State of California, city of San Francisco. San Francisco. Calendar of low prices for air tickets
It is also rightly called the “pearl of the West Coast.” Elegant and luxurious, modern and ancient, provincial and cosmopolitan - this is the place for every traveler. amazing city will reveal a special side. San Francisco is stunning with its gabled gables, numerous turrets and magnificent Victorian buildings that blend perfectly with the sunny coastline, summer fogs and steep hills. Despite the fact that San Francisco is a true American metropolis, with its compactness and some special charm it resembles a seaside European city, where you want to forget about all your problems and enjoy the light and relaxed atmosphere.
Region |
State of California, San Francisco County |
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Population |
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Population density |
6688 people/km² |
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U.S. $ |
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Time zone |
UTC-7 in summer |
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Postal code |
94101-94112, 94114-94147, 94150-94170, 94172, 94175, 94177 |
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International dialing code |
Climate and weather
San Francisco has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. The city is surrounded by water on three sides, so the weather is significantly influenced by cold ocean currents. In summer average temperature air is +15...+24 °С, and in winter - +10...+15 °C. The rainy season lasts from November to March, snow falls extremely rarely. At the end of summer and from September to October, the city, especially its western regions, is enveloped in fogs that may not subside throughout the day.
The best time to travel to San Francisco is the dry period from mid-May to October.
Nature
The city is located on the west coast of California, on a small peninsula, which is located near the Golden Gate Strait, connecting the picturesque San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the city's jurisdiction includes the island Alcatraz And Treasure Island, as well as the uninhabited Farallon Islands and part of the island Red Rock. A feature of the urban landscape is a large number of hills, for example, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Pacific Heights, Telegraph Hill, Potreto Hill etc.
It's worth noting that San Francisco is located next to two tectonic faults, so small earthquakes occur here from time to time.
Attractions
San Francisco has quite a large number of various attractions, many of which are of global importance. The main symbol of the city is a huge suspension bridge Golden Gate, which is equipped with a spectacular illumination system. Less known, but no less remarkable is the bridge Oakland Bay Bridge.
For the curious tourist place the city has become Lombard Street, which will appeal to fans hiking. It is located on Russian Hill, and its main feature is considered to be a very large slope (27 °). The memorial tower is no less popular Coit Tower, which is dedicated to a local resident who volunteered to help firefighters. The most colorful area of the city is Chinatown, where you can see original oriental-style houses, as well as visit Chinese restaurants and shops.
Also worth noting is the entrance to Chinatown, which features a magnificent colorful gate. In addition, it is recommended to visit the old restaurant Cliff House, fishing pier with sea lion colony, Museum Walt Disney in and Museum of Russian Culture.
There are also interesting natural attractions in San Francisco, for example, two twin hills Twin Peaks, from the tops of which a stunning view of the city opens. Well, there are more than 200 parks of all kinds.
Finally, it is worth special mentioning the famous island Alcatraz, which is located near San Francisco. It is known that it once served as a prison, which was considered the most secure in the United States. Now the island is a historical monument.
Nutrition
San Francisco is a true gourmet city, with the number and variety of restaurants rivaling even New York. This is not surprising, because the conditions for running a restaurant business here are simply ideal: skilled chefs from all over the world, first-class wineries and numerous farms that supply the city with the freshest products. It’s worth saying right away that the continuous flow of emigrants has almost completely absorbed the local national cuisine, along with her wings and potatoes. Therefore, Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and other ethnic establishments are most often found here. Half of the city's restaurants are concentrated in the districts Chinatown And Castro. The latter, by the way, is notable not only for its popularity among sexual minorities, but also for its cozy cafes with summer areas, where they serve delicious shrimp and crab dishes, as well as bohemian coffee shops and chocolate shops. In addition, many fine restaurants are located at the shipyard Fisherman's Wharf. This is where they serve excellent seafood dishes, as well as juicy California steaks and famous sourdough bread.
Of course, San Francisco is full of fast food establishments offering hamburgers and hot dogs, but they are not as popular as in other US cities. There are also many small pastry shops where you can enjoy some chocolate dessert and a cup of coffee at any time.
San Francisco is also the real capital of wine. Moreover, Californian wines have an exquisite taste and are considered one of the best in the world.
Accommodation
San Francisco offers its guests huge amount hotels of various categories. For those who want to save money on accommodation, the best places for temporary accommodation will be hostels and hotels B&B, which are scattered literally throughout the city, for example, The Pontiac Hotel & Hostel(from 20 $) or Mission Inn(from $39.2).
The city also has many mid-price hotels (from $60) and expensive upscale hotels (from $300).
Entertainment and relaxation
San Francisco can offer its guests a lot of entertainment for every taste, so you definitely won’t get bored here. For example, for family vacation a visit to the zoo is suitable San Francisco Zoo or an aquarium Aquarium of the Bay. Lovers of outdoor recreation will also like the city, since its territory is simply laid out. incredible amount beautiful parks and gardens. Of these, the park is the most popular "Golden Gate", which represents a real oasis in the city center. Another beautiful place in San Francisco is Baker Beach. Well, golf lovers are recommended to go to the park Lincoln, on the territory of which there is an excellent golf center.
Fans of cultural pastimes will also like San Francisco: opera, ballet and symphony concerts - San Francisco can offer you all this in a huge variety. Mostly performances take place in opera house "In Memory of War" and the American Conservatory Theater (A.K.T.).
No less saturated and nightlife city, as there are more than a hundred bars, nightclubs, showrooms and blues cafes open here. In addition, San Francisco is a real city of holidays and festivals. Of these, the most popular are the Folsom Street Fair, the Chinese New Year Parade, Lovefest, Christian Carnival and Fleet Week. Moreover, almost all city neighborhoods have their own individual holidays.
