1 - Try and have a job before moving. SF is very expensive and the job market is tricky. There is decent transportation here, so one can work in the East Bay pretty easily. Or get to where they need to go.

2 - Some areas are pretty spotty in terms of getting around or the level of Homeless. Areas to avoid...

Bay Shore
Hunters Point
Tenderloin
Potrero Hill

Just too iffy in terms of crime.

Excelsior/Outer Mission
Sunset
Richmond
Ingleside

Pretty far out there and not a lot of transportation options

I'd also avoid Diamond Heights & Twin Peaks unless they have a car because both neighborhoods as the they suggest are up on hills that are difficult to walk up.

3 - Use Craigs List to find an apt.

Studios range from 800 - 1100
One BD RM - 1200 - 1600

Good Luck!

this thread just reminded me why I'll probably never move back to the bay area.
I am paying $1300 for a 2306 sqft 4 bedroom house on a 1/4 acre of land.

Of course it's in Texas so I guess there is a downside

suggestion to your friend try the east bay or south bay and commute into the city if that is where he's working. BART is a wonderful thing

Best friend is moving there and I love the place but had no suggestions on where to live, how the cost of living is, where's he going to look for a job, etc.

Any suggestions would really be helpful, thanks for your time.

Slave2daGroove said:

Hey Thanks a million! This is really helpful.

Sorry, Rushing07, he's not a Prince fan...

Slave2daGroove said:

He had beter be well into the 6 figure salary range. Frisco is no joke.

rushing07 said:

I can live with that.

Did I mention I cook and have day job?
[Edited 10/1/07 13:21pm]

Slave2daGroove said:

I wanna share an apartment with him not a bed!
I will explain it all to him when we take a shower.

EverSoulicious said:

Welcome to the SF Bay area .

In the East Bay you can get a two bedroom appartment for $925 in a bad neighborhood.

Sowhat said:

hush up you are just mad we beat your ass in football

rushing07 said:

He's obsessive compulsive, really a good friend but I can only take his personality in small doses. Live together? Never.

Slave2daGroove said:

He had beter be well into the 6 figure salary range. Frisco is no joke.

Graycap23 said:

Not true. I've been thinking about this in general for a while. One needs to make about 40K to live in this city. Anything less and you're stretching it. That or you are not going out, taking a vacation, shopping etc. I think it would be hard to live here and enjoy it if one was making under 40K. My partner makes 16 an hour and even though I make a bit more than he does, we do struggle a bit.

Graycap23 said:

Not true. I've been thinking about this in general for a while. One needs to make about 40K to live in this city. Anything less and you're stretching it. That or you are not going out, taking a vacation, shopping etc. I think it would be hard to live here and enjoy it if one was making under 40K. My partner makes 16 an hour and even though I make a bit more than he does, we do struggle a bit.

EverSoulicious said:

What are you talking about...what football game?????

Graycap23 said:

That's what he makes here, not sure about there...

superspaceboy said:

I guess lifestyle plays a role.

Graycap23 said:

It does a bit. I know folks who make less..and they just make ends meet but manage to get by.

superspaceboy said:

I've been digging all day on this subject with 40k there's no way to be able to actually buy a house. The pricing on homes are insane, my friend will do just fine though.

A million thanks for everyone's responses.

superspaceboy said:

I've been digging all day on this subject with 40k there's no way to be able to actually buy a house. The pricing on homes are insane, my friend will do just fine though.

A million thanks for everyone's responses.