Cost of housing in San Francisco?

The 2010 Mercer Cost of Living survey ranks San Francisco as the 93rd most expensive expat destination - behind the likes of New York and LA - but if you take one look at the cost of housing in the city's centre, you wouldn't know it. The cost of accommodation in San Francisco is astronomical, and many who don't have a senior position at a high-paying firm opt to live just outside the CBD in any one of the surrounding suburbs.

Berkeley is just over the bridge, as is the cheaper, more dangerous area of Oakland. Both are well-connected by BART - the lightweight rail sysem. Expats can purchase monthly passes that will greatly cut down costs. If you're working in the Mission district you'll most likely find that there will  be a BART stop somewhere within close proximity to your office.