San Francisco is an easy place to find a job, although finding the perfect job can be another story. However, you can always survive in the Bay Area, which is truly a land of plenty.
Finding a place to live IN San Francisco can be tricky, as I found out when I moved out here 15 years ago. Everybody wanted first and last months rent with another deposit on top of that, a zillion local references, etc., etc. And it was very expensive. Luckily, when we told our story to the bank officer who helped us with opening an account, she told us about an apartment that was available in the building she lived in, and that it was in Alameda. We had no idea what or where Alameda was, but when she described it, it sounded like heaven…an island in the bay, next to a beach, and there was a big pool at the apartment!
So we checked it out and it was great! It even had brand new carpeting! The best part was that all they wanted was $400 deposit, that's it! We offered to pay the first two months rent upfront, since we didn't even have jobs then! Alameda is a great place to live in with a smalltown feel, and very convenient to The City, (as we refer to San Francisco around here). It's flat so it's perfect for leisurely bike rides along the bay, walking, and roller-blading. Windsurfing is also popular in Alameda.
Anyway, I now live in Oakland, a city that has always lived in the shadow of the glamorous San Francisco, however it is a great place to live. Because of its undeservedly maligned reputation, the real estate has been undervalued, however that is rapidly changing as more and more people become aware of the charms of Oakland, of which there are many.
Yet the draw of San Francisco compells many people to do what they must to live there, whether it's sharing an apartment or just paying the price.
A couple of recommendations for resources for both jobs and finding a place to live are:
The San Francisco Chronicle, which you can subscribe to by calling 1-800-CHRONICLE. It's San Francisco's major newspaper, and I get it delivered to my door daily. The Sunday newspaper has "The Pink Pages" section, which I keep for the whole week to refer to for fun things to do. There's the movie section, nightclubs, concerts, special events, museums, etc., with all the current information.
Another very popular and useful source for jobs, places to live, entertainment and everything in between, is Craig's List, which is a comprehensive on-line resource which you can click to at www.craigslist.org and find just about anything you want!
