San Francisco certainly has a well-known reputation—and that’s a good or bad thing depending on who you’re talking to. Here, we investigate the bigger picture on the true realities of life in this scenic City by the Bay. The high cost of living, the fog, the earthquakes?! Those are good enough reasons for many to stay away from this big city. But we have plenty more. Here are 12 reasons why you should never, ever move to San Francisco.
- Too Much Fog
Blese/Flickr Can you tolerate the fog here? Especially one that has it’s own name (it’s Karl, by the way)?! In all seriousness, San Francisco’s fog is one of the more predictable and defining characteristics of what we like to call “Fog City.”
- Earthquakes
Rob Larson/Flickr A trembler is enough to scare some sense into anyone and San Francisco is well-known for them. We all put up with the threat of earthquakes, so this must show true love.
- High Cost of Living
Torbakhopper/Flickr Don’t even think about renting an apartment here because you’ll never find a reasonable lease. But we know it’s worth it.
- The Beauty and Views Are Overwhelming
Victor/Flickr There’s too much beauty all around! Just look at this place. It’s gorgeous. Between the Golden Gate Bridge, the Painted Ladies, and the cable cars you’re always awe-struck here.
- Parking is a Nightmare
Photo Credit Every big city suffers this issue, and if you drive, you know that parking in San Francisco is a nightmare. With more than 800,000 people on a relatively small piece of land, there aren’t nearly enough spots for everyone.
- Coffee is Expensive
Wally Gobetz/Flickr Coffee in San Francisco has reached absurd heights of snobbery, so getting a simple and affordable cup of coffee is difficult. Artisanal coffee is taken very seriously here, so it’s hard to find a bad cup—you’ll just need a thick wallet for it.
- All of the Food and Wine Options Are Dizzying
Lance Johnson/Flickr What other city boasts so many restaurants and world-class wine at your doorstep? We’re the only city to land on both the top 10 lists of restaurant density and bar density. The options are dizzying.
- Techies Run the Town
Sylvain Kalache/Flickr San Francisco is a hotbed for tech entrepreneurs. Whether you like the techies or not, San Francisco, and of course Silicon Valley, has always been a hub for world-changing innovation. It’s definitely a tough town for a luddite.
- Cold Summers
Dima Barsky/Flickr As the saying goes, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” So be prepared with layers—especially in August.
- Public Transportation Woes
Ken Lund/Flickr We are lucky to have everything from cable cars to buses and trains. However, Bart and Muni are often plagued with frequent delays due to increased traffic, older equipment, and poor maintenance.
- Too Many Steep Hills!
Tony Fischer/Flickr How could anyone put up with all of the beautiful and steep streets in the city? Sure, you can get a good workout climbing up the hills and stairways all over the city, but what about just going for a simple stroll? It ain’t possible here.
- Tourists Are Everywhere
Mark L/Yelp It can be annoying when so many people want to visit the place where you live. Love them or hate them, tourists seem to be in every corner of Fog City. If you’re in a hurry, trying to battle a crowd of confused tourists can cause some major stress.
If this doesn’t deter you from moving to San Francisco, then how about exploring these 11 Picturesque Trails Around San Francisco That Are Perfect For Winter Hiking?
Blese/Flickr
Can you tolerate the fog here? Especially one that has it’s own name (it’s Karl, by the way)?! In all seriousness, San Francisco’s fog is one of the more predictable and defining characteristics of what we like to call “Fog City.”
Rob Larson/Flickr
A trembler is enough to scare some sense into anyone and San Francisco is well-known for them. We all put up with the threat of earthquakes, so this must show true love.
Torbakhopper/Flickr
Don’t even think about renting an apartment here because you’ll never find a reasonable lease. But we know it’s worth it.
Victor/Flickr
There’s too much beauty all around! Just look at this place. It’s gorgeous. Between the Golden Gate Bridge, the Painted Ladies, and the cable cars you’re always awe-struck here.
Photo Credit
Every big city suffers this issue, and if you drive, you know that parking in San Francisco is a nightmare. With more than 800,000 people on a relatively small piece of land, there aren’t nearly enough spots for everyone.
Wally Gobetz/Flickr
Coffee in San Francisco has reached absurd heights of snobbery, so getting a simple and affordable cup of coffee is difficult. Artisanal coffee is taken very seriously here, so it’s hard to find a bad cup—you’ll just need a thick wallet for it.
Lance Johnson/Flickr
What other city boasts so many restaurants and world-class wine at your doorstep? We’re the only city to land on both the top 10 lists of restaurant density and bar density. The options are dizzying.
Sylvain Kalache/Flickr
San Francisco is a hotbed for tech entrepreneurs. Whether you like the techies or not, San Francisco, and of course Silicon Valley, has always been a hub for world-changing innovation. It’s definitely a tough town for a luddite.
Dima Barsky/Flickr
As the saying goes, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” So be prepared with layers—especially in August.
Ken Lund/Flickr
We are lucky to have everything from cable cars to buses and trains. However, Bart and Muni are often plagued with frequent delays due to increased traffic, older equipment, and poor maintenance.
Tony Fischer/Flickr
How could anyone put up with all of the beautiful and steep streets in the city? Sure, you can get a good workout climbing up the hills and stairways all over the city, but what about just going for a simple stroll? It ain’t possible here.
Mark L/Yelp
It can be annoying when so many people want to visit the place where you live. Love them or hate them, tourists seem to be in every corner of Fog City. If you’re in a hurry, trying to battle a crowd of confused tourists can cause some major stress.
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