In recent decades, San Francisco has grown from a small city to a metropolis, reaching nearly one million residents. Nevertheless, it has preserved its characteristic neighborhoods, each of which has its own soul and which one never tires of discovering and visiting. Perhaps it is this fascination that attracts many people from the United States and other countries around the world. Now a lot of expats are currently living in San Francisco.
San Francisco has a unique architecture with perfectly preserved authentic Victorian architectural gems. It is an exceptionally beautiful city with fantastic little neighborhoods full of parks, museums, art galleries, theaters and restaurants. When we talk about San Francisco, we usually mean the Bay Area, a metropolitan region that stretches around the San Francisco Bay and is home to about eight million people. The San Francisco Bay Area charms with its cultural diversity, rich infrastructure, developing economy, business opportunities and natural beauty. However, because it is a very popular area, rental costs are extremely high.
As a result, in terms of cost of living, San Francisco ranks at the top of cities in the United States. A one-bedroom apartment can easily cost $3.000 per month, while a bed in a hostel costs a 800/900 $ dollars per month. It follows that if you are a single person, you need to earn at least $70,000 a year to live in San Francisco, because if you have a family, your expenses increase significantly.
As for public transportation, it must be said that San Francisco does not excel. Getting around the city can be problematic. Buses are subject to traffic and often run late. If you think that the car might be the solution, get ready for the daily struggle for parking, as there are few spaces available. Fortunately, the city is relatively small and you can reach many attractions on foot. Also, an extensive network of bike paths has developed over time, so it’s easy to get around by bike.
It is true that many homeless people attracted to San Francisco’s social and atmospheric climate come from all over the United States, and because of this the city has an unenviable reputation as a dirty city full of homeless people. While this is true to some extent, these phenomena tend to be confined to specific areas.Despite the many home less, San Francisco is a relatively safe city, or at least no less safe than any other city in the United States, assuming that the United States is not Dubai when it comes to safety.
On the other hand, the climate is one of the city’s plus points, with fairly constant temperatures throughout the year, in America there is a saying that goes: ‘there is winter in United States and there is winter in San Francisco’.
According to many, it is relatively easy to make friends and meet new people in San Francisco, either because people are relaxed or because there are people from all over the world here.
In their free time, people devote themselves mainly to fitness or outdoor activities during the day, while filling the bars and restaurants in the evening. The cultural offer of museums, concert halls and theaters is large and varied. Not to forget the numerous events that can be attended for free throughout the year: street festivals, music festivals, museums, etc. Many often compare San Francisco to New York, and although the cost of living is more or less similar The cultural and artistic opportunities that New York offers are unparalleled in the world. However, there aren’t as many opportunities for outdoor activities here as in San Francisco.
Speaking of work, most people have moved to San Francisco to work in the technology sector or the service sector, which is directly or indirectly related to the IT sector anyway. So I think San Francisco is the hub of the world if you’re an IT expert or want to create a startup in the technology sector.
Living and working in San Francisco – pros and cons
Living and working in San Francisco, pros
- Beautiful environment and landscape.
- Mild and sunny climate all year round
- Excellent job and career opportunities, especially in the field of IT
- Open and friendly people
- Possibility to live outdoors all year round
- Multicultural environment
Living and working in San Francisco, cons
- Congested traffic and inadequate public transportation
- High cost of living
- Air pollution and smog
- Many homeless and dirty streets
Living and working in San Francisco, conclusion
San Francisco, with all its limitations and shortcomings, is still a great place to live and work if you have the right skills. The climate is temperate, neither too hot nor too cold. The crime rate is low. The city is relatively small, making it easy to get around by bicycle or public transportation. It allows for a multicultural lifestyle, and its health and educational facilities are top-notch.
The problem is housing costs. Apartments are expensive and cost several thousand dollars a month to rent, not to mention buying, because houses start at a million dollars and go up. So if you work in IT you can expect salaries starting at $90,000 per year, you will not have a problem. On the other hand, if your earning are limited, it will be difficult.
If you want all the information about moving to USA, read the article: Move to the US
