I am considering a move to SF and want to go on an exploratory mission to find the right neighborhoods to review. I am here for a week and ready to put boot on the ground. I am a single woman in my 50s and have two small dogs. I want options for eating, nightlife and shopping views of the GG bridge, easy access to other areas -maybe the ability to walk to the water front. Do I have to rely on parks for green spaces? I toured Nob Hill and walked to Chestnut. Everywhere along the route taken was all concrete. There were lots of dogs but little places for them to relief themselves. (Surprisingly clean streets all things considered.) Thank you!

Budget is up to $5K, no roommates. commuting isn't a consideration. Open to all types of housing options (apartment, condo, house.)

The city’a neighborhoods are so diverse and each offer something unique. From your personal experience, wheres your favorite place to live and why?

I maybe moving to SF in the next coming months and I’d like to know: what neighborhoods are best there? I guess for context I’m a 20s professional. I’d like an older place around bars/night life and good food. Also is transit good or should I buy a car haha. Thanks in advance!

I’m looking to move to San Francisco and would love some recommendations on which neighborhoods to look in. I tend to get overstimulated by cities and would love to be in a more quiet neighborhood but my roommate wants to have super easy access to the more vibrant, happening areas like the Mission etc.

Some things we would love in a neighborhood:

• great access to public transport

• short commute to more central areas

• quieter streets

• green spaces and/or tree lined streets

• easier parking

• walkable neighborhood coffee shops/breweries/restaurants

Hi all,

I'm a single 28 year old female moving to SF this Spring and I’d love your advice on neighborhoods to consider and tips for making the most of the city.

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Couple things I’m looking for (in order of importance):

-Safety, I do not want to live in even a moderately sketchy area after dark e.g. being able to walk outside alone

-Walkability, esp. to coffee shops and bakeries

-Proximity to parks, esp. for running and being active

-Community feeling and quiet neighborhood e.g. not a party location but rather tree lined streets

-'Easy' transport to Pac Heights / FiDi on a bike, and the Bay area e.g. San Mateo with a car

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Currently shortlisted:

-Noe Valley (north, e.g. Elizabeth street)

-Pac Heights

-Presidio Heights / Presidio

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Would love advice on:

-All the 'Heights' e.g. Clarendon, Ashbury, Diamond, .. and neighboring areas

-Mission Bay

-Sea Cliff

-Any other great suggestions?

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Looking for:

-1 or 2 bed, up to $8,000 /month

-ideally newer building, but no particular housing preference

-no specific personal preferences (e.g. living alone, no pets, ..)

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Any neighborhood recommendations, tips for finding housing (is Zillow the best bet?), or general advice for settling into SF would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!!

So I recently got a job in San Francisco (yay!), but I don't know much about the city having only visited once when I was 8. I know the cost of living is pretty astronomical and from what I've seen on craigslist, I can find a place and make ends meet well enough, but I don't know much about the neighborhoods. I've been told avoid Tenderloin and Hunters Point unless I want some drugs and a complimentary stabbing. The East Bay looks much more affordable but don't know what to expect apart from that. Ideally I'd like to get that urban living experience of not needing a car and being able to walk to food, groceries, stores etc. and just rely on public transportation. Thanks for any help!

Hi! I’m a single 34 year old female planning to move to SF Spring 2025 and I’d love your advice on neighborhoods to consider and tips for making the most of the city. A bit about what I’m looking for:

-Being new to the city, I think I’d prefer to be in a more lively neighborhood

-Walkability to great coffee shops, restaurants, local spots, grocery stores, a good gym/workout classes

-Looking for a good community to meet new people around my age, make new friends and do fun activities

-I’m active and love running, biking and hiking, so proximity to parks or outdoor spaces is an added bonus but not a must

-I work remote and will not be owning a car, so being near transport is important

-Looking for a studio or 1BR under 3.2k/month

Any neighborhood recommendations, tips for finding housing, or general advice for settling into SF would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

I’m being relocated from Florida to SF for work. I’ve done some research and see the typical “best areas to live in SF,” but when I look into these places, a lot are dense tourist areas— which is fine! But some tourist areas are better or worse than others. So I’m looking for insight on which places are in fact suitable areas to live.

I don’t enjoy driving much, and like walking around and living among the town. So not looking for suburbs. In FL, I live in a small beach town in a big city with a strong community culture with dining, bars, and local stores where I can reach everything I could possibly need within a 5-20min bike/ Onewheel ride. Community events/markets and live music every weekend. Surf, bike trails, walking trails, fishing spots, and parks are how I spend my time outdoors, while indoors I do ceramics, various other crafts and cook.

From a local’s perspective, is there an area of the city that would be suitable to move to where I will feel safe and be able to explore?

Edit: No particular budget

I’m making the move to San Francisco in the near future for a job, which is located near the Civic Center. I’m from Southern California, and while I have visited SF twice, I’m really not that familiar with the city. Friends and family that have lived in the city have warned me about living too close to work because I guess parts of the Tenderloin and “tender-nob” can be dangerous.

I am a young single female and safety is certainly a priority, however, I was really set on living close to work that I could be within walking distance to my office. I don’t plan on taking my car to SF because, from what remember, parking can be difficult and I’m very much of a home-body.

I am willing to pay a premium on rent to be close to work and feel safe. Would living in a sky rise near the civic center (thinking 100/150 Van Ness, the Civic, etc) be a good option than living farther away and being in a “better” location?

