Santa Barbara

I don’t think there is any such animal. San Fransisco is sui generis.

Oh, wait, nothing affordable.

I grew up in Santa Barbara, and I have lived in San Francisco. First, there is no comparison; second Santa Barbara is very expensive.

Supposedly, Portland, Oregon has what you seek, and is much cheaper. Of course, there appears to be some resentment at all the Northern California types escaping the expense of SF to move there (and snapping up all the real estate), but, such is life.

Telluride, CO perhaps, the same…ambiance? But it’s a while since I’ve been…used to attend the Jazz Festivals there…mmmmm.
Also, Portland, OR might just fill the bill. Again, been years since I lived there, on a houseboat on the Columbia River, writing about, studying the symbiotic relationship between bald eagles and salmon…and scotch and soda!
CRAP, just saw someone above me say Portland.
@dpworkin,...true SFO is all by itself. Keep in mind Mark Twain’s line, however:

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” True, true.

Had a quick nap, now I, unfortunately, I’m back, to inflict myself upon you further.

Portland, Oregon is where you want to be. Half of SanFran already lives here. They’ve jacked our rent and cost of living.

^^^^^^ <ahem> ^^^^^

Portland for sure. Though everyone here will resent you. But if you’re moving from California to someplace out west that’s pleasant, you should just expect resentment. That’s just the way it goes.

Portland is your best bet. And we do hate people from California. Just learn how to drive before you get here and put a Canadian flag sticker on your car until you get Oregon plates.

Yes, even when I lived in Portland, circa 1990, I recall there was a movement to eliminate all northbound from California I-5 exits. Any luck with that?

Seattle.
Wow on the California hating going on.

—20 years ago, we moved to Portland from Utah, and they were nasty to us even then, and proud of it!.— edit: Sorry, this was supposed to be a whisper, but it didn’t work.

Just don’t think that Portland OR or anywhere else is going to be like San Francisco, which is unique.

Seattle. Beautiful, hilly,culturally significant, and a wonderful wharf.

@filmfann While Seattle definitely has its charms, it’s not San Francisco!

If people knew how they were running things in SF, people’d think not being like SF was a good thing.

@marinelife Neither is San Francisco.

If you want to stay in the United States, Seattle, Washington, followed by Portland, Oregon. However, if the Candian border is not a barrier, then Vancouver, British Columbia is the most San Francisco-like place anywhere in North America.

@semblance GA!

Vancouver BC for the win. That is the best place on Earth.

portland is the new hot place… or british columbia (whistler rocks)

Steam Boat is a cool town complete with impossible to park on hilly streets.

@Captain_Fantasy The idea that anybody “runs” things in San Francisco is a myth.

The thing about San Francisco is that she can be anything you want her to be.

Eugene, Oregon might come close.

I know a lot about San Francisco. I love the city, not so much the people running it.
The Mayor is one of the more reasonable ones. The city supervisors will make you want to beat your head against a wall. It’s something you need to witness over a long period to understand the depth of it. Not insidious, just “wtf?”

Seattle