Exciting excursions to the brewery can also be an interesting way to spend your time. Anchor Brewing Company and large wineries, as well as to the islands Alcatraz And Angel.
Purchases
San Francisco's shopping is considered to be some of the best in the world, so it's no surprise that tourists come here to shop. The most popular shopping places in the city are Union Square, Upper Fillmore, Sacramento Street, Hayes Valley And Mission. That's where they are best stores, from fashion boutiques and jewelry stores to ethnic shops and designer galleries. Well, among shopping centers first of all it is worth highlighting Westfield San Francisco Center.
On its territory there are representative offices of such famous brands as Abercrombie & Fitch, Nordstorm's etc., as well as boutiques of the most popular companies ( Macy's, Bulgari, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, MaxMara, Diesel, Prada, Celine, Gucci, Escada, Guess, Agnes B., Wilkes Bashford etc.). In addition, it is recommended to visit the huge market Ferry Building and the colorful Chinatown district. In general, it is worth keeping in mind that literally every district of the city has a large selection of shops, shopping centers and supermarkets, and many of them offer attractive discounts and promotions.
Transport
City public transport in San Francisco is represented by an extensive network of bus and trolleybus routes, surface and underground light rail Muni Metro, as well as trams. The cost of one trip is $1.5, all travel tickets can be purchased from drivers and at underground stations Muni. It is worth keeping in mind that they are valid for 1.5 hours on all types of transport, with the exception of cable trams and suburban metro BART. High-speed trams Muni Metro run from 5:00 to 00:00, but two lines (L and N) operate 24 hours a day.
In addition, there are a great variety of taxis in the city that operate at a single rate: $3.5 per ride and $2.25 per mile.
Connection
To call anywhere in the world, you can use one of the telephone booths that are installed on almost all streets of the city, as well as in many public places. Calls are paid in small coins (cents) or calling cards. In addition, you can make any call from a hotel or large restaurant.
Mobile communications have excellent quality and uniform coverage, but the frequencies at which they operate are not similar to European ones.
Internet access is provided in almost all hotels. There are also many access points in the city WiFi.
Safety
In San Francisco, as in almost any other big city, are operated by pickpockets and all sorts of scammers. However, if you follow general safety measures and remain vigilant in public places, then the likelihood of any troubles is eliminated. The greatest caution should be exercised in the areas of Bayview-Hunters Point, Visitation Valley, Sunnydale, Fillmore District and Mission ( Mission).
It is also worth noting that there are many beggars and beggars in San Francisco, which it is recommended to simply ignore.
Business climate
San Francisco is the main financial center of the US West Coast, home to important institutions such as the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Bank of America, as well as many offices of multinational banks, international financial institutions and large insurance companies. San Francisco encourages the preservation of small business, ensuring that 85% of the city's businesses are small companies with 10 or fewer employees. In addition, the city is home to the world-famous Silicon Valley, where the highest-class specialists are attracted for large-scale production of integrated circuits.
Real estate
According to many world experts, the San Francisco real estate market is one of the most stable and promising in the country. Moreover, it is widely represented here as commercial real estate, so residential. It is worth noting that the standard of living in San Francisco is very high, so the prices for local real estate are quite impressive.
However, investing in the local real estate market is one of the most promising business ventures in the United States today.
Budget travelers should keep in mind that San Francisco museums offer free admission several times a month. You can check the schedules of such events in any city tourist office. Also, those who expect to spend time on excursions and seeing all the sights are recommended to purchase a city welcome card ( Go Card or CityPASS), which gives the right to discount tickets to local museums and galleries.
The largest economic and cultural center, one of the most famous.
The "City by the Bay" is located on the west coast of the United States, in the northern part of the San Francisco Peninsula, separating the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The mainland part of the city is close in shape to a square with a side of seven miles, in addition, part of San Francisco are small islands Alcatraz, Treasure, Yerba Buena and some others.
San Francisco is located in a zone of increased seismic activity, with the San Andreas (along the San Francisco Peninsula) and Hayward (on the eastern side of the Bay) faults running very close to it. Small tremors occur here quite often, and twice throughout its history (in 1906 and 1989) the city was heavily damaged by earthquakes.
The territory of San Francisco is characterized by complex terrain, there are about fifty hills, the highest of which is Mount Davidson (283 meters above sea level). The so-called “seven hills” on which, according to legend, the city was founded are widely known: the “twins” Twin Peaks, Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Rincon Hill and Mount Sutro.
San Francisco's climate is considered one of the coolest (and most comfortable) of any major city in the United States. The city is surrounded on three sides by water, weather conditions it is significantly influenced by cold Pacific currents. San Francisco's rugged topography gives it a wide variety of microclimates (the eastern parts of the city are less exposed to cold ocean winds), but overall the city has a mild Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters, warm, dry summers, and little seasonal temperature variation.
In the coldest month, January, the average temperature in San Francisco ranges from 8°C to 14°C, and in the hottest month, September, it typically ranges from 13°C to 21°C. In summer there is almost no precipitation, rains fall from November to April, and snow falls (and immediately melts) once every few decades.
A characteristic feature of the city (thanks to which it received one of its most famous nicknames) is heavy fog. They usually descend on the city in the summer, when hot air masses coming from the Bay Area collide. central regions California, and the cold wind blowing from the Pacific Ocean.
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San Francisco is the fourteenth largest city in the United States in terms of population (more than 850,000 people) and the second largest city in terms of population density. Around the “City of Fogs” the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metropolis has grown, in which about 4,600,000 people live (11th place in the USA). Frisco is also part of an even larger metropolitan area with approximately 8,500,000 residents (second largest in California and fifth largest in the United States). This is a huge cluster settlements known as the "Bay Area" and includes twelve counties and several cities, the largest of which is San Jose.