Another "what neighborhood should I live in?" post... My BF and I might be moving to SF in a few months for job/change of scenery (we are 26). We'd be looking for a 2 bedroom apartment with a combined $5-6k budget. Moving from NYC where I live in Chelsea, I always wanted to live in Williamsburg but it didn't work out. I like the vibe in Hayes Valley, not sure where else we should be looking.

I would want to be within a ~25 min commute to salesforce park and be in a safe and neighborhood-y area (ideally sunny!). I like going to coffee shops, going out to eat (esp. asian food), cocktail bars, workout classes. We're up for the occasional weekend bender, but shifting more towards the "having friends over for a mini dinner party" lifestyle. I did my time in a ...charming... pre-war apartment in NY and think I would be much happier in a modern apartment with in unit washer dryer and central air.. is what I'm looking for realistic?

Hello everyone,

I'm a newly graduated doctor planning to move to San Francisco soon, and I could really use some advice on where to live. I have gone through several "Top Lists" around looking for options, but the definitions of these neighborhoods are so nebulous, so I do not know what is the real deal with these places.

I’ll be looking to rent a one-bedroom apartment and would love a neighborhood with great walkability.

A few things about me:

• I’m not really into the beach or ocean, so being near the water isn’t a priority.

• I love coffee shops and classical arts (think symphonies, museums, art galleries).

• I’ll probably need a balance of quiet but still having good access to things to do.

If you have any recommendations for neighborhoods that fit this vibe, I’d really appreciate it!

I'm super excited to be moving to the Bay Area this summer for work. I'm from the Midwest so I have no idea what/where the best parts of SF are for young adults. I'll be rooming with at least one, maybe 2, friends from college. Budget is between $2000-2500/month each for a place. We are all into going out and meeting new people as often as possible. I would happily welcome any and all suggestions or descriptions of good areas for us to narrow our housing search! Thanks!

Hi reddit,

We are visiting San Francisco next month. It would be one of two places will be where we will relocate to next year after over 10 years in Kansas City. The idea is to look around some suburbs, get a feel for the places, see the commute to work etc.

We would love some nice safe hood away from the city but not too long a commute to work. For now, we will just move into apartments, but we will give a good thought on buying a house later .

Could you recommend some good suburbs and neighborhoods we should definitely look into? I can look up stats and stuff online, but I am looking for a more personal view, especially if someone has been in the midwest and knows what kind of a lifestyle we are coming from.

Thanks

PS : We are 30 something with a 3 year old boy. I am a .Net developer and my wife is a electrical engineer.

My wife will probably get a transfer SF downtown. I will look for a .net development job either close to her or close to where I will live.

edit: Thank you all for your replies. I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment, trying to read through, research and make notes. Please be assured, I am going to take note of every comment in here. After all, these replies will guide the beginning of a complete new life for us!

TLDR: Looking for area recs for my BF and I when we move to SF this summer - budget is $4500 for a 1 or 2 bedroom

My boyfriend and I are moving to SF in August from LA and are trying to decide what area we want to live in and what areas we should look at while we're deciding. We are both working in the city (im in Finance and he's in Tech) and both of us have cars. We are deciding between a 1 BR and a 2 BR because we both work hybrid but want to make sure we're living in a nice within the budget. We love going out, exploring new places, checking our restaurants and I love surfing so we want an area thats young and vibing. Both of us are in our 20's so would love to be in a place where there is always things going on! I've heard good things about the Marina District, thoughts on that area?

Would love some recs!

I lived in the mission for five years until I hit 31. I loved it so much and it still has a place in my heart.

I now live in the inner sunset. It is hard to convey just how at home I feel here. It is a sense of peace, seeing friends regularly when walking around, the fresh air…

I’ve heard good things about haight, but a lot of places there are a bit out of my budget. I’m mid 20s, single and ideally would like a place with local cafes, shops, people walking dogs, spending time in the park, etc etc

My fiance and I moved here from San Diego during the summer, and we moved to the Peninsula because we both work around San Mateo/Redwood City and we wanted a yard for the dogs. The fiance has now decided that SF is all dirty and gross, and there aren't any neighborhoods that he could ever live in. I'm trying to find some really nice neighborhoods to drive him through to show him that it's not all the Tenderloin, Mission, SOMA, and the Castro (the only areas we've spent any time in at all). I know about Presidio Heights, and while that is far out of our budget, are there any other neighborhoods like that? Also less nice areas would be good, with clean walkable neighborhoods with restaurants and shops.

Help me out, Reddit!

Hey everyone! I am going to work for a company in Financial Districts in July or August.

That is why I want to know all options I can have to rent an affordable studio apartment around SF. My budget is around $1500 - $1800. I also want to make sure that I live in a safe area.

However, I am still new to SF. I just know that:

• Tenderloin and Mission District are not safe to live.

• Lower Nob Hill is 50-50 depending on the streets. (That's why I know the term TenderNob)

• Nob Hill and SOMA are safe areas, but more expensive

Thank you for your help :)

Partner and I are looking for advice on the best area in SF to stay first week of Dec. We plan on doing tourist stuff all over SF, but we want to stay in an area that has a lot of amenities that we can easily walk to (restaurants, grocery, public transportation, etc). Where can we find the best of all worlds in one neighborhood?