Essentials
- City
- San Francisco, California, United States
- Population
- 808,000 (City), 4.7 million (Bay Area)
- Internet Speed
- Avg 150-500 Mbps; Fiber available via Sonic or Google Fiber
- Currency & Banking
- USD ($); 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality Hetch Hetchy reservoir water
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon (eSIM via Airalo or Holafly recommended)
- Banking for Expats
- Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Revolut (US version)
- Accommodation
- Zillow, Furnished Finder, Blueground, Landing
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, almost entirely cashless; Apple Pay widely accepted
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Sonder, Zeus Living ($3,500 - $6,000/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, Green Tortoise Hostel (~$45-60/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Hayes Valley, The Mission, Noe Valley, Marina District
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (600 California St), Workshop Cafe (SoMa) - $35/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- The Interval at Long Now (Fort Mason), Sightglass Coffee (7th St)
- Networking Events
- SF New Tech, Commonwealth Club, TechCrunch Disrupt events
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations San Francisco, SF Digital Nomads Meetup Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft, Waymo (Autonomous taxis)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bay Wheels (Lyft-operated), Lime, Spin
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ocean Beach (West side), Baker Beach (View of Golden Gate)
- Top Regional Airline
- Southwest Airlines (OAK/SFO), Alaska Airlines
- Top International Airline
- United Airlines (SFO Hub)
- Highway Access
- US-101, I-80 (Bay Bridge), I-280
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Salesforce Transit Center, Powell St Station (BART/Muni)
- Public Transport Passes
- Clipper Card; $2.50 per ride; $81 Monthly Muni Pass
- Regional Travel
- BART (East Bay), Caltrain (Silicon Valley/San Jose), Ferries (Sausalito)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- UCSF Medical Center (Parnassus Heights), SF General Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Tree (multiple locations), Love Story Yoga (Mission)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Equinox (Market St), Fitness SF (Castro), Barry's Bootcamp
- Laundry Services
- Laundryheap (Delivery), Rinse, various local laundromats (~$4/load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash (SF-headquartered), UberEats, Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mission Burrito (La Taqueria), Dungeness Crab, Sourdough Bread
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Wildseed (Cow Hollow), Shizen (Vegan Sushi, Mission)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience, Bi-Rite Creamery (Ice Cream)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's (Masonic Ave), Grocery Outlet (Bargain Market)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day delivery), eBay
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Safeway.com
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Polk Street, Mission District (Valencia St), The Castro
- Local Brewery
- Anchor Brewing (reopened), 21st Amendment Brewery (SoMa)
- Wine Bars
- Press Club (Yerba Buena), High Treason (Richmond)
- Street Food Stalls
- Off the Grid (Fort Mason), Ferry Building Marketplace
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mister Jiu's (Chinese), State Bird Provisions (American/Dim Sum style)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Painted Ladies
- Museums & Art Venues
- SFMOMA, De Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences
- Historical Sites
- The Presidio, Mission Dolores (Oldest building in SF)
- Religious Sites
- Grace Cathedral (Nob Hill), Saints Peter and Paul Church
- Annual Events
- SF Pride (June), Outside Lands Music Festival (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Chinatown (Oldest in US), Haight-Ashbury (Hippie history)
- Theater Venues
- Orpheum Theatre, Curran Theatre, SF Jazz Center
- Local Markets
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (Sat/Tue/Thu)
- Music Scene
- The Fillmore, The Independent, Rickshaw Stop
- Street Art
- Clarion Alley Murals (Mission), Balmy Alley
- Cooking Classes
- San Francisco Cooking School, The Civic Kitchen
- Art Galleries
- Minnesota Street Project (Dogpatch), Gagosian
- Historic Buildings
- Coit Tower, Ferry Building, Palace of Fine Arts
- Local Heritage
- LGBTQ+ Rights (Harvey Milk), The 1960s Counter-culture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Muir Woods National Monument (Redwoods, 40 mins away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Yosemite National Park (4 hours drive), Pinnacles (2.5 hours)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Golden Gate Park Loop, The Embarcadero Waterfront
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Twin Peaks, Hawk Hill (Marin Headlands), Mount Davidson
- Birdwatching Locations
- Crissy Field Marsh, Lake Merced
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Ocean Beach (Permitted pits only, Stairwells 15-20)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx (Market St), UPS Store, USPS Post Offices
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Union Square, Central Computer (SoMa)
- Table Tennis Spots
- SPIN San Francisco (SoMa)
- Language Classes
- City College of San Francisco (ESL), Alliance Française
- Libraries & Study Spots
- SF Public Library (Main Branch), Mechanics' Institute
- Community Centers
- Jewish Community Center (JCCSF), LGBT Center
- Gaming Lounges
- The Foundry (SoMa), Free Gold Watch (Arcade)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Lucky Chances (Colma), Graton Resort (Rohnert Park)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $11,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² [~430 sqft] = $460,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000 in outer suburbs)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $648,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $468,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $816,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $576,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% Federal + 8.84% California State Corporate Tax
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for US citizens; 30% for non-resident aliens (varies by treaty)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for citizens/residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% Federal + 13.3% California (Total up to 50.3%)
- VAT
- No VAT; Sales tax is 8.625% in San Francisco
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) rules
- Property Tax
- Approx. 1.2% of assessed value per year
- Property Transaction Tax
- Transfer tax ranges from 0.5% to 6% based on sale price
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa/tax break; high tax burden compared to other states