2019 Moving to San Francisco Relocation Guide
Welcome to 2019 Ultimate Moving to San Francisco Relocation Guide! Before this big step, find out all important information about San Francisco.
Take a look at the list of basic daily expenses, transportation costs, basic leisure, and recreation costs and housing and utilities cost in San Francisco.
Every information regarding costs and pricing is compared with average US pricing.
For moving tips in general check out our Moving Checklist and Paperwork page.
Liberal society, Victorian architecture, hilly landscapes, cultural and ethnic differences, summer fog, countless restaurants and unique identities are some of the notions that describe San Francisco. A city with a large number of nicknames, considered to be the most European city in America, defined by its history of activism, tolerance and the fight for justice. Currently one of the leading economic and cultural centers, San Francisco is one of the most popular cities in America.
The beauty of the city lies in its diverse districts, from prestigious housing neighborhoods, through high tech business centers to hipster and hippie districts. With This level of diversity, the city creates an environment for everyone. With an incredible number of landmarks, historic or modern ones, such as Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park, the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, Cable Cars, Palace of Fine Arts and many art facilities and open spaces, San Francisco is always open for new people and new ideas.
San Francisco has a lot to offer, cultural diversity, job opportunities, nightlife, and great food are just some of the pros of living in this city. But, if you decide to take this step and move to San Francisco, you will also have to meet some challenges. Cost of living and commute time are the biggest ones. San Francisco is an expensive city, but the perks of living there are endless.
The unemployment rate in San Francisco is currently 1,9%, which is under the national average of 3,6%. The average salaries in San Francisco are 35% higher than average salaries nationwide. The average monthly disposable salary is $4,486.58. San Francisco is currently the center of technology. Technology industries started spreading throughout the Bay Area, coming from Silicon Valley, and San Francisco became home to numerous famous companies like Apple, Facebook, Netflix, Google, you Tube, Twitter, Airbnb, Intel, eBay, Oracle, Tesla, Uber, Salesforce, Craigslist, HP, all the major VC firms, and more.
The campus of University of California, San Francisco State University, University of San Francisco, Academy of Art University and several other universities are located in SF. Elementary schools are either public schools run by the San Francisco Unified School District or private schools that are really popular – over 30% of pupils attend them. High school graduation rate in San Francisco in 2017 was 87.9%.
San Francisco gives you great opportunity to explore all genres of art, wheater you are a fan of dance, movies, opera, classical or modern art. Also, SF is home to all sorts of alternative cultures. you can enjoy street art galleries and everyday performances. San Francisco is also one of the most tolerant and inclusive cities in the USA, so you will be surrounded by people of all skin colors, religions, political ideologies or sexual orientation.
There are many hospitals and health services throughout the whole Bay Area. you will never have to travels fa to a health care facility. There are also a lot of private health care services or local specialty care facilities such as dentists, private practices, optometrists, chiropractors and many others.
San Francisco is covered with the public Transportation Systems such as BART, Caltrain, MUNI busses, cabs, scooters and bikes. Carpooling is also really popular within the SF citizens, apart from that you can always enjoy famous old cable cars and ferries. Almost 35% of the citizens use Public Transportation Systems every day.
You will always see many people enjoying outdoor activities, simple walking, biking, hiking and cycling are an integral part of the city culture. San Francisco is also one of the best dog-friendly cities in the United States. Every neighborhood has a couple of dog parks that offer an expansive area for leash-free running, there are also many dog-friendly bars and cafes. Besides all of that, water sports are very popular in this city, including surfing, sailing or swimming.
San Francisco is home to several professional teams. There was a study that was analyzing which metropolitan areas of the US has provided the biggest number of Major Leaguers since 1920, and SF has been ranked number 1. Today, there are professional leagues in baseball, football and basketball. Apart form that there are also many modern events such as annual Escape from Alcatraz triathlon and annual city marathons.
