Have a choice between LA & SF for a tech job. Have only been to LA once, never to SF. From the east Coast. We are a late 20s couple. Love food, exploring cities and the outdoors (currently in CO). My impression of each city is horribly anecdotal- SF the humble brag tech scene🤮 & LA smog + fake. Would love to hear real perspectives from people who know!

Disclaimer: I have a strong NorCal bias and grew up in the Bay. SF is a beautiful place with by far some of the best parks and urban hikes in the country. It is much more like Colorado for your access to open space and nature (Marin, Napa, Mendocino, Tahoe, Half Moon Bay, etc.). It’s also only place in the West I’ve been to where a few block walk in any direction has you in an entirely different neighborhood with an entirely different culture. It’s still the quirky, weird place people have loved forever, and since the rental market has cratered in the last 6 months you probably won’t suffer too much trying to find a nice place. The present caricature of the city is not really accurate, though I agree it was more authentic and cheaper a decade ago. LA has a few big advantages: a little extra warmth, better beaches, better nightlife, and a lot cheaper food. Basically, I’d say go North if you like hikes, wine, and naturally beautiful places to escape to in every direction. Go South if surfing, sunshine, and clubbing is more your style!

Grew up in the bay (and here currently) but went to school in LA and every day I think about what a dream my life in LA was. I’m going to be honest, I didn’t have many friends in LA but I LOVE that city. LA is literally a dream. The shallow thing is overhyped cause the average person is not a celebrity but there’s just so much more to do and see there whereas with SF... it gets old real fast and SF is NOT a pretty city. I am so sick of seeing pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge from every angle and position imaginable. But LA... I could never get sick of LA. LA is more liveable whereas with SF most people only live in the city when young and either move back to wherever they came from or eventually save up enough for a house in the burbs. Plus you’ll be paying an arm and a leg for a parking spot in SF and if you don’t have a car, getting to a lot of those beautiful outdoorsy places takes a lot more effort and planning. Ngl, SF sucks and the diversity sucks too (99% of people I know and meet organically are in tech). If it helps, people are generally happier in LA too. It’s so hard not to be when every day is so beautiful and sunny!

Los Angeles, hands down. Better weather, food, etc. And the “fake” thing is hyped and overblown. The most accurate depiction of LA is “working class Latino”. Look beyond Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Malibu, and there’s a few different worlds to explore

Smog isn’t that bad and the fake people can be ignored. SF has pretentious people but they can be ignored too. If you like food and outdoors then go to LA. SF is super expensive anyway

I grew up in the Bay area and live in LA now. Really like both. Enjoy San Francisco's mellow vibe and access to outdoors. The quick drive to Tahoe is really appreciated. I like the arts and culture when I was there, but a lot has changed. I prefer LA's weather. There's good access to different arts here. I find that to get to less crowded nature you have to drive a bit farther than I'd prefer.

I personally prefer LA, better weather too. Pretty sure there are more Mexicans in LA too, if that matters to you at all since you mentioned it in your post.

LA... oh how I miss it

Lived in both. SF is gorgeous, easy to meet people, I like the chill attitude but easy to get sucked into the techbro humblebrag thing. Rent is 🤮🤮🤮 LA is great. I love the weather. Convenient (early 30s with kids). Find a liveable, walkable neighborhood and you’re gold. I’m in Pasadena

Watch City of Gold if you want a good perspective about Los Angeles. It’s a documentary about LA through the lens of Jonathan Gold, the only food critic to ever win a Pulitzer #rip

Do you have any preference between mountains (SF) or beach (LA)? No Mexican food in SF. The best Mexican place with an hour wait absolutely sucked.

Papacitooooo! Debes elegir la ciudad de Los Angeles, seguramente. La comida es la mejor del estado y la clima es perfecta. Hay mucha gente latina y no vas a creer sus ojos en la playa 😳🤩😎

I love LA and SF, I am from Atlanta and your impression for both is wrong!

LA

Where in LA and SF would you actually be working?

Used to love traveling to SF, it was a great city to traipse about. I was there early last year and it's gone downhill tremendously. I have empathy for homeless populations, but it's out of control in SF. All of downtown smells like urine. LA is great weather, but damn that traffic sucks. You've got quite the dilemma going!

Come to LA, and you can enjoy an 80 degree winter!!! (Today is so warm and nice）

SF is an armpit of a city

LA no question

Are the SF and LA jobs equivalent? Love LA , but the professional opportunities seem more limited compared to SF. I grew up in LA (and currently live in LA) and went to college in the Bay. I love SF for the artisan food scene and proximity to Napa, Yosemite, Marin, Big Sur, etc. LA is much richer in culture, ethnic foods, it’s warmer and much more of a blue collar town. Traffic is a huge issue, and whenever I consider leaving my neighborhood I need to plan an entire day out of it. Otherwise LA is nearby Vegas, Mammoth (beautiful hiking out there), and to me, SB, SD, and Joshua Tree get old very fast.

I am Mexican if that makes any difference.