Moving to San Francisco: 26 Things To Know

1. The food scene is mind-blowing.

San Francisco, and the Bay Area in general, is heaven on earth for foodies. Latin American eateries abound in the Mission District (and San Franciscans really love their over-sized burritos), and Chinatown has a high concentration of all types of Chinese cuisine—but for the best dim sum, head to the Richmond District. From Michelin-starred eateries to gourmet food trucks, the city is a palate pleaser.

2. You can buy good wine pretty much anywhere.

Thanks to its proximity to numerous world-class viticultural regions (beyond just Napa and Sonoma), amazing wine can be had everywhere. Whether you’re shopping at your neighborhood grocery or have to stop in at a convenience store with burglar bars on the windows, it’s not uncommon to find top-shelf wine right next to the instant ramen.

3. Yes, it’s expensive.

San Francisco recently earned the distinction of having the highest rents in America. According to Time.com, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city rings in at $3,590. As painful as that is, there are nice neighborhoods where you can rent for significantly less money. And the city and state offer strong protections for tenants, such as rent control and a tenants’ union to assist people dealing with unscrupulous landlords.

4. The area’s geography is astounding.

There are few places in the world as geographically diverse and stunning as the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to the mountains and beaches, you can see tall redwoods, coastal wetlands, rivers, lakes, valleys, and more. There’s even a dormant volcano just to the north, near Napa and Sonoma, that helps make the wine so taste so delicious.

5. The hills are steeeeeep. 

There are more than three dozen hills within the city limits, some of which top out at around 1,000 feet tall. In fact, local cyclists have figured out the flattest route from Golden Gate Park to downtown—it’s called The Wiggle. As far as motoring up these hills, you’ll quickly learn a few things. First, leave a generous amount of room between your car and the one in front of you. Second, when you come to a stop at the top of a steep hill, the parking brake can be your best friend.

6. Parking is a major pain.

When it comes to parking your car here, the struggle is real. Not only is there a galactic shortage of parking pretty much wherever you go, you’ll have to learn the various curb colors and their meanings. Parking meter prices fluctuate by time of day in some parts of San Francisco, though all across the city, meters are free on Sundays. The fierce competition for parking also means you’re quite likely to have your bumpers “tapped” a few times by inept parallel parkers. And they won’t leave a note. You’ve been warned.

7. You can move to San Francisco without a car.

San Francisco may be the second most densely populated city in America, but it’s definitely on the small side geographically speaking. Clocking in a just seven miles wide by seven miles long, Fog City is easily traveled by bicycle, ride share, public transit, or even on foot. If you do choose to drive, be aware: Motorcycles and mopeds are permitted to split traffic lanes with cars—watch your side mirrors!

8. There’s such a thing as “June gloom.”

While Mark Twain wasn’t the one who quipped, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco,” there’s a reason that quote persists. The early summer months here are typically cool and overcast and/or foggy. The city enjoys Indian summers, however, so in late August to mid-October, while much of the rest of the country is drinking pumpkin-spice lattés, you’ll be posting selfies of all your outdoor summer fun.

9. Dress in layers, and always bring a jacket.

Bring jackets when you move to San Francisco. In normal cities, the weather doesn’t vary much from city to suburbs, nor does it change much from morning to evening. Here in San Francisco, however, we have what are known as microclimates. Between the mountain ranges, the warm sun, and the chilly Pacific waters, the weather here can change at a moment’s notice. The fog even has its own Twitter account, where it often brags about how it forces tourists to buy fleece shirts and jackets—in July.

10. There are a lot of homeless people.

It’s a sad fact of any big city that there are down-on-their-luck people living on the streets. In this city, however, there are more homeless people than you’ve probably seen anywhere else. This is especially true of the Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods. With so many people making the streets their home, it’s also a gross (but true) fact that everywhere is a bathroom—even the escalators at BART stations. Watch your step when you move to San Francisco.

11. Everyone is a Giants and/or Warriors fan.

San Franciscans really love their home teams. Upon arriving in the City by the Bay, you’ll immediately notice the throngs of Warriors and Giants fans sporting their team’s apparel—and for good reason. Both teams have won multiple league championships, and a number of players are hometown heroes with national fan bases.