San Francisco offers numerous venues to enjoy every day, such as theatre, local or professional, concerts of many types, technology, auto, natural, history or art museums, tea and botanical gardens. In SF festivals and fairs happen more than once a week. Those festivals are based on different interests including art and crafts, music, movies, food, or wine.
In San Francisco, you will find the most diverse restaurants. Due to cultural diversity, the city offers all sorts of multicultural restaurants. SF has the most restaurants per capita than any other city in the country. There are also many small coffee and chocolate shops.
Throughout the whole year, you can enjoy comfortable temperatures. Local residents do not feel a great difference between the seasons. There are a lot of microclimates, so you can find areas that are warm, hot or cool, usually, hot days are followed a few days later by cool days when the fog spreads over the area.
The median price for a single-family home in the city was $1.65 million in May 2019. If you prefer to look for a condo as a way to save some money, then the average cost for that option is $1.25 million. Renting is not cheap either, the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is the city is $3,108 per month. Almost everything has a higher price than the US average, restaurants, groceries, event tickets, even parking. Luckily, San Francisco offers many free outdoor activities.
Traffic inside the city and the surrounding highways and byways is really bad, especially the rush hour. San Francisco has the 3rd worst traffic in the country, and the average commute time is 32 minutes. Many citizens avoid having a car at all. Fortunately, Public Transportation Systems are at a high level.
San Francisco is the nation’s leader in property crime, including burglary, larceny, shoplifting, and vandalism. The violent crime rate is 87% higher than the national one and 59% higher than the California average. Also, due to tolerant city policies and great climate San Francisco has a homeless population around 7.500.
This disadvantage can be applied to any city along the western coast of the United States, but there are more tremors in San Francisco that you can feel when compared to other locations. If you are moving to San Francisco, you must be aware that there is always the potential for destructive earthquakes.
San Francisco has a smaller percentage of children than other metropolitan areas, while the median age of the city residents is 38.5. Due to the high crime rate and commute time, the city is not so suitable for children.
Moving to San Francisco is a big, challenging step and the city itself offers so many different opportunities. Here are 10 TIPS about moving to San Francisco, 10 facts that will help you prepare for this step.
This ultimate moving checklist will help you complete your moving without stress.
There are certain costs associated with moving that most people tend to neglect. Even if you have opted for a self-moving job that does not involve hiring a professional moving company, you will have to pay extra for certain things. Here is a list of moving and packing costs you may have forgotten.
If you plan to move on a budget and want to fo the packing yourself, you must know that you will need to invest in packing supplies like boxes, tape or bubble wrap.
During the move something almost always brake. Getting moving insurance is always recommended. Most of the moving companies offer insurance and you can decide how much to get, considering how valuable your things are.
For renting new space start-up costs include things like your first and last month’s rent, a security deposit, a pet deposit or an application fee.
If you are buying start-up costs are much bigger. They include closing costs for your new mortgage which is often measured in thousands of dollars. Average closing costs typically range from 2% to 5% of the cost of your home. These costs include things like a fee for running your credit report, a loan origination fee, attorney’s fees, the cost of a home inspection, a title search, an appraisal fee, and a survey fee, etc.
You can expect extra costs for boarding your pets. Often enough, people tend to move their pets overnight, that way pets are not exposed to the stress.
Some of the moving companies will ask you to pay a stair fee.
It is always best to check with moving companies about extra fees and inform them about your large items, like piano or pool table, in advance. That way you will avoid surprises on a moving day.
There are professionals who are trained to handle valuable items. Packing and moving valuable items is more complex than regular moving. So you can expect to pay extra on moving those kinds of pieces.
Sometimes, you don't want to bring all of your things to your new home, but you don't want to throw them either. If you find yourself in this situation you will have to find storage space for those things. Having to store items could mean an additional monthly expense.
While you shouldn't get rid of everything before a move, there are going to be some items that you're not going to want to bring to your new space.
Your movers are doing a lot of hard work and heavy lifting, and they deserve to be compensated. Just note, that tips are always expected by your movers.
