Moving to San Francisco, United States in 2026

Considering relocating to San Francisco? Expect rent from $3413/month, a city where neighbourhood research pays off, English is the primary language. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.

🇺🇸 San Francisco, United States

Compare
0.8M peopleLivability: 58/100 · #59 of 6717% cheaper than NYCTop 2 most expensive cities
How the Livability Score is calculated
Affordability
0/25 ptsNumbeo
Violent Crime
8.7/15 ptsUNODC
Perceived Safety
3.9/10 ptsNumbeo
Internet
13.5/15 ptsOokla
Democracy
11.8/15 ptsEIU
English
10/10 ptsEF EPI
Climate
8.5/10 ptsNumbeo
Stability
7.1/10 ptsWorld Bank

Total: 63.5 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 58/100

Affordability0/100
Safety51/100
Climate86/100
Connectivity90/100
Democracy78/100
English Ease100/100
Clear Days65%

Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)

Weather in San Francisco

Spring

18°C

66% sunny

Summer

22°C

68% sunny

Fall

21°C

68% sunny

Winter

14°C

58% sunny

Best: Summer, Fall, Spring.

Cost of Living in San FranciscoNumbeo

Cheap meal

$25.00

Fast food combo

$15.00

Bus/metro ticket

$3.00

Gym/month

$116

Internet/month

$73

Is it actually a democracy?

Democracy index: 7.85 (#28 globally)· Flawed democracy

Freedom House: 80/100

Press freedom rank: #55 of 180

Sources: EIU Democracy Index · Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index

Is San Francisco Safe?UNODC + Numbeo

51/100

Homicide rate: 6.3 per 100,000 (world average ~5.8)

Numbeo Safety Index: 39.4/100 (covers theft, property crime, perception)

Crime is real here. Read up on safe neighborhoods before you sign a lease.

Locals report high concern about everyday crime — petty theft, pickpocketing, and property crime are common complaints.

Will the lights stay on?

Decent
25% electricity from renewables
Occasional outages

English in San FranciscoEF EPI

Very High

You can manage daily life, healthcare, and most bureaucracy in English. The language barrier is low.

For Russian/Ukrainian speakers: Indo-European — manageable

Who Has Offices in San Francisco?

SalesforceUberAirbnbStripeCoinbaseAnthropic

Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.

Is San Francisco Worth Moving To?

Against

  • $3413/mo for city-centre rent. Bring a spreadsheet and manage expectations.
  • Crime is higher than you might be used to. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.

Can you actually live here?

Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.

EU citizenModerate
US citizenEasy
RussianComplex
UkrainianModerate
5 years to permanent residency
8 years to citizenship
Work permit: Moderate
Compare all countries by visa difficulty →

What you can actually do here

Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.

Employment

techaifintechbiotech

Top university ranked #1 globally

Startup Scene

Ecosystem: Hub
VC: Strong

World Bank ease of doing business rank: #55

Corporate tax rate: 21%

San Francisco — Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco safe?

San Francisco has a homicide rate of 6.3 per 100,000 people (source: UNODC), making it moderately safe. The world average is around 5.8 per 100,000. The Numbeo Crime Index is 60.6/100 (lower is safer), which reflects residents' self-reported concerns about property crime, theft, and everyday safety. As with any city, awareness of local neighborhoods is recommended before settling.

What is the cost of living in San Francisco?

A 1-bedroom apartment in San Francisco city centre costs around $3413/month (Numbeo data). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $25.00, monthly transit pass: $87. A single person can expect total monthly costs of roughly $3813–$4213 depending on lifestyle — covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.

What is the weather like in San Francisco?

San Francisco has Summers reach around 22°C, winters drop to around 8°C. Summers are warm and pleasant for most people.

Can you get by in San Francisco without knowing the local language?

San Francisco has Very High English proficiency (EF EPI data). Daily life, healthcare, and business can largely be managed in English.

Is San Francisco a good place to settle long-term?

San Francisco is in United States, which scores 7.8/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. Strong institutions and rule of law make it a stable choice for long-term settlement. Rent from $3413/month.

What is the job market like in San Francisco?

United States has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, indicating a moderate job market — competitive but accessible with the right skills. For settlers planning to work locally, research your industry before committing. Remote workers and self-employed expats are less affected by local employment conditions.

Which companies have offices in San Francisco?

Notable companies with offices in San Francisco include Salesforce, Uber, Airbnb, Stripe, Coinbase, Anthropic. The city's job market spans tech, finance, and other sectors — check company career pages for current openings.

Is San Francisco good for expats?

San Francisco attracts expats looking for long-term relocation in United States. Key facts: rent from $3413/month; US Employment-Based Green Card (complex process); English is widely spoken, reducing the language barrier significantly. The Livability Score, safety data, and cost of living figures above give a data-driven picture of what to expect when settling here.

How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in United States?

United States offers the US Employment-Based Green Card program. Duration: Permanent residence. Requirements: Employer sponsorship (EB-1 to EB-3) or investor visa (EB-5, $1M+). Wait times vary from 1 to 20+ years by nationality. Not a quick process. This is a more involved process — professional immigration advice is recommended. Check the official government portal for the most up-to-date application process.

🇺🇸 San Francisco
BeachPriceyFast internet

Expenses

$4,556 / mo

📺 That's 294 Netflix subs/mo

summer

😊 22°C / ❄️ 13°C

winter

❄️ 14°C / ❄️ 8°C

Internet · Ookla Speedtest

180 Mbps

US: 203 Mbps

United States

Economics · World Bank / IMF

GDP per capita (PPP)2024

$85,810

GDP Growth2024

+2.8%

Inflation Rate2024

3.0%

Unemployment2024

4.2%

Gini Index2023

41.8 

Population2024

826,079

Politics · EIU Democracy Index

Democracy Index

7.8528th

Regime

Flawed democracy

Safety · UNODC

Homicide per 100K

6.3

Language · EF EPI

Languages

English, Spanish (I)

English Proficiency

Very High1th

Data sources

Cost of living: Numbeo crowd-sourced data

Homicide rate: UNODC 2023

Crime perception index: Numbeo Crime Index

Democracy index: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Freedom House score: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025

Press freedom rank: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025

GDP per capita: World Bank / IMF

English proficiency: EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)

Internet speed: Ookla Speedtest Global Index

Grid reliability & renewables: IEA / national grid operators

Residency & visa data: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card