12. Pride Weekend is hugely popular.

Taking place the last full weekend in June, the San Francisco Price Celebration and Parade bills itself as “the largest gathering of the LGBT community and allies in the nation.” Starting with the Trans March on Friday and continuing with the Dyke March on Saturday, Pride Weekend culminates in a massive parade on Sunday morning and a post-parade celebration at City Hall. In recent years, estimated attendance has topped well over one million. It’s an experience like no other.

13. Cars don’t rule the road here.

Pro tip before moving to San Francisco. Here, the mild weather, pretty scenery, and condensed city layout means that quite a lot of people travel by foot and by bicycle. Most places in the great ol’ US of A are very car-centric, and if you’re moving here from such a place, be extra cautious of and courteous to walkers and cyclists. And never, ever run, walk, or drive in the bike lanes.

14. Drivers (and pedestrians) are distracted.

Although it’s illegal in California to have your phone in your hand while driving, the people of this fair city are more or less surgically attached to their devices. Mostly, drivers tend to bend their necks downward to read their phones when stopped—which may mean you need to alert them to the fact that the light turned green 20 seconds ago. For pedestrians, though, it can mean they walk into you or into the path of your car.

15. Tech companies are the scapegoat du jour.

“San Francisco isn’t what it used to be” is a refrain you will hear often around these parts, and the current object of scorn is tech companies. But if you’re moving here to work for Apple or Google or another tech giant, don’t worry. People here are way too polite to hate on your job. Besides, everyone realizes that despite the complicated relationship between tech and the city, these businesses contribute significantly to the local economy.

16. The city is full of transplants.

San Francisco is an amazing place with a storied past and a unique culture. It makes sense that thousands of people want to live here, and that means a good deal of the people you’ll meet will have moved here from somewhere else. There are, of course, native San Franciscans who will regale you with stories about how they grew up poor in a house that’s now worth seven figures.

17. Bay to Breakers is unique – and naked.

What started as a way to lift spirits after the 1906 earthquake has become a quirky, unusual quasi-holiday here. In fact, Bay to Breakers was the largest footrace in the world from 1986 till 2000. Held the third Sunday in May, it features drunken participants dressed in wild costumes (or their birthday suits) running, walking, or stumbling from the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach. It’s extremely popular and lots of fun, even just to watch.

18. You won’t spend much time in supermarkets.

For one, lugging all that food around on foot or public transportation is silly. For another, you probably wouldn’t want to shop at them even if you have a car, seeing as how there’s a bumper crop of farmers’ markets in the city. In addition, services like Instacart and Amazon Prime Now have strong footholds here. Just use your phone and let others do the shopping for you.

19. You will spend a lot of time in parks after moving to San Francisco

What do you do when you discover you’ve spent all your “fun” money on rent? Hang out in the park. Luckily, San Francisco has tons of green space, including plenty of beautiful parks where you can bask in the sun, play games, and hang with friends. There are also numerous outdoor events like Outside Lands, Off the Grid, the Stern Grove Festival, and others that give you plenty of opportunities to revel in the city’s natural beauty.

20. You’ll never, ever go to Fisherman’s Wharf.

After moving to San Francisco, you will most likely never step foot on Fisherman’s Wharf or Pier 39 again. These places are not for people who live here. They’re tourist traps and should be avoided at all costs. After you’ve lived here for more than a day, you’ll discover far better places to take your friends and family to when they come to town to visit (and they will).

21. You’ll get a whiff of ganja wherever you go.

After years enjoying legal medical marijuana, the “devil’s lettuce” is now legal all across the state for recreational use. While it’s technically illegal to smoke in public (no one will know if you use edibles in public), police generally don’t hassle people about it. There’s even a huge gathering in Golden Gate Park every 4/20 where stoners light up and chill out.
 
 
San Francisco has its pros and cons, like any other city. But San Francisco is unlike any other city in that it’s a beautiful, interesting—and yes, expensive—place. Some people move here and learn it’s not for them. But for those of us who make San Francisco our homes, we couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

Know of something about moving to San Francisco we missed? Share it in the comments!

 

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