Here you can find a list of shipping costs. Please note that the cost of international shipping (calculated with reallymoving) is solely the cost of shipping itself, while the cost of shipping within the United States (calculated with moving.com) also includes other additional expenses. Costs are calculated for moving entire two bedroom home, in the next three monts.
| International | Cost |
|---|---|
| Vancouver (Canada) | $3,700 - $5,700 |
| Sydney (Australia) | $5,900 - $8,200 |
| Auckland (New Zealand) | $6,100 - $8,500 |
| Beijing (China) | $4,100 - $5,600 |
| Tokyo (Japan) | $3,900 - $5,300 |
| Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | $3,900 - $6,500 |
| Mexico City (Mexico) | $3,500 - $5,800 |
| London (United Kingdom) | $4,400 - $6,000 |
| Dublin (Ireland) | $4,200 - $5,800 |
| Singapore | $4,200 - $5,700 |
| United States | Cost |
|---|---|
| New York, New York | $5,199 - $6,642 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $4,309 - $5,480 |
| Washington D.C. | $4,981 - $6,354 |
| Austin, Texas | $3,826 - $4,849 |
| Los Angeles, California | $1,200 - $1,495 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $5,214 - $6,658 |
| Miami, Florida | $5,077 - $6,478 |
| Seattle, Washington | $2,883 - $3,621 |
| San Diego, California | $1,309 - $1,639 |
| Denver, Colorado | $3,229 - $4,072 |
San Francisco is one of the most desirable cities in the United States, but it is also one of the most expensive places to live in. If moving to San Francisco is the next step you will probably need to get informed about the cost of basic and personal necessities in this city. For more information about living costs visit numbeo or expatistan.
$129.35
$0.09
$65.95
4.30
| Food | San Francisco | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Meal in Inexpensive Restaurant | $17.00 | $14.50 |
| Mcmeal at Mcdonalds (or Equivalent) | $9.00 | $7.00 |
| Water (1.5 Liter Bottle) | $ 1.66 | $1.45 |
| Milk (Regular), (1 gallon) | $4.25 | $3.11 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | $3.07 | $2.36 |
| Eggs (Regular) (12) | $3.25 | $2.27 |
| Chicken Breasts (1 lb) | $6.05 | $3.85 |
| Potato (1 lb) | $1.41 | $1.1 |
| Apples (1 lb) | $1.84 | $2.02 |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $8.50 | $4.74 |
| Child Care | San Francisco | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Monthly | $2,134.97 | $886.18 |
| International Primary School, Yearly | $27,115.00 | $17,116.12 |
| Self Care | San Francisco | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Private Doctor Short Visit | $143 | $112 |
| Box of Antibiotics | $12 | $17 |
| Tube of Toothpaste | $2.31 | $1.78 |
| Hair Shampoo 2-in-1 | $8 | $4.77 |
| Deodorant, Roll-on | $4.96 | $3.39 |
| Toilet Paper - 4 Rolls | $4.34 | $3.41 |
| 1 Box of 32 Tampons | $7 | $7 |
| Transportation | San Francisco | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Local Transport - One-way Ticket | $2.75 | $2.20 |
| Local Transport - Monthly Pass | $80.00 | $70.00 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $3.50 | $3.25 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | $1.79 | $1.71 |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.93 | $2.77 |
| Housing | San Francisco | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 Bedroom) - City Centre | $3,391.89 | $1,291.27 |
| Apartment (1 Bedroom) | $2,795.56 | $1,015.10 |
| Buy Apartment in City Centre - Per Sq Ft | $1,171.63 | $239.62 |
| Buy Apartment - Per Sq Ft | $907.70 | $173.92 |
| Hourly Rate for Cleaning Help | $39 | $21 |
| Leisure and Recreation | San Francisco | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club Monthly Fee, 1 Adult | $84.05 | $36.17 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $23.00 | $15.14 |
| 2 Movie Tickets | $30 | $25 |
| 2 Theater Tickets (Best Available Seats) | $279 | $171 |
| Coke/pepsi (Small Bottle) | $2.41 | $1.80 |
| Cappuccino (Regular) | $4.52 | $4.07 |
