Known as the ‘Wall Street of the West Coast’, San Francisco is a thriving economic hub. Home to over 20 Fortune 500 companies and ranked sixth in the world for its finance sector, the Golden City’s economy is ever-booming. The prospect of relocating to San Francisco, then, has become increasingly attractive to professionals and entrepreneurs looking to take their share of the city’s immense success.
Staying in San Francisco, residents have an immense amount of culture at their very doorstep. From iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, to the city’s hiking hotspots and celebrated museums, it is no wonder so many choose to call San Francisco home.
To help our clients relocating to San Francisco, SilverDoor has put together this guide to make the transition go as smoothly as possible. Read on to discover our essential tips for making the most out of your time in the Golden City.
WHERE TO LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO
The Golden City is recognisable for its iconic landscape – built on seven hills, the city has made the most of its natural beauty by incorporating its housing into the terrain. Brightly coloured houses and sophisticated skyscrapers sit alongside the city’s beautiful parks, mountains and rivers to create wonderful scenery which matches its youthful and vibrant spirit.
This spirit attracts millions to the city every year and is the reason so many people choose to permanently relocate to San Francisco. Numerous districts and neighbourhoods make up the Golden City and each have their own distinct character. Districts such as ‘SoMa’ are known for their bustling shopping centres, lively bars and restaurants, as well as their world-renowned museums and galleries – the perfect choice for young professionals looking to immerse themselves in a vibrant and exciting environment. Alternatively, the Financial District is the lifeblood of the city’s buzzing economy – as the provider of around 400,000 jobs and home to the largest concentration of corporations in a US city, professionals focused on establishing connections and building their network will be glad to call this city home. Finally, neighbourhoods such as Haight Ashbury offer the same stylish scenery and vibrant social scene as other areas whilst providing a quieter, more peaceful experience away from the busy centre of the city. This is excellent for families and those looking for a more relaxed environment to come home to after a busy day of work.
There is something for everyone in San Francisco, no matter what you are looking for, which has made the city one of the most desirable places to live in America. As a result, the housing market is competitive and prices are expensive (in 2021, properties in San Francisco were valued at an average of $1.2million!). Purchasing a property, then, is a big decision and should not be rushed. At SilverDoor, we appreciate that this can be a lengthy process and have the resources available to help. With serviced apartments placed around the city, we provide the opportunity to try out a location before you make the important decision of where to permanently reside in the Golden City, as well as allowing you to already have settled into the area and transported your belongings by the time you move into your new home.
GETTING AROUND IN SAN FRANCISCO
As mentioned in one of our previous blog posts, San Francisco is fronting the United States’ commitment to sustainability. As a result, many residents opt to walk, cycle and use public transport to find their way around the city. Many choose to cycle around the city (although, remember that there will be lots of hills to cycle up!) and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition provide maps and information about the best cycle routes on their website. Public transport is another popular mode of transport in the city – its charming cable cars have become an iconic part of San Francisco’s landscape – with buses and cable cars provided by Muni and transport to and from the San Francisco International Airport provided by BART. Wherever you are staying in San Francisco, the city’s well-established public transport providers will ensure you can easily navigate your way around the city.
Of course, private hire vehicles and personal cars are not uncommon in the city. Companies such as Lyft and Uber are popular with those who wish to take a more direct route of travel (in fact, San Francisco houses the corporate headquarters of both companies!). However, rumour has it that traditional taxis can still be cheaper!
No matter how you choose to travel, the Golden City provides a variety of convenient transport options to ensure that your time in San Francisco can be used wisely.
EDUCATION IN SAN FRANCISCO
Education in San Francisco is well-established and reputable. The Golden City houses several prestigious universities – UCSF, San Francisco State University, the San Francisco Art Institute and more – which have worked for centuries to place education at the heart of the city’s values. This is reflected in the fact that around half of residents in the city possess a bachelor’s degree or higher. However, these world-leading universities, and high graduate rates, are just two examples of the city’s dedication to education.
For example, thanks to its dedicated ‘Preschool for All’ programme, San Francisco has pledged to make education accessible and high-quality for all school-aged children living in the city – around 300 preschool centres work together to ensure that all children are provided with the resources needed to access the same, high-quality education as their classmates. There is also a wealth of options available for parents looking to privately educate their children – in fact, around 30% of residents in the city choose to place their children in private education.
Altogether, the city’s focus on providing quality and world-leading education makes relocating to San Francisco an appealing prospect, both for families looking to benefit from their accessible education and for adults with an interest in their world-renowned universities.
WEATHER IN SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco is characterised for its mountainous landscape, as well as its blossoming gardens and parks, and this natural beauty has led many to associate sunshine and warmth with the Golden City. It may come as a surprise, then, to find out that San Francisco actually has the coldest summer of any US city! In fact, the summer months are recognised for their cool breezes and distinctive fog (which some have described as ‘nature’s AC’!).
Fans of warmer weather shouldn’t worry too much, however, as the city experiences its hottest temperatures in the autumn period. Staying in sunny San Francisco will never have felt better, when everywhere else is getting chilly!
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN SAN FRANCISCO
The entrepreneurial spirit of San Francisco has existed, and flourished, since the California Gold Rush of 1849. This period saw the city experience an immense economic boom, the successes of which can still be felt today, as many set up businesses to benefit from the city’s natural resources. This enterprising mindset is still at the heart of San Francisco’s economy; the city attracts millions of business professionals looking to make their impact on the global market, every year.
Labelled ‘Wall Street of the West’, the Financial District of San Francisco houses a significant number of corporate headquarters in the banking and finance sector (such as Wells Fargo and Bank of the West). This high concentration of corporations has made the city’s Financial District one of the busiest in the world, created over 400,000 jobs, and placed San Francisco at the heart of international trade.
In the last few decades, San Francisco has also made a name for itself internationally through its impact on the tech industry. The Golden City houses the headquarters of major tech companies – such as Facebook and Twitter – and receives billions of dollars in investments each year. This has created the perfect environment for business professionals looking to establish themselves in the international tech sector – in fact, it was recently named the most important city in the world for tech start-ups!
Altogether, the city of San Francisco is abundant with economic opportunity, natural beauty and a high quality of living which is sure to make your time in the Golden City enjoyable. Whether you’re looking to relocate to San Francisco, or visit on a short business trip, make sure to check out our range of serviced apartments in the city – for recommendations, visit this blog on our favourite San Franciscan apartments. For more information on the vibrant social scene, entertainment and attractions in the city, read our post on things to do in the city.
