Living in Foster City, California: discover the pros and cons

Note: This post was originally published in March 2023. Housing prices, rental rates, school rankings, and minimum wage figures cited below reflect 2022-2023 data. Please verify current figures before making any decisions.

Foster City is where my family and I settled when we first moved to the Bay Area from Singapore. We did not plan it that way — we looked at more than 10 places in our first week, jet-lagged and overwhelmed, and Foster City just felt right. A small suburban city built on a man-made island in the San Francisco Bay, it reminded us a bit of Singapore: planned, clean, water everywhere. After living here for a while, I think I have a decent sense of what works and what does not, so let me share.

What we love about Foster City

The location is hard to beat

This was the biggest factor for us. Foster City sits in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area — less than 15 minutes from SFO, about 20-30 minutes to San Francisco in the north or Mountain View and Menlo Park in the south, and roughly 40 minutes to San Jose. As someone who used to fly back to Singapore regularly, being so close to the airport was a genuine relief :)

Public transport is available too — the nearest Caltrain station is in San Mateo, just across the bridge from Foster City.

The weather is almost unfairly good

Coming from Singapore's relentless heat and humidity, the weather here felt like a gift. Most days sit around 60F. It does not snow. Summer rarely breaks 95F, and most of the time you do not even need air conditioning. The sky is blue and sunny most days, which makes it ideal for running or just being outside.

After 15 years of stepping outside and immediately sweating, I still catch myself smiling when I walk out the front door into crisp, dry air.

The schools are genuinely excellent

This was our top priority with Sophie. Foster City is served by the San Mateo-Foster City School District and the San Mateo Union High School District, both of which consistently rank high in state and national rankings. You can check the SMFC district L3 update (Jan 2023) for comparison to the rest of California.

Compared to the highly standardized system in Singapore, the US school quality varies wildly by zip code. Foster City is one of the good zip codes. That alone was worth the premium.

It feels safe

The crime rate is significantly lower than the state and national averages. We walk around the neighbourhood in the evenings without thinking twice. Coming from Singapore — one of the safest countries in the world — this was non-negotiable for us, and Foster City delivered. More info here.

The lagoons and parks are beautiful

Our favourite weekend routine became walking along the lagoons after breakfast. Sophie rides her scooter, I jog alongside, and the views of the water never get old. The city has over 20 parks and open spaces, including the Bay Trail with stunning views of the San Francisco Bay.

And the rose garden at Leo J Ryan Park is genuinely lovely:

The coastal running trail

If you are into running or just walking by the water, the recently completed coastal trail is gorgeous. This is my regular morning run route, and it never gets old:

It feels like home for Asian families

Foster City has a large Asian population — more than 50% according to Census data, with White residents at about 36% and Hispanic or Latino at about 9%. Coming from Singapore, this diversity was a big plus for our family. We found Asian grocery stores, familiar food, and neighbours who understood our cultural references. That made the transition much easier than I expected.

Community events

The city has a strong sense of community. The annual Foster City Summer Days was our first real American community event, and Sophie loved it. Here is a short clip:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/30-TpECRvVU

Check the city website for upcoming events.

What we did not love

The cost of living is brutal

I am not going to sugarcoat this. The median home price in Foster City is over $1.6 million. The average rent is about $3,500/month for roughly 900 sq. ft. Coming from Singapore where housing is expensive but somewhat manageable, the Bay Area pricing was still a shock. This is the single biggest downside, and it is significant.

Route 92 is the only way in or out

This one caught us by surprise. Commuting during rush hour is painful because 92 is essentially the only route connecting Foster City to San Francisco or Silicon Valley. After the pandemic, it improved somewhat as more people work remotely, but on busy days it is still frustrating.

There is no nightlife (at all)

If you are looking for restaurants and bars open past 10 PM, Foster City is not the place. It is a quiet suburban city — which is great for raising kids but can feel a bit sleepy for adults. San Francisco, Redwood City, and San Jose are your options for a night out.

Limited jobs within the city itself

Most residents commute elsewhere for work. There are some tech companies in the area, but Foster City is primarily residential. With remote work becoming more common, this matters less than it used to.

Earthquake liquefaction risk

This is the one that concerns me the most. Foster City sits predominantly on landfill and Bay mud, which means it has a high liquefaction hazard during earthquakes. The ground could become unstable, potentially causing structural damage. We purchased earthquake insurance because of this. More information here.

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The bottom line

From my experience, Foster City is a great place to live for a few years, especially if you have young kids. The location, the schools, the safety, and the weather are genuinely hard to beat. But the cost of living is eye-watering, the nightlife is nonexistent, and the earthquake risk is real.

If I were advising a fellow expat family relocating from Asia, I would say: consider Foster City if schools and safety are your top priorities and you can stomach the Bay Area prices. If you want more urban energy or need to be budget-conscious, look elsewhere.

Would I choose it again? Yes — for this stage of our lives, it was the right call :)

If you are living in Foster City or considering it, I would love to hear about your experience. What do you like or dislike about it?

Cheers,

Chandler