| Domestic Beer (500ml) | $6.74 | $6.00 |
| Bottle of Wine | $15.00 | $12.00 |
| 1 Cocktail Drink | $14.00 | $12.00 |
| Marlboro Cigarettes 20 Pack | $12.00 | $7.25 |
| Clothing | San Francisco | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 or Similar) | $64.19 | $43.12 |
| Summer Dress (Zara, H&m or Similar) | $44.28 | $34.67 |
| Pair of Nike Running Shoes | $88.15 | $73.84 |
| Pair of Men Leather Shoes | $147.29 | $94.36 |
| Laundry Detergent (3 L.) | $15 | $11 |
San Francisco has an extensive public transportation network, with many different options. There are a lot of ways of getting around this city. Here are some main means of transportation: 52% of citizens are using their own car to get to work or school, 14% of them are using train and metro systems and 14 % of them are simply walking. Only 10% of citizens are using buses or trolleybuses. Some of the citizens also use motorbikes and bikes. Most of the citizens are using CLIPPER CARD. Clipper Card is a reloadable smart card used for electronic transit fare payment in the San Francisco.
$3.50 with a range from $3.00-$4.25
$1.79 with range from $1.71-$3.54
$33.00
$1.04 with a range from $0.92-$1.14
$22,000.00 with a range from $20,000.00-$28,000.00
MUNI offers PASSPORTS, you can get a 1-day passport for $17, 3-days passport for $26 or 7-days passport for $35. You can use this passport for MUNI cable cars, streetcars, buses, trolleybuses and for MUNI Metro Light Rail. To get more information go to - Muni official website.
Single Ride (Adult) - $2.5
Single Ride (Children under 4) - Free
Single Ride (Children 5-11) - $1
Single Ride (Seniors) - $1
Single Ride (Adult) - $2.5
Single Ride (Children under 4) - Free
Single Ride (Adult) - $7
Single Ride (Children under 4) - Free
Single Ride (Adult) - $2.5
Single Ride (Children under 4) - Free
Single Ride (Children 5-17) - $1
Single Ride (Seniors) - $1
The Caltrain is a regular system of trains connecting San Francisco, Peninsula, and San Jose. You can choose between the local, limited-stop, and Baby Bullet trains. Caltrain offers a 1-day pass for $6.50. To get more information go to - Caltrain’s official website.
With Clipper Card - $2.75
Without Clipper Card - $3.25
Another network of trains connecting Berkeley, Fremont, Walnut Creek, Peninsula, Oakland and other cities in the East Bay. Bart fares are calculated with a formula based on mileage.
Single Ride (Adult) - $30
Single Ride (Children under 4) - Free
Single Ride (Children 5-17) - $18.25
Single Ride (Seniors) - $28.25
One Way Ticket - $2
1 Day Pass - $5
One Way Ticket - $2.10
1 Day Pass - $5
One Way Ticket (Adult, 1 Zone) - $4.75
Average Yearly Salary in San Francisco is $88,645
Currently, most popular and best-paid jobs in San Francisco are:
All the information is provided by Glassdoor and Payscale where you can get more detailed information about the job of interest. If you don't have a specific job in mind, you can also check this list of 10 common jobs and professions in the United States with an average salary for each of them.
| Job | San Francisco | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $26,820/yr | $22,711/yr |
| Receptionist | $37,613/yr | $29,844/yr |
| Repair Technician | $40,551/yr | $32,606/yr |
| Actor | $43,558/yr | $37,208/yr |
| Registered Nurse | $120,690/yr | $69,270/yr |
| Secretary | $49,723/yr | $31,279/yr |
| Preschool Teacher | $37,308/yr | $28,973/yr |
| High School Teacher | $57,884/yr | $51,027/yr |
| Lawyer | $153,573/yr | $117,188/yr |
| Truck Driver | $71,734/yr | $57,062/yr |
Public preschool programs are mostly operated by Head Start and San Francisco Unified School District. You can also find, private for-profit and private non-profit and family childcare providers. San Francisco offers preschool education for all children through the Preschool for All program. San Francisco has nearly 300 preschool programs for early childhood education.
