SFO, LA, or NY to study and live for a year (2024)

FAQs

Which is better to live, LA or San Francisco? ›

LosAngeles has a more laid-back and relaxed vibe compared to San Francisco's more fast-paced and startup-driven atmosphere. Los Angeles is known for its entertainment industry and celebrity culture, while San Francisco is known for its tech industry and liberal politics.

New York University is ranked as one of the top 25 US universities and comes under the top 50 global universities and is ranked at 39th position by QS. The University of California, Los Angeles rankings are consistent among the top 50 universities of the world according to prestigious ranking agencies.

According to Sperling's Best Places, New York has a lower rate of both violent crime and property crime compared to San Francisco. New York has a violent crime rate of 28.2 against San Francisco's 39.6. For property crime, New York rates 39.6, while the number almost doubles with San Francisco's 79.2.

The debate of LA vs NYC is about as varied as the cities themselves. While LA offers a more laid-back lifestyle with sunny beaches and sprawling landscapes, NYC thrives on an energetic vibe under its towering skyscrapers and bustling streets.

You'll need to earn triple a $100,000 salary to live well in San Francisco. This tech-focused California city has a median household income nearly double the national average. Living expenses cost 82.8% more than the national average, making it a pricey place to live.

Oakland and Los Angeles both have higher rates of homelessness than San Francisco, with those three California cities topping a list of 16 similar cities across the country, according to a new analysis. Oakland had much higher rates than San Francisco, with 1,147 homeless people per 100,000 residents versus 887.

For 2023, states with high income tax rates include California at 13.3%, Hawaii at 11%, and New York at 10.9%, with several others not far behind. Tax-free living? Eight states say 'yes' to no personal income tax, including Alaska, Florida, and Nevada, to name a few.

Diverse Culture: California consists of a variety of cultures. The city is open to welcoming new cultures and becoming friends. Best Student City: California has multiple student friendly places such as LA, San Francisco, etc. These have been a popular choice amongst multiple international students over the years.

Employers in San Francisco, CA typically pay 7.0% more than employeers in New York, NY. The same type of job in the same type of company in San Francisco, CA will typically pay $64,212.

Median Rent

There's a slightly smaller gap in rent prices between the two cities. The average rent in San Francisco hovers around $3,500 for an apartment, while it's $4,600 for NYC. Remember that rent is significantly higher in NYC's most popular neighborhoods than in others.

Is New York cleaner than San Francisco? ›

Both places have a lot to offer residents, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. While New York has an energy and diversity that you won't find anywhere else, San Francisco tends to be cleaner and more laid back. Here is a side-by-side comparison of New York vs. San Francisco for 2023.

New York is the richest city in the world, with 359,500 millionaires and 60 billionaires, although the Bay Area of California is close behind, according to a new study.

And while the cost of living and housing prices in NYC are much higher than cities nearby of similar sizes, the city still offers plenty of job opportunities to create a great career, fun things to do, a great cuisine, and a variety of ways to enjoy the outdoors — among many other perks.

The L.A. area is also several hundred miles further south than New York, meaning it receives more solar energy. Lastly, L.A. is next to the Pacific and because wind generally blows Eastward at the mid latitudes, L.A.s temperature is regulated by the Pacific keeping the air warm year round with a more oceanic climate.

The San Francisco Bay Area, the second wealthiest city in the U.S., holds the third spot among the world's richest cities. Around 276,400 millionaires, 623 centimillionaires and 62 billionaires live in the San Francisco Bay area, which includes Silicon Valley. Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston round out the top five.

According to the rankings, those four cities are: Elk Grove, Clovis, Redding, and Murrieta. Elk Grove in Sacramento County scored the highest among the California winners, with a score of 799. Redding had a quality-of-life score of 751, while Clovis had a score of 751 and Murrieta scored 730.

Numbeo estimates that the cost of living in San Francisco is 69.5% higher than the national average, with Los Angeles at 51.1% higher. In both cities, housing costs account for the majority of expenditures. The median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $3,709 in San Francisco and $2,011 in Los Angeles.

Only one of those cities, San Francisco, recently ranked among the 10 happiest cities in the U.S., according to WalletHub.