My wife and I have the option to relocate to either place. Would appreciate any and all opinions! For what it is worth, we are in our mid/late 20s…
That’s a good problem to have. My wife just moved from the SF area (east bay) to San Diego a few months ago. We loved the SF Bay area, but SD has it all. Both are places other people come to vacation so you honestly can’t go wrong with either one.
SD obviously more of a coastal community, lots to do, easy airport, great social scene.
SF colder, nor-cal is not really a palm-tree style beach place, way more cold and foggy. Terrific restaurant scene, close to Napa/Sonoma and Tahoe.
Went to high school in northern San Diego (stretches the limits to say that where we lived, Rancho Bernardo, was San Diego but such was the map) and moved to the Bay Area when I went to college, and have essentially been here ever since. Had I to do it over again, I would stay in San Diego…
My wife and I have the option to relocate to either place. Would appreciate any and all opinions! For what it is worth, we are in our mid/late 20s…
If you’re thinking about living within SF proper, you have to like “city living”… Otherwise, the East Bay, Peninsula, and Marin are great alternatives where you’ll be close enough to the city without the city feeling. I just relocated from Scottsdale and have found the cycling community to be quite strong, however if you’re a triathlete and that’s more your scene, you’ll probably feel more at home in San Diego. There’s no shortage of triathletes here, it just doesn’t seem to be as prevalent (my opinion in my brief time here).
I’ve lived both places. I much preferred the lifestyle of living in SF, but I generally think the training and riding is better in San Diego. San Francisco is a city. San Diego is a massive county that has a downtown area. One of the reasons my wife and I left San Diego was the amount of time we spent in our cars. We drove all the time and it seemed that every trip was at least 20 miles and involved a freeway or two.
If you’re talking about SF proper, as in the city, I’d pass on that unless you want to live in a big city, concrete jungle environment. The east and north bays can be nice areas with lots of outdoor exercise options. The biggest difference is the weather. SD is pleasant all year, almost always warm and only gets down to low 50’s/high 40’s during winter. Northern Cal is colder, and you have nasty fog and wet weather in cooler months on the peninsula. I lived in the east bay (San Ramon) for a while, and it was very nice, but I’d still take SD over it in a heartbeat.
My wife and I have the option to relocate to either place. Would appreciate any and all opinions! For what it is worth, we are in our mid/late 20s…
Where are you moving from?
I’ve lived both places. I much preferred the lifestyle of living in SF, but I generally think the training and riding is better in San Diego. San Francisco is a city. San Diego is a massive county that has a downtown area. One of the reasons my wife and I left San Diego was the amount of time we spent in our cars. We drove all the time and it seemed that every trip was at least 20 miles and involved a freeway or two.
Totally agree with this. Horses for courses though…I’ll take being in my car anytime over being on public transportation or walking. I just don’t like city living…so you just need to make that determination for yourself. SD has it all over SF as far as weather…no comparison.
The biggest difference is the weather. SD is pleasant all year, almost always warm and only gets down to low 50’s/high 40’s during winter. Northern Cal is colder, and you have nasty fog and wet weather in cooler months on the peninsula. I lived in the east bay (San Ramon) for a while, and it was very nice, but I’d still take SD over it in a heartbeat.
In the city, it can be low 50s/high 40s any given day during the summer.
One day a couple years ago, I was in the city and it was in the 50s in Golden Gate Park. That afternoon, we got home to Sacramento and it was over 100…
There is lots of great riding in the east bay and south bay and lots of great scenery in Marin/north bay. Some great MTB too.
Thanks for all of the replies so far. To be more specific, the choice would be between the northern part of San Francisco (Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow, Marina) or North County San Diego (Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe)…
Sucks to be you!! Great options. Where will you be working/commuting… assuming you will be working.
I think as a person in your 20’s, the biggest variable is whether you want city living or if you are ready for the 'burbs. If you are city people, SF as a city has waaay more character than SD, IMO. But if you are 'burbs people, the SF burbs are pretty mediocre and the “price for what you get” just plain sucks.
The second biggest variable is how important “hot” weather is to you. If you are moving from a hot climate (AZ, FL, SoCal, TX, etc), SF will feel chilly to you and you should probably head south. If you are moving from the Northeast (like I did) or the Midwest to SF, SF will feel, on average, much warmer and sunnier than you are used to.
In either place, you will now get to chuckle at all the people who write threads stressing about finding the best treadmill and/or setting up trainers to bike indoors for 4 months straight, because you can workout outside most days even during the winter and every single day from April to November.
ducks 
Good luck.
Move to SF while you’re young. You won’t regret it.
San Francisco is a city. San Diego is a massive county that has a downtown area. One of the reasons my wife and I left San Diego was the amount of time we spent in our cars. We drove all the time and it seemed that every trip was at least 20 miles and involved a freeway or two.
+1 this nails it.
I would have to agree with ALL these assesments. I spent my early 20s in noth SD and LOVED IT. I wasnt into sports back then however. I currently live in East bay (Brentwood) and hate it. I am aways driving somewhere to get to good riding and swiming. The Bay area is much nicer than where I live, and as long as you are happy with cool fog, youll be good. Im a SOCAL boy and love the sun and 80 degree weather so I would give the North coastal SD the nod. That area just kicks a ton of ass… but you WILL be driving a LOT.
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I lived in SD for about 3 years (SD proper, not the burbs), and I have family and friends that live all over the SF area including the City itself and the burbs on both sides of the bay so I’ve been visiting it regularly most of my life. The comments about how much you actually appreciate City living (or not) are right on the money… SF is waaay cooler, both in the urban ‘hip’ sense and literally the climate, but that can be a + or - depending on personal taste.
I think for training, north SD county is tops, easy… perfect weather and a very active tri community; in fact you could even call the Encinitas-Del Mar area the cradle of the modern Tri scene going back to the early 80s. But, it’s pretty bland and very yuppie compared to SF (sure, SF has its yuppie enclaves too, but overall it’s got way more hair growing out of weird places, so to speak.) I really liked SD, but at this point I’d prefer SF for the culture, although 1) I come from further north so I’m used to the chill & damp, and 2) I don’t train nearly as much as I used to so the density is less of a drag than it would have been a few years ago.
I used to live in Brentwood and couldn’t stand it. Live in Dublin/Pleasanton now and it’s much nicer. Actually a great training area.
Thanks for all of the replies so far. To be more specific, the choice would be between the northern part of San Francisco (Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow, Marina) or North County San Diego (Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe)…
Dude…it don’t matter. It is ALL good. I like to surf, so I would take San Diego but you are good either way.
Moved to San Diego area not long ago. Cycling and swimming opportunities are great here! Never need to check the weather before heading out and are in shorts most of the year.
I moved to north county and couldn’t be happier.
Are you white or not? I and some other friends have had some experiences that remind me of living in the American south if you are not white. YMMV.