In this blog, I take a deep dive into why Daly City is an underrated, surprisingly affordable place to live on the Peninsula. I walk you through the parks, the shopping, a Michelin-recognized restaurant we discovered on Instagram, and I take you inside a very typical Daly City home so you can see what a $1.2M budget actually buys here. If you’re curious about a Bay Area town with ocean views, short commutes to San Francisco, and housing that won’t require the kind of sticker shock you get further north, buckle up — this post covers everything I showed and more.
Table of Contents
- Why Daly City? Location, Climate, and the Real Bay Area Value
- Why Nature Lovers Like Daly City
- Daly City's History in a Nutshell
- Real Estate Snapshot: What Prices Look Like in Daly City
- Shopping and Dining in Daly City: Discover Westlake and Serramonte
- Where to Brunch in Daly City: Try This Michelin-Starred Thai Favorite
- Inside a Typical Daly City Home — A Real Walkthrough
- Why Homebuyers Are Looking Closer at Daly City
- How I Help Buyers in Daly City
- FAQs About Living in Daly City?
- Final Thoughts
Why Daly City? Location, Climate, and the Real Bay Area Value
Daly City sits immediately south of San Francisco, bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean. That geography gives Daly City something special: real coastal access and ocean views while still being only about 15 minutes from downtown San Francisco when traffic cooperates. For many buyers who want proximity to the city without the San Francisco price premium, Daly City provides a fantastic middle ground.
The commute options are flexible. If you work in Silicon Valley, popping onto I-280 is reasonable from many parts of Daly City. If your life revolves around San Francisco, you literally live at the doorstep and a short trip north gets you into the city. Highway 1 provides easy access down the coast to Pacifica and beyond if you want to chase dramatic ocean drives and beaches.
One of the things I always point out is the climate. Daly City is in the fog belt. That means mild, temperate weather most of the year — often foggy along the coast, clearer just a little further inland. If you’re someone who prefers cooler summers and fewer sweltering heat waves, Daly City’s coastal influence is appealing.
Why Nature Lovers Like Daly City
Daly City packs an impressive amount of nature and outdoor recreation into a relatively small footprint. If you want coastal hikes, dog-friendly beaches, dramatic cliffs, or easy access to regional parks, Daly City punches above its weight.
- Thornton State Beach — rugged coastline, dog friendly, equestrian and hiking trails, and a viewing platform that overlooks the Pacific. Great spot for sunsets when the fog clears.
- Mussel Rock (Muscle Rock) State Park — dramatic cliffs and coastal trails, only about a 20-minute drive from Daly City’s Main Street area.
- Gellert Park — a neighborhood green space I filmed near in the intro of the video; a good local hangout.
- Palisades Park — trails and city-facing views that are especially pretty on a clear day.
- Marchbank Park — includes a recreation center, clubhouse, picnic areas and neighborhood park facilities.
- Fort Funston — one of the most dog-friendly areas in the Bay Area; off-leash running for dogs and big sandy dunes.
- Crocker Gate Trailhead — a gateway into San Bruno Mountain State Park with well-regarded hiking trails.
- Lake Merced — a popular spot for running, hiking, kayaking, and golf, within easy reach from Daly City.
Topography matters in Daly City: the city isn’t pancake-flat. It’s rolling hills that gently rise from the bay toward I-280 and out toward the coast. You’ll find views are common and elevation changes give many homes complementary outlooks over the water or toward the hills.
Daly City's History in a Nutshell
Daly City’s history is a fascinating mix of earlier ranch land (the area was originally part of a Mexican land grant) and rapid development in the 20th century. The city grew quickly after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake when many people moved south along the peninsula for more space and community.
Much of Daly City’s suburban housing stock took shape after World War II. Developer Henry Doelger (a notable name on the Peninsula) pioneered densely planned bungalow and box-style neighborhoods — the Doelger home typology is a recognizable mid-century style you'll see in Daly City. The city’s early shopping centers, including Westlake and Serramonte, were also pioneering for their time and helped anchor the peninsula-style suburban lifestyle.
