Moving from St. Louis, MO, to San Francisco, CA

Your future looks bright in vibrant San Francisco 

Trading the traditional, laid-back vibe of St. Louis, MO, for San Francisco, CA's dynamic, fast-paced energy may feel like a big adjustment at first.  

But with access to the correct information, getting to and enjoying your new city is easier than expected. We’ll give you an idea of what to expect from your cross-country move, and then we’ll explain how having specialized and experienced help can make all the difference. 

Enjoy year-round outdoor activities 

San Franciscans love being outside. And with the city’s consistently comfortable weather, who can blame them? Expect an average of 259 sunny days yearly to soak up all the Golden City offers. San Francisco’s average January temperature of 50 and July temperature of 60 degrees is far from St. Louis’ freezing winters and simmering summers.  

Another bonus is being able to leave the heavy cold-weather gear behind. San Francisco gets nearly half as much annual rainfall as St. Louis (25 inches vs. 42 inches) and no snow compared to more than 15 inches yearly in the Gateway to the West. 

Getting educated in San Francisco

If you’re moving with children, San Francisco has plenty of schools to choose from.

The San Francisco Unified School District — the seventh-largest in California — manages the city’s public schools. Much like in St. Louis, the public school system in San Francisco is highly rated. The district’s 126 schools (including 64 elementary schools and 15 high schools) educate more than 57,000 students each year.

There are also a number of private and parochial schools in San Francisco that provide an alternative to public school. If you’re moving for college, or have college-aged children, there are several higher education institutions in the city as well, including the University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University and the City College of San Francisco, which is one of the largest community colleges in the country.

You might be in for some sticker shock 

San Francisco is one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S. And moving from St. Louis — where the cost of living is 50 percent lower, according to NerdWallet — means absorbing that cost. Like St. Louis, San Francisco is filled with established neighborhoods, each having a distinct vibe. But buying a house (at a median price of $1.4 million) or renting an apartment (with a median monthly rent of nearly $4,000 for a two-bedroom) in the city isn’t attainable for most people. 

Many newcomers venture into nearby communities in search of more affordable housing. Neighboring cities known for their relative affordability include Oakland, Alameda, Pleasant Hill, San Pablo, Vallejo, and Walnut Creek. A good local realtor can help guide you through the process. 

Be a sport and support local teams 

St. Louis, home of MLB’s Cardinals, is widely known as one of the most passionate baseball towns in the country. The Redbirds ranked fourth in attendance in 2023, drawing over 3.2 million people through the Busch Stadium gates. Baseball fans will quickly find kindred spirits in San Francisco Giants supporters, who also show up in big numbers to picturesque Oracle Park, nestled along the Embarcadero against San Francisco Bay. 

While baseball is king in The Lou — which has no professional football or basketball franchises — San Francisco offers more options for both pro and college sports in and around the city. There are the NFL’s 49ers, the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, and the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS for pro sports options. College fans can catch high-level NCAA sporting events nearby at Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley. Auto racing fans are covered, as well. Sonoma Raceway, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, hosts popular annual NASCAR and NHRA events. 

Choose the long-distance moving experts and rest easy 

Figuring out how to move from St. Louis to San Francisco doesn’t have to be a solo mission. Let the experienced team at U-Pack® be your trusted resource. Over the last quarter-century, we’ve completed more than a million moves throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Leave your stress behind and replace it with excitement about your new home! Contact one of our local service centers for a free quote and all the details.