Racial composition San Francisco population:
- White - 54.3%
- Black (African American) - 6.0%
- Asians - 34.4%
- Native Americans (Indians or Alaskan Eskimos) - 0.8%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islands - 0,5%
- Two or more races - 4.0%
- Hispanic or Latino (any race) - 15.3%
- Non-Hispanic whites - 41.6%
In San Francisco, non-Hispanic whites are a minority (as they are overall). Another characteristic feature of the city's population is the very high percentage of residents of Asian descent (high both for California and compared to the US average).
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The largest ethnic groups in the City by the Bay population are:
- Chinese - about 21.4%
- Mexicans - about 7.4%
- Filipinos - about 4.5%
- Salvadorans - about 2%
- Vietnamese - about 1.6%
- Japanese - about 1.3%
- Indians - about 1.2%
- Koreans - about 1.2%
San Francisco ranks second (after Seattle) among large US cities in the number of people with among its residents, more than 44% of adults here have at least a bachelor's degree.
Also, the “City of Fogs” ranks first in the country in the number of same-sex married couples relative to the total population.
"Paris of the West" boasts numerous attractions, including architectural monuments, engineering structures, parks, restaurants, and various cultural events. "The City by the Bay", according to some polls, is considered the best city United States of America.
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The city of San Francisco has long been considered one of most beautiful places USA. Thanks to his geographical location, natural features and rich history, the city is famous as contrasting, diverse and very colorful. A legendary symbol of the American West, a product of the Gold Rush period, San Francisco attracts tourists from all over the world. Americans themselves often call the city “the pearl of the West Coast.”
San Francisco is located on a small peninsula between the bay of the same name and Pacific Ocean, connected to each other by the Golden Gate Strait. The numerous hills on which the city is located, oceanic winds and frequent fogs have in some way become its “calling card”. By the way, there are about 50 hills of varying heights in the city, and the Twin Peaks hills are the most popular among tourists - they offer a magnificent view of the bay and the city.
Ever since the California Gold Rush, the city has secured its status as a financial and industrial center region. Today, many research centers and industries related to high technology, genetic engineering and medical electronics are located here, so the city continues to play an important role in the economic life of the country. In addition, due to its favorable location, San Francisco serves about 30% of the trade of the entire west coast of the country.
History of San Francisco
Initially, the territory of modern San Francisco was inhabited by Indians; European colonists came here in 1769. Seven years later, the Spaniards founded the mission of St. Francis of Assisi here, around which a small settlement was formed.
After the declaration of Mexican independence from Spain, the territory of modern California became Mexican, and new city was named Herba Buena, which means "good grass" in Spanish. However, Mexico soon loses the war with America, and in 1848 the territory of California becomes a US possession. The city is officially renamed San Francisco, and active expansion of the surrounding areas for construction begins.
The California Gold Rush, which began in 1848, may have played a key role in San Francisco's history. In just a year, the city's population increased from 1,000 to 25,000 people. City infrastructure was not ready for such an influx of people, problems with health, crime and housing began.
Another turning point in the history of San Francisco was the powerful earthquake of 1906, which, combined with the outbreak of fires, almost completely destroyed the city. After this, an era of rapid reconstruction and development began, and gradually San Francisco acquired its modern appearance.
City population
The population of San Francisco is about 815 thousand people, and the city ranks second in the country in population density after. More than 40% of residents have higher education, which makes competition in the labor market very significant. The average income level here is quite high, and due to high prices for housing and groceries, the cost of living in San Francisco is quite high.
The city is known throughout the world for its tolerance towards people with non-traditional sexual orientation. According to statistics, about 15% of the population of San Francisco belongs to the gay community - this is the highest figure in the world.
Transport
Public transport in San Francisco is very popular among residents - up to 35% of the population use its services daily. It is believed that the network public transport city - the best West coast, this includes above-ground and underground high-speed trams, buses, trolleybuses, network commuter trains, and also ferry crossing and the famous historic cable car.
San Francisco's light rail (light rail) or buses are often crowded, but this is perhaps the best way to travel around the city for tourists. In any case, it is not recommended to rent a car - endless traffic jams, narrow streets and expensive parking are unlikely to bring much pleasure.
Main attractions
The main attraction of San Francisco, its calling card is the Golden Gate Bridge - one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. The length of the bridge is just under 2 kilometers, the height above the water level is 67 meters.
Also very popular is Golden Gate Park - a beautiful oasis of greenery among big city, stretching five kilometers in length and ending at Ocean Beach. This beach, by the way, runs along another park, symbolically nicknamed “Lands End”. This place is the most extreme point continental land in the direction of rotation of our planet, the New Year comes here last.
On one of the islands near San Francisco there is the famous Alcatraz prison, familiar to many from the movie “The Rock”. In the past, this was one of the harshest prisons for especially dangerous criminals; only a few managed to escape from here. Today the prison is not used for its intended purpose and has been turned into a museum; you can get here from San Francisco using the ferry from Pier 33.
How do they do it 08/17/17 107 140 10
Self-driving taxis, fog and insured dogs
California is known for Hollywood, Silicon Valley and two cities: San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Daria Korableva
lives in San Francisco
Technology corporations, startups, film studios are located here, and world celebrities and millionaires live here. And my husband and I and two dogs.
Prices and budget
Before moving to the USA, we lived in the Balkans for two years. It was then that the ruble fell, and we learned to save, plan a budget and got used to the fact that everything seems expensive. It seemed that the cost of living in the United States should not surprise us much.
It is believed that California is the most expensive state in the USA. According to Gobankingrates.com, California residents spend on average 35% more on living expenses than residents of other states. Housing costs are 92.7% higher than the US average, transportation costs are 30% higher, and food costs are 15.8% higher.
The prices surprised us while we compared them with prices in Russia and Europe. Once we stopped doing this and built a budget based on local income and expenses, everything became less scary. We began to spend much more money on food and services, but large purchases, on the contrary, became cheaper. Buying clothes, a laptop or a car here is much more affordable than in Russia or Europe. In general, prices in California are comparable to the average local income.
