Keeping a car in SF
I will be making a move to SF late next month. I haven't figured out housing yet, but planning to take temporary housing to explore places. In small city like Salt Lake city car is a necessity, I have heard varied views on car some say keep it some say no need. I drive a CRV estimating all expenses it will come around close to $800 or maybe more per month (parking, car payment, insurance and other miscellaneous charges). I am thinking of allocating that budget to a place with high walk and transit score . Any suggestions?
Don’t do it
Plan to pay around $300 a month for a parking spot in most neighborhoods, but a great bonus would be an apt. with an included spot. Don't listen to the naysayers - having a car in the city is awesome. You'll be driving distance from world class outdoors activities in every direction, and getting a temp car every time you wanna do that is stressful and expensive.
100%, though usually the spot is factored into the cost of rent. I lost my spot for 3 months recently while my building did seismic retrofitting — my landlord cut me a $300 check each month.
Only keep it if you get a place with a garage. Most likely you will rarely use it.
Yes, I am looking at places and they charge additionally for garage between $250-$300.
Many homes come with a garage and or driveway if you are looking at Richmond, sunset, and or ocean beach.
Having lived in SF I can say you’ll want your car. Even if you don’t use it as often, like other comments have mentioned, you’ll still likely want to check out the surrounding Bay Area and maybe even take a few trips up or down the coast. BART and Muni and other public transport can take you around most of the Bay Area (northwest bay is only accessible by bus though).
That sounds about right, but my point is I won't use it is it worth spending so much money on parking, insurance and all other expenses?
Depends on how much you value mobility. I say it’s always worth it for emergencies and spontaneous weekends. You don’t really seem to want your car and the expenses associated so just ditch it! You can always get a car again if you need to right?
Sounds like you’re not scraping by if you keep it. Echoing another in this thread, I lived in SF and got along fine without a car. Second year, new job south and bought a car and I LOVED it! Weekends were suddenly for exploring - Muir Woods, Sonoma, Santa Cruz - go for it!
We lived in SF for years without a car, until my spouse need one for work with poor transit options. If you live and work in SF, you won’t need a car. Use Lyft, taxi, or Zipcar, for short term trips. Rent a car for overnight trips.
Don’t do it, you’re going to get broken into every month. Sell the car or leave it at a family/friend place.
Do you even read? OP said they’re gonna pay for monthly parking. Break ins are extremely rare in paid garages.
Unless OP intends to keep it in the parking garage 24*7, it won’t be safe. The only time it might be safe is to take uber/lyft for local trips(within SF) and take the car out for weekend trips to Tahoe or somewhere.