While the Golden Gate Bridge and the spectacular scenery and lifestyle may beckon, more locals living in or around the City by the Bay are reluctantly packing up and leaving than any other city in the U.S.. Why would anyone leave San Francisco? According to several recent reports, it’s simply a matter of dollars and cents. The insane cost of living here has simply become too high.

This incredibly beautiful city is an idyllic place to live.

Sathish J/Flickr The iconic Golden Gate Bridge welcomes visitors. About 16 million tourists visit each year.

The San Francisco Bay boasts of beautiful weather, incredible architecture, an active lifestyle, and a great job market.

Bernard Spragg. NZ/Flickr The problem is affordability.

Visitors imagine owning a quaint “Painted Lady” style home near the city.

Bernard Spragg. NZ/Flickr But you had better have a big bank account. The median-priced home in San Francisco sells for $1.5 million, according to Paragon. And have your finances in order before you make an offer. Buyers often bid above the asking price to land their dream home.

These colorful homes in Haight Ashbury District are some of the city’s most beloved Victorian styles and owned by some equally as colorful and eclectic citizens.

Thomas Hawk/Flickr While incredibly beautiful, don’t expect this charming home for that price, either. In fact, $1 million doesn’t get much…perhaps only about 1,000 square feet.

Less than 15 percent of households can afford a median-price home, driving up the costs of its rental market there as well.

matt/Flickr According to Apartment List, the median rent of a two bedroom apartment is $3,040, compared with a national average of $1,160.

People want to live here so badly they forgo a car and minimize other costs as well.

Carlos ZGZ/Flickr Extreme measures include living in a boat on the water, residing in modified shipping containers, living in former temporary housing, and even becoming homeless by choice.

These apartments in China Town aren’t attractive, but the location is.

Lynn Friedman/Flickr Residents say the less-than-ideal housing is made up by the city’s splendor. After all, who wants to spend their time indoors?

But the insane costs are causing people to leave the San Francisco in droves, more than any other city in the country in the last quarter of 2017, according to Redfin.

Thomas Hawk/Flickr A survey of residents in early 2018 also indicated that almost half of residents would consider leaving California in search of a more affordable lifestyle.

While the cost may end the dream of living around San Francisco Bay for some, don’t be feeling bad for those 871,000 residents lucky enough to call the area their home. Many die-hard San Franciscans would gladly pay the rent or mortgage for what they consider the most beautiful place on earth.

Sathish J/Flickr

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge welcomes visitors. About 16 million tourists visit each year.

Bernard Spragg. NZ/Flickr

The problem is affordability.

But you had better have a big bank account. The median-priced home in San Francisco sells for $1.5 million, according to Paragon. And have your finances in order before you make an offer. Buyers often bid above the asking price to land their dream home.

Thomas Hawk/Flickr

While incredibly beautiful, don’t expect this charming home for that price, either. In fact, $1 million doesn’t get much…perhaps only about 1,000 square feet.

matt/Flickr

According to Apartment List, the median rent of a two bedroom apartment is $3,040, compared with a national average of $1,160.

Carlos ZGZ/Flickr

Extreme measures include living in a boat on the water, residing in modified shipping containers, living in former temporary housing, and even becoming homeless by choice.

Lynn Friedman/Flickr

Residents say the less-than-ideal housing is made up by the city’s splendor. After all, who wants to spend their time indoors?

A survey of residents in early 2018 also indicated that almost half of residents would consider leaving California in search of a more affordable lifestyle.

Have you considered San Francisco, and would you consider changing your lifestyle to be able to afford living there? Why or why not? Even if it’s just for a visit, here are 11 places to see in the City by the Bay that are better than anywhere else in the country.

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