What It’s Like To Live In San Francisco
We’ve compiled a list of some of the things that the locals love about their city
5 Min Read
5 Min ReadSan Francisco is expensive. Everyone knows it. Thanks in large part to Silicon Valley, the prices in this Californian city have skyrocketed, making it the most expensive city in the US.
What other city can boast an average rent of $3,500 per month and a cost of living that will give you nightmares?
But that doesn’t really matter to the people living in this city – well, not that much anyway – because there’s plenty for them to love about San Francisco. So, here are some of the coolest things about living in San Francisco.
The incredible food
Living in San Francisco means you’ll be enjoying some of the best food in the world. With over 3,000 restaurants and some of the best chefs, this city boasts a culinary scene unlike any other.
And don’t worry, some of the best eats are the budget-friendly ones! You can find plenty of cheaper alternatives, including Indian naan pizza, dim sum, Korean burritos, and much more. 
The outdoors
Parking is horrendous, traffic is impossible, and the public transportation system is beyond frustrating. So, it’s a good thing that San Francisco is such a great city for walking.
Not only is it pretty small, making it pretty easy to walk or bike to where you want to go, but there are so many amazing things to see en route, too. The scenery is absolutely stunning with the city’s winding streets, the mountains, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the sea.
Add to that some incredible murals and art, and you can see why people living in San Francisco enjoy walking and biking everywhere. Plus, it’s really great cardio with all the hills everywhere, and you’re guaranteed to develop some amazing glutes.
There’s a museum for that
San Francisco seems to have a museum for everything. If you can think of it, you can find a museum for it. Some of the big art museums include the Asian Art Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the de Young Fine Arts Museum, and the Legion of Honor.
Other museums you should definitely check out include the Museum of the African Diaspora, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the Museum of Craft and Design. And families should definitely not miss out on the Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences. When settling into San Francisco, support your local cultural institutions by becoming a member, which often include exclusive perks like late-night events.
Tolerance is bone-deep
San Franciscans love everyone. They open their hearts and their city to anyone, regardless of how quirky or different they are. Look up “liberal” in a dictionary, and you’ll find San Francisco as the definition. The only thing people living in San Francisco don’t tolerate whatsoever is intolerance.
Celebrating anything and everything
San Franciscans love their festivals. You’ll find at least one taking place practically every weekend. But when summer starts, the community really comes together because the neighborhood street fairs begin.
These fairs are a tradition and people come together to listen to live music, check out the local artists, and savor awesome food. Some of the biggest fairs are held in North Beach, the Haight, and the Marina.
The Golden Gate Park
The Golden Gate Park has some of the best attractions in San Francisco, but also some quiet areas where you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can visit the Japanese Tea Garden, the Botanical Gardens, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Rose Garden, just to name a few.
You definitely need to check out Lindy in the Park for some free swing dance lessons. It’s a great way to get your heart rate up and meet new people.
Farmers’ markets
When you’re living in San Francisco, you can buy fresh, local veggies all the time. According to SF Environment, this city hosts around 15 markets. The most popular is at Ferry Plaza, but you can also find them at Fort Mason, on Clement Street, at the Civic Center, and throughout different neighborhoods.
Savoring amazing chocolate
Ever since Ghirardelli opened its doors in 1852, San Francisco has become the place for chocolate. In this city, you don’t pop down to your local supermarket for some of this delicious sweetness. That would be sacrilegious.
No, when you’re living in San Francisco, you check out the many artisanal chocolatiers, bean-to-bar makers, and even chocolate curators. Snobby it may be, but who cares when your taste buds are dancing in delight? Bring on the chocolate!
Drinking incredible coffee
People say the Italians are coffee snobs. Well, they’ve got nothing on San Franciscans, who have taken coffee to an entirely new level. It’s not just coffee either. It’s artisanal coffee. The distinction is very important.
Don’t worry, though. With places like Four Barrel, Philz, Ritual, Contraband, Sightglass, and so on, you won’t have any trouble fitting in because you’ll become a coffee snob in no time. And it won’t even require any effort.
The hunt for freebies
Surprisingly, you can find plenty of free stuff even in the most expensive U.S. city. You just have to be determined and to keep your eyes peeled. Museums have free days, farmers’ markets will get you some free food every now and then, and free entertainment isn’t all that hard to come by.
Living in San Francisco means paying ridiculously high rents, so the locals love to hunt down those freebies. It’s definitely a practice you want to adopt.
The hunt for housing (a con to the many pros of living in San Francisco)
The attractiveness of job opportunities among other quality of life perks mentioned above have made the house hunt in San Francisco especially tricky. Over the years, supply has not been able to catch up with growing demand. For those moving to San Francisco for the first time, understanding which neighborhood to live in can be tricky, especially when prices and ambiance change from one block to the next. Starting your apartment search with a company like Blueground means you’ll have a prevetted list of homes in safe areas near public transport links.
Further, their homes come fully furnished and equipped. You can check their availability via the website and book online so that you can move in on your first day in San Francisco. Hundreds of Blueground’s renters have settled into their Bay Area pad, without the hassle and headaches of open houses and landlord liaisons, by opting for a furnished turnkey home.
