Climate · Americas
San Francisco climate, year-round
United States · Mediterranean (cool-summer) · Updated May 2026
Best months
Sep · Oct · Nov
Best for: Cool-weather nomads who don't need a hot summer and can tolerate fog as a daily fact.
Year at a glance
Cells coloured by typical daytime average temperature. ★ = best months for nomads.
Jan
11°C
78%
4mm
Feb
12°C
77%
3mm
Mar
13°C
73%
3mm
Apr
14°C
70%
1mm
May
15°C
72%
1mm
Jun
16°C
73%
0mm
Jul
17°C
75%
0mm
Aug
17°C
76%
0mm
Sep
18°C
74%
0mm
Oct
17°C
71%
1mm
Nov
14°C
73%
2mm
Dec
11°C
77%
4mm
Summer peak
18°C
September · 74% humidity
Winter low
11°C
January · 78% humidity
Climate type
Mediterranean (cool-summer)
Moderate summers, Humid winters
Field notes
Famous for the inverted seasons — June and July are the foggiest, coolest months (the 'Karl' fog rolls in nightly through the Golden Gate). September and October are the warmest, sunniest weeks of the year. Microclimates are real: Mission District can be 8°C warmer than the Sunset on the same afternoon. Almost no rain June through September; wet season is December through March.
Visa for nomads
Low nomad-friendlyPathway
Extendable tourist
Program
—
Typical max stay
6 months
ESTA Visa Waiver (90 days) for most western passports, no extensions in-country; B-2 visitor visa up to 6 months. No US digital-nomad visa exists. Long-term residence requires H-1B / O-1 / EB green-card paths.
Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with the relevant consulate before applying — visa programs change with little notice.
Cost of living in San Francisco: ~$4,520/mo
Mid-tier monthly across rent, food, transport, utilities, and coworking.
Cities with a similar climate
Editorial estimates aggregated from public climatological summaries — typical monthly averages, not forecasts. Treat as order-of-magnitude. Microclimate, altitude, and recent extreme weather can swing these values significantly.