Visas and relocation
Millions of people try to move to America every year. Few people succeed. In my opinion, American visa legislation can be described as follows: a lot of possibilities and no specifics.
Typically, professionals move to the US on an H1B visa. There are few such visas - several tens of thousands a year, but there are hundreds of thousands of applicants. Therefore, H1B is played in a lottery. You can qualify for H1B if you have a job offer in the US. At the same time, the employer must prove that he tried, but could not find among the Americans a specialist as good as you. In any case, you will have to participate in the lottery. No matter how much a company wants to hire an employee, H1B is a lottery, everyone is equal in its face.
There is an O1 visa, popularly called the “gifted visa.” It is given for talents and achievements: you need to prove that you are a recognized scientist, a respected artist in your homeland, a successful entrepreneur, and so on. You will need letters of recommendation, your published articles (or articles about you), evidence that you influenced the development of the industry in which you worked. The O1 visa is issued without a lottery. In addition, you can get a study visa with a part-time work permit, a fiancé visa, and so on.
American visa legislation is very extensive, it is impossible to understand it without a lawyer, so in processing any long-term American visa a lawyer is always involved.
For support of the visa process, a lawyer will charge from $6,000 (360,000 RUR).
Many come to the United States on a tourist visa and stay illegally, and then legalize their status in the most unimaginable ways. The length of stay in the country is determined individually passport control. Usually this is six months.
There is an opinion among migrants that the US visa legislation is deliberately so complicated so that either talented or very enterprising people come to the country, who managed to overcome all barriers, fit into society, find people who can vouch for them, and stay here by any means.
Climate and nature
California is the sunny state. However, unlike Los Angeles, where it is warm and +30 °C all year round, San Francisco is always cool and windy. Here you need to dress in layers, otherwise it’s hot in the sun and cold in the shade. There is a strong wind in the city, and sometimes there is humid fog. Hot summers are very rare here. I love the heat, but for work and study, the same cool weather all year round is ideal.
The water in the ocean is cold, you can only swim in a wetsuit. Waves all year round. Locals do not lie on the beach, but go surfing, kiting and kayaking.
There are many animals in San Francisco. You can meet raccoons, hummingbirds, fur seals and lions, herons, and pelicans. Turtles and coyotes live in city parks. Within a 15-minute drive from the city there are deer, cougars, and wild turkeys. The trees here are huge: the famous redwoods, eucalyptus and sequoias are very beautiful and smell incredibly delicious.
The appearance of the city
San Francisco is divided into districts and communities - national or by interests. There is a business district, a jazz district, a crime district, Chinatown, Japan Town, Little Italy, Russian Hill, Mexican districts and so on.
The business district is similar to New York: dense buildings of skyscrapers and lack of greenery.
The city is very fond of Victorian-style houses. Most older residential areas are built with two- or three-story houses with bay windows and towers.
There are a lot of homeless people in San Francisco. It's a whole subculture here. On some streets - under overpasses or along railway tracks - entire tent cities have been set up. Many people live without tents, simply laying out their sleeping bag somewhere under a roof at night, and resting on the sidewalk during the day.
Homeless people in the city are full members of society. People around them do not avoid them. A passerby on the way to work can simply sit down next to such a tent and chat for a couple of minutes with a homeless person about life.
Professional migrants are coming to San Francisco in droves. There are more men here than women, the average age of residents is 25-40 years. There are very few elderly people and children in the city.
Here you constantly see new technologies being created. For example, a cafe with a robot bartender, shoes made from recycled plastic bottles or driverless taxis are all part of everyday life in San Francisco. It seems that the future is coming here earlier than in other cities.
Housing
San Francisco has very expensive housing, twice the US average. A one-room studio apartment with an area of 50 m² in a regular area costs from $2,600 (RUR 156,000) per month. An apartment with one bedroom and another room will cost $3,000 (RUR 180,000) per month. Finding an apartment within this budget is quite easy, because people in the city often change housing after work and new rental offers appear constantly.
2600 $
the cost of renting a one-room studio apartment
You can rent housing from a management company or a private individual. The management company has higher prices, but it will help if a pipe breaks, the refrigerator breaks, or the ventilation turns off. You can search for housing on any real estate rental website, but I recommend making a list of residential complexes in the desired area, calling their offices and asking them to find options for you. An apartment is usually found within a couple of weeks. We found a suitable apartment in four days.
To rent housing, a passport with any visa is enough (a tourist visa is also suitable). You will also need an American bank account and collateral. For Americans, the deposit is small, usually $200-400 (RUR 12,000-24,000). For visitors without a credit history, the landlord may ask for up to four monthly payments as a deposit.
In America, apartments for long term rental are rented unfurnished. Usually only the bathroom and kitchen are equipped. In the living rooms, apart from the furniture, there is no light or even hooks for a chandelier on the ceilings. Many people simply install floor lamps to save money. We were lucky: we had a equipped dressing room - with shelves and drawers. This saved us about $1,000 (R60,000) during the setup.
As soon as we rented an apartment, we immediately went to the store. I had to buy a mattress, blanket, pillows, bed linen, towels, lamps, chairs, dishes, a kettle, iron, hair dryer, and basic household chemicals. This cost us about $1,500 (90,000 RUR). Next we had to buy furniture.
1500 $
we spent on essentials when we moved into the apartment
There are many companies in San Francisco that offer furniture for rent. Putting designer furniture (not Ikea) - a bed with a couple of bedside tables, a dining table with chairs, a TV stand and a sofa - costs from $600 (RUR 36,000) per month. You just need to tell us the dimensions of your apartment, the desired set of furniture and style.
