Los Angeles or San Francisco?

Question

Which one of those cities is it better to live in?

I haven't been to LA yet, but I traveled to San Francisco earlier this year. LOVED it. I'm from NYC, and the 60 degree temperatures in April were an awesome reprieve from 30's. The thing I hated about SF, though, were the sheer number of druggies laying on Market Street. Alot of young people there living off of their rich parents. LOTS of stoners. Other than that, I loved the morning fog, the scenery, everything was pretty awesome.

Do you think I would like LA if I went there? I'm fond of the city's rap culture.

Answer 1

I love both L.A. and San Francisco. But that's because I happen to enjoy big cities. To play devil's advocate, however...if you ask many Californians, the answer would be a resounding NEITHER.

Most of the state's population live in suburbs and smaller towns. Here are some of the most common complaints about San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively:

- The average San Francisco apartment is the size of a cereal box. It's noisy all day long (and in neighborhoods like Chinatown and SoMa, all night long too). Parking is practically impossible. It's often dark and cold -- either bathed in thick fog... or very windy because of the "air tunnels" created by the highrises. Plus, there are too many panhandlers, trust fund babies, and homeless.

- Smog and industrial waste have created a mess in Los Angeles, and the heat only makes the fumes seem that much worse. The crime rate is out of control. Racial segregation is deeply entrenched. Traffic is a nightmare, and the freeways barely move at all during rush hour. Plus, there are too many posers, illegal immigrants, and wannabe actors.

Additionally, conservatives loathe both cities for their politics. You've no doubt heard the terms "Hollywood Liberal" and "San Francisco Values" used quite often.

Answer 2

I think LA has a totally different vibe that SF. It's warmer in LA b/c it's further south and there isn't near as much morning fog and the scenery isn't at all the same. If you didn't like Market street steer clear of Hollywood for sure. The thing I didn't like about LA was it seemed so "busy" everyone is always in a hurry and they just don't seem to be as nice. Maybe it was just my experience but there are a lot of selfish people there. I never l lived in SF but it seemed more laid back. Being from NYC you may like the hustle and bustle but it's not he same b/c LA is so spread out and there's no good public transport system so you spend a lot of time in your car. Maybe you should go for an extended visit to see if you like it before making any decisions.

Answer 3

LA and SF are so different from each other. I grew up in the LA area and couldn't wait to get away from it. So much more fast paced, and don't even get me started on the smog! Now, every time I go anywhere near LA to visit, I get headaches from the bad air.

Although I'm not so fond of SF itself (I'm just not a big-city type of girl), I love the area so much more than the general LA area. SF is way more eclectic, which is one of the things I love most about the area. You've got everything you could ever want so close by - night life, shopping, the beach, the mountains, culture, and lots of local sports teams. Don't let the Market Street bums scare you off. There are many great surrounding areas and suburbs, as well as much better neighborhoods in "The City" itself.

For my money, it's SF all the way.

Answer 4

My opinion: I have 4 years living here in LA and dont like it for a lot of reasons...i have visiting SF since last year almost every 2 months. I love it!! and i'm planing to move there or to the bay area next year.

Answer 5

San Francisco, hands down

Better climate, better communities, better scenery, better people, better food, a better life altogether.
San Francisco is a city for people.

Los Angeles is a sprawling mass of smoggy, muggy, outposts of culture(?) connected by automobiles, freeways and billboards. There are more druggies in LA, but you can't see them because they're driving.

Answer 6

for me I would say san francisco becasue los angeles is to busy, crowded, and full rude *******!

Answer 7

If i had to choose, it'd be LA. I lived near sf most of my life & i hated how dirty & gross it was. LA isn't that much better, but it has lots of different parts, different people, LOTS of culture. Not so many hippies.