San Francisco – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

San Francisco, one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the USA, is also the financial centre and cultural hub of the country’s West Coast. A popular tourist destination for its location, climate, and architecture, it is also known for its openness. Famous for its innovative environment, several technology companies have chosen San Francisco as their base, putting it in close competition with Silicon Valley.

But how do leading rankings and indices assess San Francisco in terms of reputation and influence, business attractiveness, and sustainability?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and financial performance
• City brand strength and reputation
• Livability: San Francisco’s appeal for digital nomads and locals

San Francisco’s Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks San Francisco 5^th, maintaining the same position as in the previous ranking. It currently sits between Hong Kong (4^th) and Los Angeles (6^th), holding second place in the North American region, just behind New York City. The city has a strong standing in the following areas of competitiveness: Human Capital (5^th), Reputational & General (5^th), Business Environment (9^th), Infrastructure (12^th), and Financial Sector Development (12^th).

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, San Francisco ranks 9^th, climbing three positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits between Seoul (8^th) and Houston (10^th).

City Brand Strength and Global Attractiveness

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks San Francisco 7^th, scoring the following in the Place Power Score subfactors: 5^th in Prosperity, 20^th in Livability, and 28^th in Lovability. It currently sits between Dubai (6^th) and Barcelona (8^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks San Francisco 17^th, dropping two positions compared to last year’s publication. However, it has managed to surpass London and take over the first position for Global Cities Outlook, up from 13^th last year.

The Global Power City Index ranks San Francisco 27^th. In terms of function-specific rankings, the city ranks 7^th in Economy, 7^th in R&D, 38^th in Cultural Interaction, 39^th in Livability, 43^rd in Environment, and 30^th in Accessibility. Admirably, San Francisco ranks 2^nd in terms of most award winners in Science and Technology.

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, San Francisco ranks 8^th globally, sitting between Tokyo (7^th) and Dubai (9^th).

Livability: Appeal for Talent, Locals, Visitors

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places San Francisco 37^th, between Lyon (38^th) and Brussels (36^th). The Mercer Cost of Living Ranking ranks it 14^th, behind Shanghai (12^th) and Beijing (13^th). The cost of living survey reports that factors such as currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and instability of accommodation prices are key to determining the cost of expat packages for employees on international assignment.

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, San Francisco ranks 8^th out of 56 global cities. It currently sits between Madrid (7^th) and Wellington, New Zealand (9^th).

Lastly, San Francisco is home to two of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education ranking, Stanford ranks 2^nd and UC Berkeley 9^th. The QS World University ranking positions Stanford 5^th and UC Berkeley 10^th.

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks it 9^th overall, sitting between Paris (8^th) and Amsterdam (9^th). San Francisco’s pillar rankings are as follows: Planet 35^th, People 38^th, and Profit 4^th. The city ranks highest in education, transport, air pollution, electricity, and economic development, while work-life balance and income inequality are areas which could be improved.

Last updated in December 2023. More city profiles here.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of San Francisco’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.