Real Estate Snapshot: What Prices Look Like in Daly City
If affordability is the primary reason you’re curious about Daly City, here’s the blunt reality I covered in the video: Daly City is one of San Mateo County’s most affordable cities.
- Median and average home price: around $1.2 million.
- Lowest single-family sales over the past year dipped below $700,000.
- Highest-end single-family sales topped out near $2 million in the last year.
- Condo pricing range: roughly $500,000 up to about $800,000–$1,000,000 depending on amenities and location.
To set expectations: $1.2M in Daly City usually buys a modest-to-comfortable single-family home — often a 3-bedroom, 2-bath on a standard Daly City lot (about 3,000–3,500 sq ft lot is common), typically 1,200–1,800 sq ft depending on how much permitted or unpermitted lower-level space exists.
Shopping and Dining in Daly City: Discover Westlake and Serramonte
Daly City’s two major shopping centers — Westlake and Serramonte — supply the practical and social infrastructure that makes life convenient. Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, restaurants, service businesses, bookstores, and small specialty shops all cluster here so residents rarely need to drive far for everyday needs.
What I really love about Daly City’s shopping corridors is the international dining scene — it’s remarkably diverse for the Peninsula. The Filipino dining options alone are a standout; there are loads of small, authentic restaurants that reflect the city’s multicultural character.
Where to Brunch in Daly City: Try This Michelin-Starred Thai Favorite
We stumbled upon a Thai restaurant in Westlake that’s been getting a lot of attention online and even a spot in the Michelin guide’s listings in recent years. The place? It was packed when we visited on a weekday brunch (right before the Fourth of July) — nearly every table was filled. The menu blends classic Thai flavors with creative brunch items like matcha buttermilk pancakes and Thai-inspired French toast, plus savory items like green curry and Thai basil spaghetti.
The verdict in the video? Amazing food and visually beautiful presentation. If you love creative brunches with an international twist, this Daly City spot is one to add to the list.
Inside a Typical Daly City Home — A Real Walkthrough
To give a practical idea of what your dollar buys here, I showed a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home on a roughly 3,500 sq ft lot at about 1,600 sq ft of living area. The home wasn’t fully remodeled, but it was a clean, well-laid-out example of common Daly City housing stock.
Key features in that walkthrough I highlighted as a buyer-friendly checklist:
- Open but flexible floor plan: dining room, living/family room combo, and a separate kitchen that’s often a candidate for opening up to the living space.
- Skylights and natural light in many homes — a small but powerful upgrade for feel and atmosphere.
- Functional cooktops and appliances: induction cooktops and a double oven are a great perk when they exist.
- Hallway storage and laundry/utility placement are often conveniently located but can be improved with modern design choices.
My practical renovation advice, for buyers stepping into an owner-occupier renovation, focuses on impactful and budget-conscious changes:
- Paint kitchen cabinets instead of a full tear-out — a $2,000–$3,000 project can modernize the look substantially.
- Swap dated appliances and invest in a good counter-depth fridge to improve flow and sightlines.
- Replace flooring where needed; floating-engineered hardwood or high-quality laminate can be both attractive and budget-friendly.
- Consider opening a kitchen wall — but always consult a structural engineer first if you suspect it’s load-bearing.
- Reglaze bathroom tile if the tile is structurally sound — glazing can freshen an old tub and tile affordably. For full-scale bathroom remodels, expect $20k–$30k depending on finishes and scope.
Basement/Lower Level, Garage, and Common Issues to Watch For
Many Daly City homes have finished or partially finished lower levels that used to be the garage footprint. In the house I toured, that lower-level space was about 240 sq ft and had been permitted — it added usable living space with larger window wells. That kind of configuration is common and can dramatically increase usable square footage without changing the footprint.
