Moving from Pittsburgh, PA, to San Francisco, CA

Welcome to San Francisco

Moving across the country from Pittsburgh, PA, to San Francisco takes you to a vibrant city on the West Coast.

San Francisco’s population of 874,000 is larger than Pittsburgh’s, which is around 303,000. The SF metro population is also larger, with 4.6 million residents, compared to 2.5 million in Pittsburgh’s metro.

Keep reading to learn a bit more about “the City,” as some San Francisco residents call it.

Expect a climate change

San Francisco's climate is milder than Pittsburgh’s. San Francisco’s average temperatures range from 46 to 67 degrees, while Pittsburgh’s range is 21 to 84 degrees.

Snow is rare in San Francisco, while Pittsburgh typically receives around 28 inches annually.

Summers are cooler in San Francisco, and the city averages around 25 inches of rain each year, a bit less than the 40 inches Pittsburgh receives annually.

Making a living in the Bay Area

San Francisco is an expensive area, especially in terms of housing. Many people in the region work in the technology or finance sectors.

Other top job markets include biotechnology, education, healthcare, logistics, marketing and sustainability resources.

Top employers include Airbnb, Salesforce, Genentech, USFC Medical Center, Charles Schwab, Wells Fargo and the state government. The area is also served by San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco for those seeking higher education or employment at a university. 

San Francisco trivia for new residents

Learn more about your new city:

  • It’s considered one of the most walkable cities in the U.S.
  • San Francisco is the birthplace of fortune cookies.
  • The Bay Area fog has a name; it’s called “Karl.”
  • The city’s footprint is only 49 square miles.
  • The Golden Gate Bridge is actually painted orange to stand out in the fog.

Get a quote for your move to California

U-Pack® has nationwide service centers, including locations near Pittsburgh and San Francisco, ready to serve you. We’re a DIY-moving service with nearly 30 years of experience in long-distance moves. You handle packing, loading and unloading, and we drive your belongings to your new home. Get a free online quote today, or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.