the operations of buses all over the city, two light rail lines and one subway line, cable cars for tourists and ferries to different destinations.

Bikes sharing program - Several bike-sharing and scooter-sharing programs are active in the city. You can rent bikes and scooters for short terms and easily commute anywhere in the city.

Navigation- San Francisco is easy to navigate as it has a grid system of streets. If you want to avoid driving a car in the city, you can find various public transportation. For easy navigation across the city, you can use a handout paper map or a map available on your smartphone.

Source: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI)

Type of insurance required in San Francisco

Each state and city has some mandatory insurance that you have to buy. In this section we have listed all types of taxes you will need while living in San Francisco-

Auto Insurance- All the drivers in San Francisco are required to have this type of insurance. The minimum requirement for auto insurance is- Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident; and Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance- All the employers in San Francisco have to buy worker’s compensation insurance. This type of insurance provides support to employees who get injured or ill on the job.

Homeowner Insurance- This type of insurance protects the homeowners from any loss or damage to the home or property due to any hazard, fire, theft, etc.

Renters Insurance- If you are a renter then you should buy this insurance. It will protect renters from any loss or damage to the house or personal belongings due to fire, theft, or any other cause.

Source: City and County of San Francisco, Department of Insurance

Taxes in San Francisco

Taxes count a major portion of the cost of living, so learn all about the taxes in San Francisco before moving there.

Income Tax- Residents of San Francisco pay California state income tax and San Francisco city income tax. Rates for California state income tax ranges from 1% to 13.3%. The rates for San Francisco city income tax ranges between 1.5% and 3.825%.

Sales Tax- In San Francisco, you have to pay state sales tax as well as local sales tax. The rates for sales tax are 8.5% which is a combined value of state sales tax (6.25%) 0 and local sales tax (2.25%).

Property Tax- If you own a property in San Francisco, then you have to pay property tax to the city and the county. The rates of property tax depend on the assessed value of the property.

Business Tax- All the businesses in San Francisco pay multiple taxes including a business license tax, gross receipt tax and a payroll tax.

Vehicle license fee- Vehicle owners in San Francisco pay a vehicle license fee to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The fee value depends on the value of the vehicle.

Hotel Tax- There is a 14% hotel tax in San Francisco which is applied to the room rate of all the hotels and motels in the city limit.

Source: City and County of San Francisco, Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. It is recommended to conduct thorough research and consult relevant experts before making any decisions related to relocation.

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