Ask HN: Soma or North Beach

First, remember that SF is a relatively small city, and you can get from pretty much anywhere to anywhere else in the city via public transit in about an hour max. So don't immediately discount all the areas that don't have startups. There are plenty of other areas in the city that get you more apartment for your money, and more diversity in the people around you (diversity as in not just tech workers)

That being said, if you really want to live where you work, probably go for SOMA. Most of SF's startups are clustered there. Be ready for high rents though. And talk to someone who's lived there for a bit to find out which areas of SOMA you'd want to live in, and which you don't. (Actually, I can help you with that if you want!)

North Beach has some good bars, lots of good restaurants, lots of crappy clubs, and tons of d-bags. Not many startups that I know of. Nice to visit friday nights, I wouldn't want to live there.

I'd recommend the Haight (upper) or the Mission (closer to 24th than to 16th). They're good places to live, and you can get to anywhere else pretty easily. There will be techies wherever you go in SF.

In my humble opinion, it doesn't matter so much where you sleep as much as where you hang out/hack/work (you are an entrepreneur, yes? why are you sleeping?). I presently live in NOPA, and for me, it's easier to find cheap housing, and a quick bike ride or bus ride on the 5 to (or 24) to downtown (SOMA'd be a few more blocks' walk).

natemartin's right, though; north beach probably wouldn't be the best fit.

I lived in SOMA on Market St. Super awesome for quick public transport to anywhere in the city. Try to be on Market St and you should be fine!

Nob and Russian Hill aren't bad. I have a 20 minute walk to downtown, and easy access to buses and cable cars. It's quiet (compared to the Mission or North Beach), not terribly expensive, and pretty safe. The walk home through Chinatown is a nice change of scenery, too.

It really depends on what you like. SOMA doesn't have a great neighborhood feel, IMO. I do have a sweet 1200sq ft loft with an awesome view of Twin Peaks out the west window and a cool view of downtown out the east window. Rent is $2200 a month with parking. It's right near all the clubs around folsom and 11th which provides some noise at night from thursday through saturday.

However, getting to the mission to eat or go out is super easy. Getting downtown is also easy. Getting to the castro or inner sunset are also super easy. Getting to hayes valley is a quick walk. Getting to north beach is pretty easy as well. Getting to the richmond is a little harder, but not that bad especially if you have a car.

There is also not a whole lot of greenery in SOMA, so if that's something you like you'll have to focus on 1 or two areas.

Most of the startups seem to be in eastern soma.

In general soma has a very industrial feel (no greenery, lots of big warehouse like buildings, etc), but it seems to be one of the hot spots for redevelopment in the city, so it could be completely different in a few years.

Oh, there's also not as high a concentration of restaurants and shops in soma like there are in north beach, haight, mission, etc. There are some, with more coming all the time, but it isn't nearly as much as in other, more established neighborhoods.

i live in the mission and a good friend lives in soma

to give you an idea of prices

i live in a new 3 bedroom condo building with two roommates (24th and bryant) and pay 1150/mo plus about 50 in utils

my friend lives in an older 3 bedroom home w two roommates (sumner and howard) and pays 650/mo plus about 50 in utils

im very happy in the mission but soma is cool two, i wouldnt live in n beach too far away from everything

another friend lives right on market in a highrise and pays 1500 for a pretty big studio

hope some of this helps.

If you like wearing more than one popped collar, move to north beach. Otherwise, live in the Mission, Lower Haight, or Soma.