The company itself will complete the sets, bring and arrange furniture in the apartment. Buy a set of furniture for living in Ikea - from $1,300 (78,000 RUR). If you want not the simplest furniture, then from $2000 (120,000 RUR).
In houses, everything is usually thought out for the leisure of residents: there is a barbecue, a swimming pool, and sports grounds. In our residential complex two work gyms, There is indoor premises with billiards, ping pong, table curling, climbing wall and basketball court. Yoga and fitness classes are offered. This is all free for residents and their guests.
Two-room apartment of 70 m² in residential area San Francisco costs $650,000 (RUR 39,000,000). And for a million dollars (60,000,000 RUR) you can buy the same apartment in the center, in a new building with a concierge and a gym. A house on the outskirts of the city on the ocean costs about the same.
Americans usually buy homes with a mortgage. Interest rates are constantly changing, but in general you can expect 3-5% per annum. The minimum down payment starts from 5% of the total cost of housing.
Pets
We moved to San Francisco with two small dogs. Finding an apartment here that allows you to live with a dog is difficult. When we finally chose an apartment and began to conclude an agreement, we were asked to fill out a separate questionnaire for each dog. It was necessary to indicate names, breed, age, personality traits, favorite food and familiar commands. This is necessary in case the management company needs to enter the apartment during our absence or so that in the event of an emergency evacuation they do not forget to evacuate our dogs.
Since we were checking in with dogs, the amount of our deposit tripled: without dogs we would have left 250 $ (15,000 R), and with dogs - 750 $ (45,000 R). The cost of rent has also increased: each pet costs $75 (RUR 4,500) per month. We have two dogs, so we pay an additional $150 (9000 RUR) per month.
150 $
per month we pay the owner of the apartment for two dogs to live with us
You can go to a psychotherapist and get a certificate stating that you are emotionally dependent on your animal. Then he will be given the status of service dog or emotional support animal. With such a doctor’s certificate, you are allowed to move into any apartment without restrictions, in addition, in most cases, the tenant is exempt from the extra charge on rent for an animal. This scheme was recommended to us by a realtor, but we didn’t use it because we think it’s fair to pay for lawn cleaning, plant replanting and dog packs in dispensers in the neighboring park.
Veterinary services in San Francisco are expensive. A doctor's examination costs $60 (RUR 3,600), and treatment of almost any disease or injury costs thousands of dollars. Therefore, many owners take out veterinary insurance for their animals.
60 $
It is worth checking the animal at the veterinarian
Our dogs are young and small, so insurance costs $40 (2400 RUR) per month for each dog. If the dogs were over 8 years old, the insurance would cost twice as much. Even with insurance, you will have to pay for treatment if something happens: the insurance plan covers 80% of the bill, has a payment limit of $10,000 (600,000 R) per year and a one-time deductible of $250 (15,000 R).
In addition, our insurance does not cover vaccinations, teeth cleaning, or routine tests for the animal. You can get unlimited insurance with full coverage, but it will cost from $120 (7200 RUR) per month for each dog.
Training, behavior correction, dog walkers, dog sitters and dog daycare - these services are used by most of our neighbors. This is the norm here. The social adaptation course is considered a basic need, so it is relatively inexpensive - $350-500 (RUR 21,000-30,000). Behavior correction is also a popular service. An hour and a half of work by a correction specialist costs $100-150 (6000-9000 R), as in Moscow.
Most dogs in San Francisco are walked at least three times a day. During the day, 70% of people walking dogs are not owners. The services of dog walkers, or “dog sitters,” are very popular in San Francisco. There are 20 competing companies with a huge staff of dog walkers. Many people with shift schedules earn extra money this way.
The cost of an hour of walking is from $30 (1800 RUR). Dog daycare is more common in San Francisco than daycare for children. IN walking distance Every home has at least one. Working owners take their dogs there all day long so they don't have to stay home alone. This service costs from $50 (3000 RUR) per day.
We don't use daycare because our angry Russian dogs don't like to be socialized very much.
In America, you can leave dogs at home alone if they tolerate loneliness well. But if a dog barks or howls in an apartment for several hours in a row, then the neighbors or management company may call animal control. A service employee will take the dog to a dog hotel, and the owner will be charged for the hotel from $100 (RUR 3,000) per day, a fine of $300 (RUR 18,000) and a warning for cruelty to animals.
420 $
per month we spend on two dogs
Our average monthly budget for maintaining two dogs is $420 (RUR 25,200). The average San Francisco resident with a dog enjoys much a large number services than us, and pays about $400 (24,000 R) for one animal.
Payments
For water, house maintenance, and garbage removal, we pay approximately $90 (5,400 RUR) per month. Electricity costs another 50-80 $ (3000-4800 R). If you live in your own house, then you will pay about $100-150 for utilities (6000-9000 R) per month.
In the USA, the Internet is expensive: for Wi-Fi in an apartment they pay $70 (4200 R) per month. On mobile communications with the Internet it costs about $50 (3000 R) per month for one.
It’s worth talking about the Internet in detail, because it is bad and expensive in San Francisco. We performed optics that are rare for California. The provider treats us like users of a new cool service. It’s surprising that in a city where Internet business rules the world, having constant access to the Internet is not perceived as something vital at all.
70 $
Wi-Fi in the apartment costs a month
One Saturday morning our internet went out. The support service arranged for us to visit a technician for the following Saturday - that is, it was assumed that we would be without a network for a week. As a result, it turned out that the Internet cable was damaged by road workers and the network did not work for the entire area. They fixed it three days later. During these three days, the provider's support service was torn with calls from angry residents of the area, most of whom work in IT.
Banks
A migrant's integration into the United States begins with a visit to the bank. You can open a debit account with a foreign passport and any visa confirming your legal stay in the country, including a tourist visa. The bank makes a card for the account for several days, after which it sends an envelope with the card by regular mail - it will be placed in mailbox, will be left with the concierge or stuck in the door gap. For security, it will be written on the envelope that there is personal data inside. Opening someone else's envelope is a crime.
