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?
Overview of San Francisco’s Performance & Potential
The following table offers an overview of San Francisco’s overall performance across various international rankings. For a deeper analysis, our custom reports provide tailored insights for specific contexts, such as cities, regions, or countries.
| Ranking | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Brand Finance Global City Index | – | – | – | – | 8 | 9 | – |
| Resonance World’s Best Cities | – | 11 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 12 | 12 |
| Global Financial Centres Index | – | 8 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index | 9 | – | 12 | – | 9 | – | – |
| Kearney Global Cities Index | 22 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 14 | – |
| Mercer Quality of Living Ranking | 34 | – | – | – | 37 | 36 | – |
| Mercer Cost of Living Ranking | 16 | 16 | 25 | 19 | 14 | 13 | – |
| Numbeo Cost of Living Index | – | 12 | 21 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 7 |
| Numbeo Quality of Life Index | – | 72 | 94 | 107 | 130 | 81 | 104 |
| IESE Cities in Motion Index | 21 | 20 | – | 16 | – | 9 | 10 |
| Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index | – | – | – | 9 | – | 35 | – |
City Brand Strength
San Francisco stands as one of the world’s most recognisable and influential urban brands, renowned for its innovative spirit, cultural diversity, and breathtaking natural setting. Ranked 9th in Brand Finance’s Global City Index 2024, 12th in Resonance Consultancy‘s World’s Best Cities 2025 report, and 14th in Kearney’s Global Power City Index 2024, San Francisco maintains a formidable position on the global stage, blending economic dynamism with a distinctive lifestyle appeal.
Appeal to Investors and Business
San Francisco stands as a global powerhouse where cutting-edge innovation converges with world-leading finance and cultural influence. Ranked 9th in 2Thinknow’s Innovation Cities 2023 Index, the city is a nexus for technology, life sciences, and creative industries, driven by a concentration of top-tier research institutions, venture capital, and entrepreneurial talent. Its 5th position in the GFCI 37 Rank underscores its strength as an international financial hub, facilitating trade, investment, and global connectivity.
Appeal to Talent
San Francisco blends a dynamic, innovation-driven economy with world-class cultural and recreational amenities. Ranked 36th in Mercer’s Quality of Living Ranking 2024 and 104th in Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index 2025, the city is celebrated for its diversity, progressive culture, and proximity to stunning natural landscapes, though its quality-of-life rankings reflect challenges such as congestion and housing pressures. On the cost side, San Francisco ranks 13th in Mercer’s Cost of Living Index 2024 and 7th in Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index 2025, underscoring its position as one of the most expensive cities globally—driven largely by steep housing prices and high everyday expenses, which can offset some of its lifestyle advantages.
Urban Sustainability
San Francisco is a global leader in innovation and sustainability, combining its iconic cultural heritage with cutting-edge urban strategies. Ranked 10th in the IESE Cities in Motion Index 2025 and 35th in the Arcadis Sustainable City Index 2024, the city excels in technology, green infrastructure, and social progress. Its commitment to clean energy, climate resilience, and inclusive growth underscores San Francisco’s role as a model for future-ready, high-quality urban living.
Our Key Takeaways
San Francisco is a global innovation powerhouse, renowned for its vibrant tech ecosystem, cultural diversity, and iconic urban landscape. The city thrives as a center for technology, finance, and creative industries, supported by world-class universities and a highly skilled workforce. Its stunning natural surroundings and progressive values contribute to a unique quality of life, though it faces significant challenges including high living costs, housing shortages, and traffic congestion.
- Strengths: Leading global tech and finance hub, diverse cultural scene, strong academic and research institutions.
- Weaknesses: Skyrocketing housing prices, income inequality.
- Opportunities: Investment in affordable housing, tech-driven public transport innovations.
- Threats: Climate risks (wildfires, sea level rise), growing socioeconomic divides.
Last updated in August 2025. Explore 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, the data is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Please verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.
