Searching For The Best Place To Retire: San Francisco, CA

As Empty Nesters start to think about downsizing, some choose to stay in the same town/city. For others, it may mean relocating to a another city, a different state, or maybe even a different country.

A good place to start would be to view places you’ve already been with a different lense. For example, when we went to San Francisco (aka, “City by the Bay”) years ago, we thought it was a nice place to visit, but never really thought about living there.

We were too young to even think about that, but now that we’re older, it’s on top of our minds. With a different lifestyle and financial situation, we might make another trip there to see if San Francisco is a contender (or any of the surrounding areas).

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Is San Francisco A Good Place To Retire?

Pros

Some good things about living in San Francisco:

Mild Climate Cooler summers; moderate winters.
Quality Healthcare San Francisco has some of the best medical centers in the nation.
Rich Cultural Scene Symphony, Ballet, Museums.
Natural Beauty Forests, parks, hiking trails, coastal views.
Diverse Dining From fine dining to casual neighborhood cafes—a food lover’s paradise!
Inclusive Community A very welcoming and accepting environment for all residents.
Good Public Transportation Various systems for those without a car.

Cons

Some not-so-good things about living in San Francisco:

Mild Climate It may be too similar to your own…do you want to live somewhere warmer?
Limited Housing Options Long wait lists, high prices.
High Cost Of Living One of most expensive cities in nation, strain on retirement budgets.
Traffic/Parking Problems For those with a car, there’s lots of traffic and parking challenges.
Urban Density Noise, crowded streets, lack of privacy.
Homelessness Crisis Ongoing problem, may be distressing to see.
Earthquake Risk Retirees will want to ensure that their homes are earthquake-prepared.
Fog/Weather Variability Frequent fog and cool temperatures may not appeal to everyone.

Aside from doing your own research, the only way to know if San Francisco is right for you is to see it for yourselves.

Things To Do

A must-do was hanging out at Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, where we found entertaining musicians, street performers, people watching, souvenir shops, and great places to eat.

It’s fun to look at all the sea lions, as they basque in the sun, before heading to Ghirardelli Square (for more boutiques and eateries), and the Aquarium of the Bay. If you’re not short on time, you may want to do the Alcatraz Tour.

Would We Live Here?

Despite San Francisco’s vibrant culture and alluring scenery, we wouldn’t choose to live right in the city. This is mainly due to affordability, but also because we’re coming from decades of living in the country. What a shock that would be!

Our next trip to San Francisco and its surrounding areas will definitely be different, as our focus shifts to looking for a nice place to retire.

After having fun in the city, we’ll head to wine country—to satisfy our ever-growing love for red wine, and also to hunt for more affordable properties. If we find one not too far from the city, we can still visit it when we want, without paying the high prices.

Is San Francisco (or a nearby city) on your list?

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