San Francisco is a beautiful, interesting, and vibrant city. You’ll find a lot of opportunities for personal and professional growth in the city. However, living in San Francisco can also be a financial burden, especially if you are just starting out. Below are several facts that can help you understand why SF living is expensive.

High/Expensive Housing/Rent Rates

There is truth to the talk you have been hearing; San Francisco has high housing/rental rates. A 2015 report even ranked the city 3rd in the list of the United States’ most expensive urban areas. This is one reason why many young residents share their apartments and condos with roommates or housemates. This can be countered, however, by choosing your home or rental unit carefully, making sure to work within your financial means.

The Cost of Living in San Francisco is High

The city’s expensive housing/rental rate is one of the factors of its high cost of living. You pay more for the goods you purchase. You spend more for transportation. But this is precisely why many residents prefer to buy local; they’re cheaper and offer the same level of quality. The high cost of living is also one reason why a lot of residents prefer to go around the city on their bikes or through a ride-sharing service. Walking is also the preferred mode of transportation for a lot of people. Public transportation is preferred over driving private vehicles.

If You Love to Eat, San Francisco Will Rip Your Wallet Apart

San Francisco is a city surrounded by numerous dining places. These dining areas vary in theme, culinary offerings, and prices. If you love eating out, you’ll have to prepare to spend a substantial amount of money. You can always stay home and cook your food, but with the many interesting choices staring you right in the face, there will be times when you won’t be able to stop yourself from splurging some hard earned money.

While Silicon Valley is the expected choice of most startups, many of them have chosen to set up shop in San Francisco in the past years. The city may not be that big, but it has a designated area or street for startups. This includes companies like Uber, AirBnB, and Pinterest. All these startups are found along South of Market Street (SOMA). So, why are they there and not in Silicon Valley? Here are six possible reasons.

Reason 1: San Francisco is a Place of Diversity

The City of San Francisco is known as one of the most diverse not just in the United States, but in the world as well. You’ll find people of all color, religion, and background walking along the city’s streets. Startups see this as an advantage because it indicates the city’s openness to anything new or unique.

Reason 2: Because of Its Diverse Culture, San Francisco Strongly Supports Local Products

If you observe carefully, you’ll find that San Francisco residents prefer to patronize local brands more than internationally-acclaimed ones. They prefer local products over multinational brands. This sits well with startups because it means their products will thrive in the SF environment.

Reason 3: Because They Prefer Local, San Francisco Residents Strongly Support Startups

The San Francisco community is one that is always ready to help one of its own, including startups. So, it is normal to see the residents helping out a smaller or newer brand more than more established brands.

Reason 4: The Weather is Good in San Francisco

One of the biggest reasons why startups are setting up shop in San Francisco is its overall good weather. In the summertime, it may be dry, but the weather is usually cooler than in some other parts of California, and even than in some states. Because of its good weather, the atmosphere in San Francisco is always vibrant; full of life. This is something that can benefit a lot of startups because there are more opportunities for them (and their customers) to show off their products/services.

Reason 5: The Startup Community in San Francisco is Growing

Startups want to be where the next action will be. At this point, things seem to be pointing to San Francisco. It may not be as popular as Silicon Valley, but SF’s SOMA is slowly gaining respect, in particular among the tech community.

Reason 6: All the Giants are in Silicon Valley

All the established tech giants, all the big companies are in Silicon Valley. So, if you are a startup, why will you choose to go there when there is a tendency that you will be eaten up by the fierce competition? Starting in fresh grounds is the best way to go for startups.

San Francisco is a vibrant city. It is full of action day and night. One of the contributors to the city’s lively scene is the restaurant or dining industry. There are a lot of interesting and unique dining destinations in the city. Here are five of the best restaurants you might want to check out.

The Bimini Twist

If seafood is your kind of thing, especially crabs, The Bimini Twist is the best place to go to in San Francisco. Located in SOMA Neighborhood, this restaurant gives diners a homey vibe. One of their specialties is personalized service as the chef often goes out of his way to talk to patrons. The Bimini Twist serves delicious oysters and smoked trout. Their Fishmonger’s Crab Feast and three-course meal are always a hit with customers.

Wesburger ‘N’ More

Located at Mission Street, this is where you’ll find Chef Wes Rowe’s well-loved delicious, mouthwatering all-brisket burgers. Aside from burgers, you’ll also savor the restaurant’s delicious chicken sandwich. Despite that fact that they serve burgers, vegetarians will find a lot of reasons to love Wesburger ‘N’ More.

Kokkari Estiatorio

If you love modern Greek cuisine, you will love Kokkaru Estiatorio. This Jackson Street restaurant reminds one of a Greek-inspired country inn. The interiors feature a lot of good wood, with flowers that add a sprinkle of colors to the whole dining area. Their food is some of the best in San Francisco. Their specialty is giving a modern twist to popular Greek dishes. Some examples are the ever popular Gree Salad, lamb chops, lamb meatballs, and a lot of seafood.

Molinari Delicatessen

Italian cuisine is a favorite of many, and if you are one, you’ll find Molinari Delicatessen satisfying. This deli specializes in salamis and sausages, the ones made by the famous Molinari & Sons. The deli serves pasta and sandwiches to a long line of diners. If you want variety, that is exactly what you will find at Molinari, especially when it comes to cold cuts and cheeses. If you want authentic Italian deli, Molinari’s is the best place to go to in North Beach.

Californio’s

Located at San Francisco’s 22nd Street, Californio’s is known for its regularly changing menu (according to the season). Diners enjoy a course of 12 to 16 culinary collection. This 3-star Michelin restaurant serves simple dishes that are more than flavorful and beyond satisfying.