Almost 30% of the school-aged population in San Francisco attends private schools, which is a much higher percentage than the U.S. average of 10%. Lowell High School is the oldest public high school in the U.S. west of the Mississippi and it is one of two San Francisco magnet schools along with School of the Arts High. All public schools are run by the San Francisco Unified School District and the State Board of Education. If you are moving to San Francisco and you can not decide which school is the best one for your child, visit greatschools, where you can enter your address and the website will provide you with the list of the best schools in your neighboorhood.
San Francisco State University is part of the California State University system. The school is dedicated to more than 100 different disciplines. The school has approximately 30,000 students and awards undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees.
The University of California, Hastings College of the Law, founded in Civic Center in 1878, is the oldest law school in California.
The University of California, San Francisco is the campus of the University of California system. One of the most important facilities of higher education in San Francisco, one of the top five medical schools in the United States. UCSF operates more than 20 facilities in San Francisco.
The University of San Francisco, a private Jesuit university located on Lone Mountain, is the oldest institution of higher education in San Francisco and one of the oldest universities established west of the Mississippi River.
The City College of San Francisco is one of the largest two-year community colleges in the country. The City College offers an extensive continuing education program.
The Academy of Art University is the largest institute of art and design in the nation.
San Francisco Art Institute is the oldest art school west of the Mississippi.
The San Francisco Conservatory of Music is the only independent music school on the West Coast, where you can get degrees in conducting, composition, orchestral instruments and chamber music.
In San Francisco, there are various events, concerts, festivals or just small local gatherings on a daily basis that you do not want to miss. In addition to social networks, you can follow San Francisco's events on these three websites:
Moving to San Francisco? Here is the list of 10 attractions to explore when you move to San Francisco, so you can get to know the most important sites and start feeling local.
Definitely the first step to getting to know the city. The best way to explore the attraction is to walk across the bridge or visit the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center where you can get to know the history of the bridge.
Locals are very proud of their Chinatown, as it is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia! Visit Chinatown if you want to taste authentic Asian cuisine or just to fell the district's vibes.
Visit Alcatraz Island, one of the most popular San Francisco attractions. The small island developed as a military fortification used like federal prison for prisoners who caused trouble at other prisons. Stand where Al Capone stood.
There are only three lines left, and they are part of the last manually operated system in the world! Enjoy the ride in this historic landmark, that was first opened in 1873.
World-famous tourist attraction! Visit Twin Peaks and take a look at extraordinary views of the Bay Area.
Coit Tower was built in 1933, explore the history of this attraction and also take a look at the view from the top of the tower where you will find viewing deck that gives you 360-degree views of the city.
Taste the food, arrange different city tours, buy fresh crab or fish. Visit San Francisco’s most famous waterfront!
Drive or walk through San Francisco’s “crookedest” street that runs across the town. Visit the part of the street between Leavenworth and Hyde, where you will find eight sharp turns.
Visit Presidio park that was once a military base. From this historical landmark, you can get the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sausalito is the small town just across the bay that will provide you with the best views of San Francisco. You can either take the ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf or drive across the Golden Gate.
San Francisco has a great art scene, you can explore the various cultural events on the websites listed for the San Francisco events. In addition to festivals and music events, you can visit museums, galleries, libraries ... Take a look at the list of the galleries, music venues, and museums and start exploring the arts and culture of this city.
San Francisco is home to some of the best professional sports teams. Take a look at the list of Major league teams in San Francisco Bay Area.
San Francisco Giants
Oakland Athletics
San Francisco Giants play at the Oracle Park Stadium while the Oakland Athletics play at the O.co Coliseum. Baseball season starts in early April and runs until early October.
Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors are the NBA champions based in Oakland. They play at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Basketball's season begins in October and runs until the middle of April.
San Francisco 49ers
Oakland Raiders
Football season begins with preseason games in August and runs until early February. The San Francisco 49ers are the city's very first professional major-league sports team. They play at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The Raiders, rivals of the 49ers, share the use of the O.co Coliseum with the Oakland Athletics.
San Jose Sharks
The most popular team of the National Hockey League. They play in SAP Center in San Jose. Ice Hockey season is from early October to April.
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose is home to the Bay Area's only Major League Soccer team. They play at Avaya Stadium in San Jose. Soccer season is from early March to late October.
A great job opportunity or a desire for everything that San Francisco has to offer are some of the reasons for moving to this city. When you find yourself in a situation where you are moving to a new city completely by yourself, meeting people and making friends is one of the biggest challenges. Here are some tips for meeting people in San Francisco.
San Francisco has a large number of meetup groups that gather very often, are diverse and you will certainly find your own among them. You can explore opportunities on the meetup website. If you can't decide for yourself these are some of the most popular meetup groups in San Francisco:
This is one of the best ways to connect with people, you are helping others while making connections and finding friends. You can choose among numerous volunteering programs online or you can use VolunteerMatch.
Working out can help you make friends, whether you join an adult athletic league, fitness camps, or simply run through the city during the running season.
Something is always happening in San Francisco, and there are a lot of social networks that will help you find an event you are interested in.
Even though ”not so family-friendly” is listed as one of San Francisco's cons, it does not mean that there is no place for people with family in this city. There are neighborhoods that are great for raising children, as well as various activities that you can do with children in this city.
Central Richmond is a great family-friendly neighborhood. It is relatively safe and in this neighborhood, you will find George Washington High School and Presidio Middle School. It is located between Sea Cliff and Golden Gate Park.
Located south of the Castro Noe Valley is a neighborhood with many one-family homes, and that is not a common characteristic of San Francisco neighborhoods. Also relatively safe.
West Portal offers everything a family needs and it is more affordable than most of the San Francisco neighborhoods. It is home to great private and public schools, easily accessible and safe.
Mostly residential neighborhood, located west of Bernal Heights. Quiet neighborhood with many green areas and slow traffic.
A kid-friendly neighborhood with many park and big playgrounds. One of the most family-oriented San Francisco neighborhoods goes by the Maternal Heights nickname.
San Francisco offers great entertainment for children, various festivals are held daily, numerous parks and playgrounds, and there are many attractions to visit with your family. Here are just five of them:
City and County of San Francisco
Located in Northern California and the San Francisco Bay, San Francisco is the most densely populated and 4th most populous large city in the state of California.
sf.gov
ca.gov
English
Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Russian, and other
415 and 628
94102–94105, 94107–94112, 94114–94134, 94137, 94139–94147, 94151, 94158–94161, 94163–94164, 94172, 94177, 94188
Water 185.00 sq mi (479.14 km2)
Land 46.89 sq mi (121.46 km2)
Metro 3,524.4 sq mi (9,128 km2)
| San Francisco Demographics by Race | ||
|---|---|---|
| White | 408,266 | 47.24% |
| Asian | 295,347 | 34.17% |
| Other Race | 64,800 | 7.50% |
| Black or African American | 45,654 | 5.28% |
| Two or More Races | 43,664 | 5.05% |
| Native American | 3,306 | 0.38% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 3,226 | 0.37% |
Single Filing Status, Average San Francisco Salary ($88,645) Taxes:
Percent of income to taxes = 35%.
For more personal information calculate your taxes with smartasset.
The violent crime rate in San Francisco is lower than in other California cities, but the property crime rate is significantly higher than average. San Francisco crime index by numbeo is 50 (moderate).
List of flight costs, from San Francisco to other major cities. Based on the cheapest flights from skyscanner, booked one month ahead.
