Find Best Boston to San Francisco

San Francisco is 40-50% more expensive than Boston, primarily housing. A $3,000 Boston apartment costs $4,500+ in SF. Everything costs more - food, transportation, entertainment. Tech salaries are higher but often don't fully compensate. You'll have less space and fewer savings. Only move for career opportunities or if you love the city.

SF offers unparalleled tech opportunities - highest salaries, cutting-edge companies, and unlimited networking. Career growth is faster, equity opportunities better. However, competition is fierce, work-life balance poor, and cost of living extreme. Great for career-building years, difficult for settling down. Boston's tech scene is strong without SF's intensity.

SF is aggressively progressive, tech-obsessed, and increasingly homogeneous due to costs. Boston feels diverse by comparison. Intellectual culture exists but overshadowed by tech. Conversations revolve around startups and funding. The city has lost some soul to gentrification. You'll miss Boston's historical depth and academic diversity.

Earthquake risk is real but manageable. Building codes are strict, and major quakes are rare. Day-to-day, you don't think about it. More concerning is fire season smoke affecting air quality for weeks. Boston's blizzards are predictable; SF's natural disasters are random. Most residents accept the risk for the weather and opportunities.

BART and Muni are less reliable than Boston's T, with significant safety concerns. Coverage is limited, forcing many to use expensive rideshares. SF is walkable in neighborhoods but hills are challenging. Biking is popular but requires fitness. You can live car-free but it's harder than Boston. The transit situation is frustrating for a dense city.