Leaving St. Louis for San Francisco

No matter how long you’ve called St. Louis home, you’ve probably managed to spend many days with friends at family at your favorite restaurants, the downtown farmer’s market or a Blues or Cardinals game. But if life is taking you from The Lou to the City by the Bay, there’s a lot to like there, too! See what to expect from a move to San Francisco and learn how to move cross country with U-Pack.

How’s the weather there?

When you think of California, you may picture sunny days, warm summers and mild winters. That’s partly true with a move to San Francisco. While you’ll get a reprieve from the sweltering, muggy summers and chilly winters in St. Louis, San Francisco’s year-round climate is much cooler and milder than what you’re used to. The city is located on a peninsula and surrounded by the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. This attracts wind, fog and cooler temps during the summer months, so it’s best to keep a light jacket or sweater handy. San Francisco winters are cool and rainy.

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.

Finding work by the Bay

St. Louis is one of the country’s leaders in job opportunities for trade, manufacturing and retail. If you work in those fields in St. Louis, you could find similar work in San Francisco. But the city’s economy also thrives on tourism, technology, and insurance and financial services. San Francisco has a healthy, educated workforce, and Forbes ranks it as one of the top cities in the country for job growth — ideal for job-seekers.

Having fun in the Golden Gate City

St. Louis is a great place to live because it has lots of places to play and have fun. The city has a great selection of arts and cultural opportunities, from the interactive architectural and industrial objects at the City Museum, or the historic works of art at the Saint Louis Art Museum. There’s also an abundance of local parks, where you can hike, bike ride, play Frisbee golf or just have a family picnic. But while you may miss those opportunities in St. Louis, you’ll get plenty of chances to do some of the same things in San Francisco!

Go for a jog, or take a day trip to one of the city’s 220 public parks. Enjoy the scenic views at Golden Gate Park, or even visit Alcatraz and learn the story of one of the most historic sites in the city! If you’re outdoorsy, go kayaking at Angel Island, or hike or explore the Presidio. There are also several museums and art galleries, and chances to see concerts or other performing arts shows at area theaters. Into sports and missing your Cardinals or Blues? Catch them when they’re in the Bay Area to play the San Francisco Giants or San Jose Sharks! So much fun and adventure awaits in San Francisco.

How’s the traffic?

If you’re traveling with a car, you can drive your own vehicle in San Francisco, but be prepared to battle with traffic. Drivers in St. Louis spend about 45 minutes a day stuck in traffic, according to a study from INRIX. But in San Francisco, it’s a different story. According to INRIX, drivers in the Golden Gate City can spend up to two hours stuck in traffic on a daily basis. The report also finds that San Francisco is the eighth most congested city in the U.S., whereas St. Louis is 50th. Finding parking in the city can also be a challenge.

As an alternative to driving, many residents opt for public transportation, or other ride-sharing programs like Uber or Lyft. The city offers a variety of public transit options for residents and tourists alike, from city bus lines to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), taxis, and cable cars.

Move to San Francisco with U-Pack

Need help with your move to San Francisco? With U-Pack®, all you have to do is pack and load your belongings into the moving equipment, and we’ll handle the rest! Get a free moving quote online or call us at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 for more information about our services. Explore our coverage map here.