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Contributed by Jamie Finnigan
It’s no secret that SF is an expensive city. While rent is expensive, grocery and restaurant prices aren’t too steep, so you can eat out without having to worry about breaking the bank. Grabbing lunch during the week? Expect to pay about $10 on your meal. Stop by Trader Joe’s for food for the week and expect to pay around $50-75.
Have a car? If you live in San Francisco proper, leave it at home. It is often difficult to find a place on the street to park anyway. If you do bring your car (like I did), monthly parking garage rates go for $400 depending on which garage you choose. If you choose to park on the street full-time, residential parking permits are currently $145 for the year. However, I found that having a car in SF is essentially pointless as public transportation and Uber can get you anywhere you want to go. The MUNI and BART are the easiest (and cheapest) ways to get around the city and to work. A monthly MUNI pass is $81 per month.
The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is $3,108, however it is often more feasible for graduates to rent a one-bedroom apartment and share it with a housemate. That may sound ridiculous, however, most San Francisco homes/apartments are from the early 1900s when the open concept floorplan was not yet common. You will often find apartments with enclosed living rooms/dining rooms, turning one-bedroom apartments into two-bedroom apartments without having the extra price tag. Speaking from experience. you can expect to pay $1400-1500 per month with this option, if you live in the heart of the city. Which brings me to my next point…
If you’re looking to live true city life living in San Francisco is a must. Rent prices vary by neighborhood, and if you want more space/bang for your buck, look into living in the Sunset or Richmond districts. These neighborhoods are very residential, often a lot quieter and are conveniently located near Golden Gate Park. If you want to be walking distance to popular restaurants/bars, look into living in the Marina, North Beach or SOMA districts. These are all favorable neighborhoods with lots to do but are typically a little more expensive. Nob Hill and Russian Hill are great neighborhoods, and are close to the office, and you can usually find reasonably priced apartments in these areas as well. Pacific Heights and Fillmore District are arguably the most expensive neighborhoods in the city, but the apartments are typically newly renovated & the most spacious – you get what you pay for! The Mission district is a very up and coming neighborhood with TONS to do, the best Mexican food San Francisco has to offer and is home to the infamous Mission Dolores Park the best Sunday activity, if you're asking me.
If you want something that is a little more affordable or practical, consider living outside the city. With BART serving the peninsula and the East Bay, it is easy and affordable to get to work from outside the city. Almost anywhere down the peninsula has more affordable housing and you can easily hop on BART all the way from Millbrae (by SFO) to FiDi down the peninsula. There are nice parts of Oakland to consider living & Berkeley is a great area, especially being a college town, which may make the transition easier. Walnut Creek is a little further away, but it’s still a great area with lots of nightlife and things to do.
THE COST OF LIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO
It’s no secret that SF is an expensive city. While rent is expensive, grocery and restaurant prices aren’t too steep, so you can eat out without having to worry about breaking the bank. Grabbing lunch during the week? Expect to pay about $10 on your meal. Stop by Trader Joe’s for food for the week and expect to pay around $50-75.
Have a car? If you live in San Francisco proper, leave it at home. It is often difficult to find a place on the street to park anyway. If you do bring your car (like I did), monthly parking garage rates go for $400 depending on which garage you choose. If you choose to park on the street full-time, residential parking permits are currently $145 for the year. However, I found that having a car in SF is essentially pointless as public transportation and Uber can get you anywhere you want to go. The MUNI and BART are the easiest (and cheapest) ways to get around the city and to work. A monthly MUNI pass is $81 per month.
The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is $3,108, however it is often more feasible for graduates to rent a one-bedroom apartment and share it with a housemate. That may sound ridiculous, however, most San Francisco homes/apartments are from the early 1900s when the open concept floorplan was not yet common. You will often find apartments with enclosed living rooms/dining rooms, turning one-bedroom apartments into two-bedroom apartments without having the extra price tag. Speaking from experience. you can expect to pay $1400-1500 per month with this option, if you live in the heart of the city. Which brings me to my next point…
WHERE TO LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO
If you’re looking to live true city life living in San Francisco is a must. Rent prices vary by neighborhood, and if you want more space/bang for your buck, look into living in the Sunset or Richmond districts. These neighborhoods are very residential, often a lot quieter and are conveniently located near Golden Gate Park. If you want to be walking distance to popular restaurants/bars, look into living in the Marina, North Beach or SOMA districts. These are all favorable neighborhoods with lots to do but are typically a little more expensive. Nob Hill and Russian Hill are great neighborhoods, and are close to the office, and you can usually find reasonably priced apartments in these areas as well. Pacific Heights and Fillmore District are arguably the most expensive neighborhoods in the city, but the apartments are typically newly renovated & the most spacious – you get what you pay for! The Mission district is a very up and coming neighborhood with TONS to do, the best Mexican food San Francisco has to offer and is home to the infamous Mission Dolores Park the best Sunday activity, if you're asking me.
If you want something that is a little more affordable or practical, consider living outside the city. With BART serving the peninsula and the East Bay, it is easy and affordable to get to work from outside the city. Almost anywhere down the peninsula has more affordable housing and you can easily hop on BART all the way from Millbrae (by SFO) to FiDi down the peninsula. There are nice parts of Oakland to consider living & Berkeley is a great area, especially being a college town, which may make the transition easier. Walnut Creek is a little further away, but it’s still a great area with lots of nightlife and things to do.
MOVING AWAY FROM FRIENDS & FAMILY
Moving away from home is always bittersweet. You’re excited for your next step but may feel uneasy about leaving the place you’ve called home over the years. One way to combat this is to choose a company with the right culture. A career in recruitment can include long hours and lots of hard work, so having colleagues who are not just people you work with but colleagues who are your friends in and outside of work.
Harnham SF has a culture that truly is second to none and we work in a highly collaborative environment where we frequently celebrate each other’s “wins”. You can find almost the entire SF team in the kitchen eating lunch together every day, out at happy hours, at Giants games, at escape rooms, having “family” potlucks and everything in between.
For more information about working for Harnham or even relocating to San Francisco, contact Jamie Finnigan via email at jamiefinnigan@harnham.com.
