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Careers · Relocation guide

Your Bay Area relocation plan.

A practical guide to moving to the Bay — and landing well. Most people run this playbook over a few weeks to three months. Here is what to do at each stage, from finding a home to exploring your new one.

  • Typical timeline A few weeks – 3 months
  • Home base 475 Sansome St, SF
  • How we work Hybrid

Six chapters. Skip to whatever you need — the order below is roughly the order most people tackle it.

From our team

Real people who made the move.

“There is such a wonderful balance of city life with world-class, beautiful nature close by. Despite the large initial barriers, it is worth it.”
Strategy

“I stayed in an Airbnb while searching, which let me try out different neighborhoods and explore possibilities beyond my initial ideas.”

Reese Critchlow ~1 month to find a place
“Golden Gate Park every weekend, all year. The food scene is some of the best in the USA, and the cultural experiences are awesome.”
Pro tip

“Give yourself time to explore your neighborhood when you move. That has been my biggest hack for speeding up the settling process.”

Chris DePaoli Lease signed the day after choosing a location
01

Find your housing

Start here. Explore neighborhoods and apartments — most people view options remotely first, then visit in person before committing.

Start now · 2–4 weeks to secure a place

Where to search

Zillow — Bay Area rentals Broad inventory with price tracking by neighborhood. RentSFNow Bay Area rentals from a large local operator. Blueground Flexible, fully furnished apartments. Apartments.com Wide Bay Area coverage across price ranges. Apartment List — Research Monthly Bay Area rent reports with real numbers. Furnished Finder Furnished + short-term rentals for your first 30–90 days.

Understanding SF neighborhoods

Mission District Vibrant and walkable — restaurants, bars, and nightlife. SOMA Modern and central, close to the downtown office. Castro Great culture and nightlife; LGBTQ+-friendly. Noe Valley Charming and family-friendly, quieter than the Mission. Hayes Valley Trendy and walkable, great restaurants and bars. Marina District Waterfront views, close to the Golden Gate Bridge. Sunset District Residential and local, close to the ocean. Outer Sunset Beachy vibe, lower cost, quieter.

Go deeper

Time Out SF — Neighborhoods Lifestyle guide to the feel and culture of each area. SFGATE — Neighborhoods Data-driven coverage from the SF Chronicle team. GreatSchools — Bay Area Essential if you are moving with kids. How to research a neighborhood on Zillow Short video walkthrough: amenities, market trends, and community vibe.
02

Plan your commute

Where you live is partly a commute question. The Bay has excellent public transit — you do not need a car unless you want one, and most lines have Wi-Fi, so the ride stays productive.

Public transportation

BART Fast and reliable — covers SF, the East Bay, and the South Bay. Caltrain Best for the Peninsula and South Bay; dedicated bike cars on every train. SF Bay Ferry Connects SF, Oakland, Alameda, and the South Bay. Scenic. Golden Gate Ferry SF to Larkspur and Marin County. Good for the North Bay. 511 SF Bay — Trip Planner Multi-modal planner covering BART, bus, ferry, and bike.

Biking

  • Bikes allowed on BART (rules vary by car and time of day).
  • Caltrain has dedicated bike cars on every train.
  • Bikes are welcome on both ferry services.
  • Secure bike parking is available inside our office building.

If you are driving

Budget $200–400/month for parking. See SFMTA parking for rates and garage locations.

03

Arrange your move

Once housing is locked in, book your movers. California is one of the busiest moving corridors in the country, so earlier is cheaper.

Book as early as you can · mid-week beats Fri–Sun

The services below are starting points to research — not endorsements. Compare a few, read recent reviews, and verify any mover's USDOT number with the FMCSA (about 60 seconds) before you book.

Household movers

International Van Lines Full-service mover with upfront pricing. JK Moving Services Full-service, long-distance option. North American Van Lines Handles employer-billed moves. Allied Van Lines Covers California routes. Two Men and a Truck Good for partial loads or shorter hauls. MovingWaldo Compare quotes from multiple movers in one place.

Car shipping

Montway Auto Transport Nationwide carrier network; 4.7★ on Trustpilot. AmeriFreight Price-match model. Ship a Car Direct Books you directly with the carrier. uShip Marketplace — compare bids from carriers.

Moving tips

  • Get at least three quotes — pricing can vary $1,500–$3,000.
  • Move mid-month and mid-week to save 20–30%.
  • Open car transport is fine for most vehicles; enclosed adds ~40–50%.
05

Explore & settle in

Once you are here, spend a few weekends exploring. The Bay is diverse — different neighborhoods feel like different cities.