I was surprised by online banks and mobile banking apps: they have an outdated interface, limited functions, and a transfer between your accounts can take several days, especially if you send it on a Friday after two o'clock in the afternoon.
An “electronic payment” for rental housing may look like this: go to personal account, click the button to transfer funds, the bank receives the request, prints a check, puts it in an envelope and mails it to the leasing company.
American banks are trying to adapt to urban communities and neighborhoods. An ordinary American bank in Chinatown operates in an office that looks like a pagoda temple, but in the LGBT district, the Castro Bank is decorated in rainbow colors.
Credit history
A credit history in the US is a record of your responsibility. It records not only timely loan payments, but also paid bills for mobile communications and the Internet, for rent and housing and communal services. Based on the credit history, decisions are made on signing a rental contract, on the conditions for issuing a loan and enrolling in studies.
Every organization that wants to verify your reliability has the right to access information about your credit history.
There is a vicious circle: if you do not have a credit history, then you will not be issued a credit card. And if you don't have a credit card that you regularly demonstrate ability to spend and pay back, you won't have a credit history.
Some banks in America have an unusual “credit” plan for beginners - Secured Credit Card. You get a credit card and put $500 (RUR 30,000) on it. You forget that this is your $500 and pretend that this is your credit limit on the card. You can take this money “on credit”, you have a payment schedule, according to which you must spend and return the money to the card. This way you demonstrate to the bank that you are a conscientious person and remember your mandatory payments. After six months or a year of such a performance, your credit limit can be expanded to $1000-1500.
Medical care
Medicine in America is always a big expense. Treatment for almost any injury or illness costs thousands of dollars. Therefore, it is extremely important to have health insurance.
Health insurance here is catastrophe insurance. Insurance reimburses most of the costs of medical care, but does not cover them entirely; you will still have to pay out of pocket.
Insurance costs from $350 (21,000 R) to $800 (48,000 R) per month per person. When choosing an insurance plan, you need to focus on three main numbers:
- the amount of the monthly payment for insurance;
- amount of payments when visiting a doctor;
- maximum potential cost per year.
For example, you can save on the insurance itself and pay less per month, but then your bills for each doctor visit will increase. And if you want to monitor your health in general and regularly visit a doctor, you will have to include money for this in your monthly budget.
For comparison, a visit to a doctor for a person without insurance will cost from $150 (9000 RUR), for an insured person - from $20 (1200 RUR). An X-ray without insurance will cost from $300 (18,000 RUR) to several thousand. Some companies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley cover their employees' insurance and any additional medical costs.
150 $
It's worth seeing a doctor if you don't have insurance. If you have insurance - $20
Products and shopping
For the first few months, I went to grocery stores like I was going to a museum. I can’t say that our food preferences have changed much, but there are a lot of new dishes that we cook at home. In any chain store you can find dozens of types of meat, a hundred different sauces, excellent fruits and vegetables, and Californian cheeses and wine are so good and varied that we still haven’t tried everything.
You won’t be able to go to the store for less than $50 (3000 RUR). The average check is $70 (4200 RUR).
70 $
our average bill at a grocery store
We spend $500-600 (RUR 30,000-36,000) per month on groceries and household chemicals.
The water in San Francisco and Silicon Valley is clean and drinkable from the tap. Therefore, during lunch, most people do not order drinks with their food, but simply ask for a glass of water - it is free.
Bringing your own bottle of water to a diner or cafe is also quite normal. If you order only food, then you can have lunch for $15-20 (900-1200 R). Coffee or tea - another 2-4 $ (120-240 R).
Coupons and discount cards in the USA are power. This is where they really work. If you get discount cards from different stores and pay attention to bonuses and coupons from time to time, you can save up to $15 (900 R) per receipt.
Sales in stores are organized for every possible occasion, holiday or event such as the victory of a favorite city sports team. And also without a case: discounts are sent by mail, there are discounts on days of the week for certain credit cards, the discount can be found on the store's website. If you really like an item, but there is no discount, then you can always find it in another store at a discount, or just wait a couple of weeks - and it will cost less.
During the move, we brought three suitcases of things with us. But these clothes were not enough for life, so we bought a significant part of the wardrobe and spent $800 (48,000 RUR) on each due to sales on Black Friday.
Transport
San Francisco residents mostly get by without own car. The city is small, many places can be reached on foot, by bicycle or scooter, especially since the weather allows this to be done all year round. There are also problems with parking: it is scarce and expensive. A parking space in our house costs $300 (RUR 18,000) per month. You won't be able to leave your car on the sidewalk: you are guaranteed to be towed and fined.
300 $
a parking space in our house costs a month
Many city residents are abandoning cars in favor of bicycles, hoverboards and motorized skateboards.
If you travel far, it is better to use public transport. The city has buses, trams, and metro. The metro has five lines, they connect with cities on the other side of the bay.
There are also convenient and inexpensive taxis in San Francisco. Every second car in the city is an Uber or Lift. If you share a trip with other passengers in Uber Pool, you will pay 5-10 $ (300-600 RUR). A regular trip to Uber-X costs 7-20 $ (420-1200 RUR).
From San Francisco to any city in Silicon Valley, you can travel on Caltrain - it's like an electric train. During rush hour, Caltrain resembles a subway, only all the passengers here write code on a laptop, check tasks in Trello, or generally sit in glasses-monitors.
You can get from San Francisco to Palo Alto in 40-60 minutes and $8 (480 R). To San Jose - 1-1.5 hours and 17 $ (1020 R). Many companies are located in Silicon Valley, so when choosing housing, it is better to focus on the location of the office, otherwise up to $20 (1200 R) per day will be spent on travel alone.
