It looks like I will be getting a job offer in San Francisco. I'll probably fly out there some time next week, and it will be my first time to NorCal. It seems like an awesome place to live, but what do you guys say?

-Cost of living is one of the highest in the country, right?
-Where should I look for a condo/apt? Probably wont buy a house until Ive been there a year or so- if then, real estate is crazy expensive out there.
-Im 27 and single, what kind of stuff is there to do on the weekends? Im more of the laid back bar type, not a clubber.
-The ocean if pretty chilly up there, right? Is there still a big beach scene, like in SoCal?
- I dont want to have to install a front plate!

 

anyone?

 

NC to SanFran. It's a really nice area. But I imagine you need to make at least 50-75% more than you are now JUST to keep the standard of living equal to what you have now.

 

Not much "beach scene" in Bay area but it's not too bad to have a peaceful and misty beach after a long busy day! It would be wise to have a room mate to share the cost of rent unless you already have a place to stay. San Franciso isn't a small place but it's big either, however; you would have plenty things to do, day or nights!! You dont seem to afraid of new experiences, so just enjoy ride!!:-)
pd

 

I think Nor Cal has to be one of the best places to live in the country. Lots of diversity. If it has been done, most likely it has been done here. We have seen it all! There is always something to do, and since it is all about cars out here and what you drive, I think you will enjoy it tremendously. Downside really is the cost of living and everything else. It is damn expensive out here! So that may take a lot to adjust to. Good luck!

 

I've been up there many times and.....SF = POT HOLE CITY!!!!! Yeah I also have a few friends that live there, and the rent is really expensive. Especially in the city of SF.

 

I just moved up to the silicon valley area a couple weeks ago. I looked at SF and for a 1 bd/1ba in a decent area (marina) be prepared for about 1500-1800 a month. This is the area you want to be in if you like to go out. Lots of bars, and hang out spots, plus it's all in walking distance. Some of the ****tier areas are 1000-1500 a month.

 

I read in the newspaper a few weeks ago that on average a person must make $85K-$90K a year just to live comfortably in a basic 2 bedroom/2 bath house here in the bay area.

 

is that to rent or buy?

 

prob to rent. Buying a condo in SF is about 750K, plus taxes, HOA fees, you're looking at about 4k a month for housing, not including utilities, food, entertainment, GAS, etc...

 

True...either you pay less for housing and more for ammunition, or more for housing and less for ammunition. It's you're choice really

 

According to the article, it was to buy. But it could be more than that in certain parts of SF I'm sure. You know what they say, once you leave California, you can't come back. But I wonder about people moving into Cali for the first time. What is their impression on the living expenses over here.

 

well just to give you some perspective, I live in a condo owned by my roommate. Its 3 bed/2 bath, about 1200 square feet. He paid around $90K.

According to CNN, I will have to make almost twice what I make now just to maintain the same quality of life.

If you move from Fayetteville NC to San Francisco CA...

Groceries will cost: 29.359% higher
Housing will cost: 265.02% higher(thats ridiculous!)
Utilities will cost: 15.84% higher
Transportation will cost: 37.618% higher
Healthcare will cost: 32.386% higher

 

- i paid 1300 for a 1 bdrm apt. if you're strapped for cash you'll probably have to live in a basement.
- what to do.. there are a lot of bar lounges around the city
- beach? ocean? if you want to freeze to death. bonfires are popular on ocean beach. If you're looking to get a tan, you're out of luck... LOL
- front plate is a MUST. SF cops are really picky about that. I got a ticket at 3am while my car was parked for a front plate. They don't care about mods though. Fastest you'll ever drive in the city would probably be about 30 mph.

-IMO SF is the worst place to live.. but a good place to visit. cold 24/7, you get the sun maybe once a month, can't find parking, can't drive fast even if you wanted to, everything is cramped. That's only in SF.. Outside of SF is like night and day. Total opposite.

 

Heh heh, it's an anomoly but it's been sunny in SF for the past 10 days...

We recently had a new employee drive out from New York to work with us and one of the errors he made was finding a cheap apartment in the city. He was jazzed that he was able to find a good-priced place to live, not knowing the TENDERLOIN was not somewhere he wanted to be... he moved out soon after.

Definitely look into the neighborhoods before you commit to anything, most of the friendly folks on this board can tell you which ones to avoid (the price would probably give you a good indication too).

If you can afford a place with a parking space/garage that would be even better. Imagine a city where it is really hard to find parking when going out to a good restaurant, now imagine that you're living in the same area as the aforementioned restaurant and you just want to park your car and go to sleep - you might end up 3 blocks away where you can't hear your alarm going off...

Other than that, I love SF!