City Guide
San Francisco, CA
Overview
San Francisco, CA, is known for the Golden Gate Bridge, trolleys, and Fisherman's Wharf. The city is home to around 880,000 people, making it the fourth-largest city in California. A fun fact about San Francisco is that the Golden Gate Bridge was supposed to be black and gold. Another interesting fact is that Golden Gate State Park is bigger than Central Park in New York.
What’s it like to live in San Francisco, CA ?
If you're looking to buy a home for sale in San Francisco, CA you'll find that the median sale price is
$1,392,750
and homes stay on the market for 19 days. You'll find that the median sale prices of
a single family home and a condo/co-op in San Francisco are $1,575,000
and $1,102,500
, respectively. San Francisco area townhouses have a median sale price of $1,295,000
, making them less expensive
than single family homes. If you’re not ready to buy a home, consider one of the many apartments for rent in San Francisco, CAExplore our San Francisco housing market page for insights about how home values have changed over
the years and how San Francisco home prices compare to other markets. Explore our San Francisco rental market trends page for insights about how rental prices have changed and how San Francisco rental prices compare to other rental markets. If you're curious about the most valuable home features in San Francisco, or looking for a new home improvement project,
discover what home features and design trends may help increase your home's value.
Popular neighborhoods in and around San Francisco
| Neighborhood | Median Sale Price | Compete Score | Walk Score | Real Estate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset District | $1,472,500 | 97 / 100 | -- | For SaleFor Rent |
| Pacific Heights | $1,720,000 | 83 / 100 | 97 / 100 | For SaleFor Rent |
| Bernal Heights | $1,516,250 | 91 / 100 | 92 / 100 | For SaleFor Rent |
| Marina District | $2,300,000 | 87 / 100 | 94 / 100 | For SaleFor Rent |
| Noe Valley | $2,250,000 | 92 / 100 | 94 / 100 | For SaleFor Rent |
San Francisco Articles & Neighborhood Content
Read more on the Redfin blog
Popular homes for sale in San Francisco
See all homes for sale
Rental listings in San Francisco
See how much rent you can affordSee all rental listings
What is the cost of living in San Francisco?
The cost of living in San Francisco is 67% higher than the national average. Housing is typically the largest expense for most American households. In San Francisco, the average monthly rent is $3,749, while the median home price is $1,419,000. Overall, housing in San Francisco is 229% higher than the national average. Groceries, like produce, dry goods, and other essential household items, cost 24% higher in San Francisco. Though healthcare costs 28% higher in San Francisco compared to the national average, costs vary greatly by location, person, personal health, and health insurance. In San Francisco, an optometry check-up costs around $168.34, while a dentist appointment is $160.37 on average. Learn more about the cost of living in San Francisco. Discover how utilities, transportation, and lifestyle, compares against the national average.
Compared to the national average
67%
Cost of living
229%
Home prices
Cost of living calculator
Compare cities across the U.S.
San Francisco Migration & Relocation Trends
In Jan '25 - Mar '25, 23% of San Francisco homebuyers searched to move out of San Francisco, while 77% looked to stay within the metropolitan area.
- Across the nation, 3% of homebuyers searched to move into San Francisco from outside metros.
- Knoxville homebuyers searched to move into San Francisco more than any other metro followed by Honolulu and Santa Barbara.
Where are people moving to San Francisco from?
- 77% of San Francisco homebuyers searched to stay within the San Francisco metropolitan area.
Where are people from San Francisco moving to?
Number of People Moving to San Francisco
least
most
People are moving to San Francisco from
| Inbound | Net inflow | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metros | Jan '25 - Mar '25 | ||
| 1 | 1,500 | ||
| 2 | 1,192 | ||
| 3 | 966 | ||
| 4 | 146 | ||
| 5 | 118 | ||
| 6 | 110 | ||
| 7 | 97 | ||
| 8 | 14 | ||
| 9 | 10 | ||
| 10 | 4 | ||
Methodology
This data does not reflect actual moves. The latest migration analysis is based on a sample of about two
million Redfin.com users who searched for homes across more than 100 metro areas. To be included in this dataset, a Redfin.com user
must have viewed at least 10 homes in a three month period. This dataset excludes all rentals data.
What is there to do in San Francisco, CA ?
San Francisco, CA, is home to a plethora of activities - museums, concerts, performing arts shows, parks, and a one-of-a-kind food scene - that you'll never tire of finding something new to check out. With 143 museums, there are plenty of places to explore, including the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and de Young Museum, just to name a few. Whether you're seeing a show at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre or The Orpheum, or checking out a new band at The Fillmore, there are many performing arts venues to visit. San Francisco is also known for its parks and green spaces, so make sure to have a picnic at Golden Gate Park, take in the scenic views of the Golden Gate Bridge at Crissy Field, or stroll along Ocean Beach. Whether you're looking for classic dishes like Crab Louie, sourdough bread, cioppino, or a Mission-style burrito, San Francisco has something for every palette. Make sure to grab a fresh pastry at Tartine Bakery, cioppino at Sotto Mare, or a burrito at La Taqueria, there's always a new restaurant to find in the city.
Explore some of the best things to do in San Francisco
What's the best way to get around San Francisco, CA ?
The best way to get around San Francisco is by foot, but there are many methods for getting around the city. If you’re exploring the city by foot, San Francisco has a walk score of 89, meaning this area is very walkable. Another way to get around the city is by public transportation. San Francisco has a transit score of 77 and convenient for most trips. Most bus stations and rail stations are located in 94109, 94102 and 94114. You can also get around San Francisco by bike. With a bike score of 72, it's convenient to use a bike for most trips.
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
San Francisco Transportation
Bus Station
Buses can be found throughout the city and are easily accessible to commute in the city.
Rail Station
San Francisco has 41 heavy rail stations; 16th Street Mission, Van Ness Station, Powell St BART Station, San Francisco Caltrain Station, Embarcadero MUNI Metro Station, 22nd Street Caltrain Station, BART - 24th St Mission Station, MUNI Metro Stop - 3rd & Mariposa, Civic Center MUNI Metro Station, MUNI Station - Irving St & 4th Ave. This allows you to use heavy rail to commute in and out of the city from the surrounding area and even travel to other cities.
Tram Station
San Francisco has 5 tram stops. There are few tram lines, which means it is difficult to use them to commute.
Metro Station
San Francisco has 2 metro stops. There are few metro lines, which means it is difficult to use them to commute.
Car & Bike Rentals
Renting a car is another good way to get around the city. There are 73 car rental locations. Renting a bike is another good way to get around. There are 26 bike rental locations.
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