8 $
cost of a train ticket from San Francisco to Palo Alto
On weekends, we rent a car for trips out of town. There is no traditional car sharing, but there is the Zipcar service and analogues, the disadvantage of which is that the car must be returned to the same place where you took it; book a specific number of hours and drive no more than 180 miles per day. Renting a car costs 9-12 $ (540-720 R) per hour or 100-150 $ (6000-9000 R) for the whole day, this price includes gasoline. If you travel more than 180 miles, you will have to pay an additional 45 cents (27 R) for each extra mile.
Entertainment and services
In San Francisco good museums. They often bring interesting and unusual exhibitions. Entrance to the museum costs about $30 (1800 RUR). Each museum spends days with free entry, for example the first Tuesday of the month. There is also a schedule of free days by city district or for cardholders of a certain bank. But there's a problem with these stocks: free days lines at popular museums are longer than at Picasso in Pushkinsky, so it’s easier to pay $30.
30 $
average cost of a museum ticket
There are a lot of jazz clubs in San Francisco. All of them are worthy of attention. Almost any concert in the auditorium will cost $50-100 (3000-6000 R) per ticket. Classic events more expensive, and the cost of tickets, for example, to the ballet will be $100-300 (6,000-18,000 RUR).
Surprisingly, the beauty industry in the USA is always a problem. Finding a good manicurist is difficult; his work costs from $60 (3600 RUR), and finding a salon near your home that would meet sanitary expectations is almost impossible. I bought manicure equipment and do my own manicure at home. These costs were recouped in two weeks.
60 $
average price for manicure
We reduce the budget
Living in San Francisco is interesting, but expensive. If you rent a studio, don’t get sick, don’t buy clothes at all, and once a month entertain yourself with trips out of town in a rented car, then for a family of two people you need about $5,000 (RUR 300,000) per month.
With a budget of $8,000 (480,000 R) you can live more freely, but with children and traveling abroad it will be difficult. A comfortable budget for living in San Francisco is from $10,000 (600,000 RUR) per month.
We really like it in San Francisco. Here good weather, dynamic environment and many business and career opportunities. I want to do more and achieve more. At the same time, we do not feel a crazy rhythm, overload or irritation from the people around us. Here there is a time for everything and people do not forget to relax and devote time to themselves and their hobbies.
If you think San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge and cable trams, you are not mistaken, it is so. However, in addition to these well-known symbols, the city has rich history, beautiful architecture, but the main thing that its residents are proud of is the unofficial title of the most free city in a world that San Francisco proudly wears. IN different times In some amazing way, it became a center of attraction for adventurers and out-of-the-box thinkers - it is no coincidence that the hippie movement was born here. 
Golden Gate Bridge - " business card" San Francisco Understanding why this city is the “freest” is not so difficult if you remember the history of San Francisco. Indians lived on its territory for tens of thousands of years, but in 1776 the Spaniards arrived here. At that time the settlement was called Yerba Buena. In 1848, the city began to rapidly develop and grow - mainly due to the Gold Rush epidemic that covered these places; It was then that it received its modern name. In just a year, the population of San Francisco increased from 1,000 to 25,000 people; people came here from all over the world in search of work, but especially many people from China. China Town still occupies a significant part of the city; a fifth of San Francisco's population is Chinese.
In 1906, the city was almost destroyed by a strong earthquake, during which three thousand people died and another 300 thousand were left homeless. However, over time it was restored. In the 80s of the last century there was another devastating earthquake, which destroyed the expressway running along the embankment. By the way, they didn’t restore it, but now the city has a wonderful walking area.
Today, San Francisco is one of the most vibrant cities in America, home to many cultures and nationalities. The hippie revolution that happened here in the late 60s of the last century turned it into a center of attraction for creative, unconventional and free-thinking people. Some of them are still here today - those who took part in the Summer of Love festival in 1967, speaking on the side of the sexual revolution and proclaiming personal freedom as the highest good a person can have.
Participants of the Summer of Love festival in San Francisco
San Francisco, late 60s In the 1980s, San Francisco once again became an epicenter of dissent, this time thanks to homosexuals who first felt free here. Today, almost 15 percent of the city's residents are representatives of sexual minorities - this is more than in any other city in the world. By the way, it was here, in the gay quarter of Castro, that the symbol of the LGBT community once appeared - the rainbow flag. Harvey Milk, the first American politician to openly declare his sexuality, also lived here. However, adherents of traditional love feel no less free here.
To get to know San Francisco, a couple of days is not enough - this place is worth spending at least a week here.
Marina Savelyeva (HELLO.RU) “grabbed” the symbol of the city - the cable tram Most travelers first rush to see the main attraction captured on every postcard - the Golden Gate Bridge. However, the bridge is far from the most interesting thing in this city. What is truly surprising here are the people. Elderly hippies, street musicians, gays and married couples with children do not interfere with each other at all, living side by side.
Dolores Park in San Francisco In addition to walking, during which it is best to get to know the townspeople, renting housing from local residents will also help you get closer to the city. Instead of staying in hotels located in tourist center city, it is much better to choose one of the options abundantly presented on the Airbnb website and spend a week in an ordinary residential area.
Haight-Ashbury area.
This is one of the most interesting areas cities. Firstly, one of the few neighborhoods that were not destroyed by the 1906 earthquake. Accordingly, Haight-Ashbury retains ancient buildings dating back to the 19th century. Secondly, this particular area is considered the birthplace of hippies. In the 50s of the 20th century, one could buy the cheapest housing in the city here, which provoked an influx of representatives of countercultures. As a result, in 1967, the center of this “movement” was formed here - thousands of people from all over the world celebrated the “Summer of Love”. By the 1980s, it had already become part of history, and now Haight-Ashbury is considered a fairly prestigious area to live in. Artists and musicians live here, next to the hippies who can still be found here. While walking around Haight-Ashbury, don’t be afraid to turn into alleys - there you can see a lot of bright graffiti that is painted on the walls of houses. Most of them are original slogans with the help of which “flower children,” just like 50 years ago, call for love and freedom. By the way, graffiti is not only in this area, there is a lot of it throughout the city.