Walkable from the office · 475 Sansome St

North Beach → Coit Tower Walk up Telegraph Hill. Italian cafés and incredible city views.
California Street cable cars One block away, less crowded than Powell, amazing views.
The Embarcadero & waterfront Ferry Building farmers markets on Saturdays, restaurants, bay views.
FiDi → the Mission Walk south through SoMa for coffee, food, and culture.
Chinatown Just east of the office. Narrow streets, dim sum, local energy.

Day trips

Golden Gate Bridge & Marin Headlands Ferry from the Embarcadero — go at sunset. ~30 min.
Sausalito Charming waterfront town. ~30 min by ferry or car.
Lake Merritt Oakland's beautiful public commons. ~20 min by BART.
Filoli Historic Estate Stunning gardens and mansion. ~45 min by transit.

Food, culture & community

Eater SF The definitive guide to the SF restaurant scene. AllTrails — Bay Area Hiking, trails, and outdoor access. r/bayarea Trails, hidden gems, day trips, and events. r/sanfrancisco City events, restaurants, and meeting people. DoTheBay Daily events, concerts, food, and day trips. Visit Oakland Local guides for the East Bay. Meetup — Bay Area tech Community events and professional networks. SF Chronicle News and Bay Area coverage.

Moving with kids?

GreatSchools — SF School ratings by neighborhood. SFUSD — Student assignment How SF's public-school lottery works. Care.com — Bay Area Childcare search.

Health & benefits

Choosing health insurance in California.

US healthcare works differently than most countries. California requires health insurance, and Stand covers a significant portion of your premiums. Here is the short version — then the plans themselves.

Key concepts

HMO
Lower premiums and fixed copays, but you stay in-network and get referrals for specialists. Best for predictability.
PPO
Higher premiums, more flexibility. See out-of-network doctors (for more) and skip referrals. Best for choice.
Deductible
What you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Lower deductible usually means a higher premium.
Copay
A fixed fee for a visit or prescription — e.g. $10 for a doctor visit.
Coinsurance
The percentage you pay after meeting your deductible — e.g. 20%.
Out-of-pocket max
The most you pay in a year for covered care. After that, insurance covers 100%.
HSA
A pre-tax savings account paired with high-deductible plans. Unspent money is yours to keep and grow.

How to choose

1
Start with your health

Are you generally healthy? On regular medications? Have a doctor you want to keep?

2
Compare premium vs. out-of-pocket

A cheap premium can hide a high deductible. Estimate what you would actually spend in a normal year.

3
Check the network

Search your doctors on the insurer's site to confirm they are in-network before you pick.

4
Weigh the HSA

Young and healthy? An HSA-paired high-deductible plan can save you money long-term.

Stand's medical plans

All plans are effective on your first day. This is an illustrative overview — your official enrollment materials and People Ops are the source of truth for exact costs and networks.

Kaiser Permanente Platinum 90 HMO
Copays
$0 primary · $10 specialist · $10 urgent care
Structure
Integrated system — doctor, pharmacy, and hospital in one

Best forSimplicity and low out-of-pocket costs.

Anthem Gold PPO — Option 1
Deductible
$500 individual
Copays
$30 primary · $50 specialist
Coinsurance
20% after deductible

Best forPPO flexibility with moderate costs.

Anthem Gold PPO — Option 2
Deductible
$1,000 individual
Copays
$35 primary · $50 specialist
Coinsurance
20% after deductible

Best forGenerally healthy people who want lower premiums.

Anthem Silver PPO with HSA
Deductible
$2,100 individual · $3,300 family
Stand HSA
$3,900 individual · $7,750 family
Coverage
Preventive care 100% · 30% coinsurance after deductible

Best forYoung, healthy employees and families saving long-term.

Dental — Guardian PPO

  • Preventive 100% · Basic 70–80% · Major 50%
  • Orthodontics 50% · $1,200 annual maximum per person

Vision — Guardian

  • $10 exam copay
  • $100/yr for eyeglasses or contacts (in-network)

Disability & life — Guardian

  • Short-term: up to 66.67% of salary for 13 weeks
  • Long-term: up to 66.67% until age 65
  • Life: $50,000 company-paid + voluntary top-up

Getting started

You will get enrollment materials and a benefits portal on day one. Elections are due within 30 days of your start date, and you can make changes during open enrollment each November. Questions about your situation? Your People Ops contact is happy to talk it through.

CA Dept. of Insurance — Health guide Consumer guide to health insurance in California. HealthCare.gov — Plan comparison How to compare plans side by side. Healthline — Choosing a plan A plain-English explainer.

A last word: US health insurance feels complicated at first, but you will get the hang of it quickly. Most people pick a plan, settle in, and rarely think about it again.

Welcome to the Bay.

Already on the team? Your People Ops contact can help with the specifics. Still interviewing — and picturing the move? Have a look at what is open.

See open roles →