Graffiti depicting Carlos Santana, who lived in San Francisco
Graffiti in San Francisco takes up entire streets
An area where for every square meter there is a symbol of the LGBT community. Rainbow flags can be seen in every window, all souvenirs in stores have the same symbols. Even the crosswalk in Castro is colorful! And this is not just like that. Castro is a gay neighborhood.
LGBT symbols are everywhere in the Castro area
Entire generations of people free from prejudice have grown up in San Francisco.
However, you shouldn’t expect to be surrounded by scantily clad men on the streets, standing up for their right to love each other. Residents of this area have not been proving anything to anyone for a long time - they just live. If it weren’t for the multi-colored flags (which mostly appeared here in support of the recently passed law in the United States allowing representatives of sexual minorities to enter into legal marriage), you would hardly immediately understand how this area differs from others. Perhaps after a couple of hours, sitting in a cafe or standing in line at the checkout in a store, you would involuntarily catch yourself thinking that there are mostly men around. 
Chinatown
As already mentioned, a fifth of San Francisco's population is Chinese. For the most part, they are descendants of immigrants who arrived here in the 19th century in search of work. However, if you decide to get around the city by taxi, every other driver will be Chinese and will most likely speak terrible English. During the earthquake, China Town was destroyed and then completely rebuilt. Today the district occupies a fairly large area in the city.
Lombard Street
The steepest street in the city in every sense, one section of which has an inclination angle of 27 degrees. Speed vehicles The speed limit here is 8 km/h, but no one is trying to drive faster: mostly tourists come to Lombard Street who want to take a closer look at the street and therefore are in no hurry to pass quickly.
Vintage shops
For lovers of vintage and San Francisco flea markets - real paradise. In the numerous shops located throughout the city, you can find anything from designer jewelry for $2-3 to a spectacular leather chair from the 50s for $80.
Decades of fashion - one of the largest stores with vintage items
Showcase of the Decades of fashion store: here you can buy both real antique clothing items and modern ones, made in an antique style.
A dress with history can be bought for $30
And a real vintage bathing suit - for $15
Silicon Valley
In the southwest of San Francisco lies Silicon Valley (or Silicon Valley, as we call it) - the largest technology center in the world. It is home to technical universities and the head offices of Adobe, Apple, eBay, Google, Facebook, Oracle, Yahoo!, LinkedIn and many other companies. The staff includes some of the best scientists in the world, many of whom reside in San Francisco. If you have the opportunity to visit any of these offices, go - you won't regret it. The internal structure of organizations is unusual and interesting. Airbnb was also founded in San Francisco in 2008 and is headquartered here.
After walking the streets and observing the life of local residents, you can go on “spot” excursions - visit the famous Pier 39, where dozens of sea lions rest, and have lunch at Fisherman's Wharf. Best view The view of the city is from Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. From a height of 210 meters you can take excellent panoramic pictures of the city; entrance to the tower is free, but you will have to pay to go to the observation deck.
The famous "Pier 39" - favorite place sea lions
Another place that it would be criminal not to visit when arriving in San Francisco is the famous Alcatraz prison. She is on island of the same name, which is visible from the pier. Now the prison has been disbanded, within the walls of the gloomy buildings there is a museum that reminds visitors that at the beginning of the 20th century there was one of the strictest prisons in the world, where especially dangerous criminals served their sentences. The narrow windows of the cells were located in such a way that the prisoners could see the city and free life in it, realizing even more clearly that it was now inaccessible to them. It is believed that not a single prisoner managed to escape from Alcatraz, although attempts were made. Even those who managed to leave its walls could not reach the shore alive due to the cold waters and strong currents in the bay.
View of the island and Alcatraz prison from Coit Tower
It's also worth checking out the Painted Ladies, six colorful houses in the Alamo Square neighborhood. These and several thousand more houses were built in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. The earthquake destroyed most of the buildings, but these six houses remained intact. The fashion for bright, colorful houses at the end of the 19th century was widespread, local newspapers even wrote that if someone's house does not have a lemon or, for example, bright blue tint, then its owner simply has no taste. Following these houses, which were also called the "Six Sisters", "Painted Ladies" began to be called the colorful houses of the Victorian era throughout America.
And finally, about the Golden Gate. This red bridge, almost 2.5 kilometers long, is a symbol of San Francisco. Despite the beauty of the object, it has a rather dark reputation. People called the Golden Gate the “suicide bridge”, because over the almost 80 years of its existence, more than 1,000 people said goodbye to their lives with its help. The thick fog that envelops the bridge most of the time looks impressive and mysterious on postcards, but in real life it can make it difficult to see the bridge. So when planning a trip to Golden Gate, be sure to check the weather forecast.
Marina Savelyeva (HELLO.RU)
A few more tips:
1. For the USA, San Francisco has a well-developed public transport system, however local residents prefer to travel by car. So when planning a trip, be prepared to spend $30 to $50 a day on a 20-minute round trip. Or you can travel by bus, it will cost you 5-7 dollars per day, but a taxi is, of course, more convenient and faster.
2. Getting around the city will be easier if you use Uber taxi services. In American Uber, everything is exactly the same as in Russian, and you don’t even have to reinstall the application on your phone - it will simply adapt to the country on the spot. However, there is one caveat: in America, Uber includes a Pool function, by selecting which you can take a travel companion along the way and split the bill in half with him.
3. Writer Jack London was born in San Francisco, actors Robin Williams and Savely Kramarov lived here, and the houses of Carlos Santana and Steven Spielberg are still located here to this day. Find out where they lived in advance so you can see the city through their eyes.
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