Important inspection and code notes I emphasized:
- Garage slab cracking — common and not automatically a deal-breaker; often a result of older slab construction without modern reinforcement. Have a contractor assess whether the cracks are cosmetic or structural.
- Asbestos & old insulation — white duct-like insulation or certain white coverings can be asbestos-containing materials in older homes. The only way to know for sure is to test. If you’re buying a home in the $1–2M range and see suspected asbestos, plan on professional abatement or encapsulation.
- Hot water heater and earthquake bracing — California code requires water heaters in garages to be braced and elevated 18 inches. Sellers must correct certain items (like bracing and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors) before closing even in an “as-is” sale.
- Permits for finished lower levels — verify that any lower-level living spaces were permitted properly. Unpermitted space can later complicate resale or refinancing in some situations.
Because many of these issues are fixable and often priced into the market, they’re worth assessing but not necessarily cause to walk away if the location and floor plan fit what you want.
The Backyard and Ocean Views: Surprising Extras for the Price
One of the best values in Daly City is that many homes come with small but private backyards and — on the right lots and elevations — actual ocean glimpses. In the house I showed you could see the waves in the distance from the yard. That kind of coastal proximity for a median price of roughly $1.2M is a huge part of Daly City’s appeal.
In the video I said I’d probably do a modest backyard refresh: fresh paint, a barbecue, maybe a hot tub, and smart landscaping to maximize usable square footage. Yes, utility lines may be visible and that’s part of the trade-off you make for a lower entry price relative to other Peninsula communities.
Why Homebuyers Are Looking Closer at Daly City
If you want:
- Close proximity to San Francisco,
- Quick access to the coast and great outdoor spots,
- A range of food options and a diverse local culture,
- Value compared to many other San Mateo County towns —
Then Daly City should absolutely be on your shortlist. You get neighborhood character, real ocean influence, and shopping/dining conveniences that make daily life easy. The market numbers — median around $1.2M, condos starting around $500k — make Daly City one of the more attainable ways to own in San Mateo County.
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How I Help Buyers in Daly City
If you’re actively shopping in Daly City, here are a few ways I typically help buyers:
- Identify neighborhoods that match commute, school, and lifestyle needs (coastal views vs. inland convenience vs. proximity to shopping centers like Westlake or Serramonte).
- Run comparables and recent sales so you understand where the market is within Daly City’s micro-neighborhoods.
- Coordinate inspections for common Peninsula issues — asbestos testing, slab evaluations, furnace and hot water heater code compliance.
- Outline renovation budgets — from $3k cabinet refreshes to $20k–$30k bathroom remodels — so you can make confident offers that reflect the real cost to bring a home up to your standards.
- Share trusted local contractors and abatement firms for anything that needs addressing after escrow.
Want to talk about Daly City homes or see specific listings? Email hello@burlingameproperties.com or call/text 650-822-7088. I’m Raziel Ungar with Burlingame Properties, and I focus on San Mateo County real estate — including Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno and surrounding communities.
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FAQs About Living in Daly City?
Is Daly City Really More Affordable Than Other San Mateo County Cities?
Yes. Median home prices in Daly City sit around $1.2M, which is notably lower than many neighboring San Mateo County cities. Condo prices commonly start around $500k and go up to the $800k–$1M range, while single-family homes range from under $700k in the lowest recent sales up to about $2M at the high end.
What kinds of homes are most common in Daly City?
You’ll find many mid-century Doelger-style homes, modest single-family homes with 3 bedrooms and 1–2 baths, and a variety of condominiums and townhomes clustered near the major shopping centers. Lot sizes around 3,000–3,500 sq ft are common for single-family homes, and many properties have finished or partially finished lower levels.
How far is Daly City from downtown San Francisco?
Daly City is about 10–20 minutes from downtown San Francisco depending on traffic and where in Daly City you’re starting. The city directly borders San Francisco to the south, making it one of the closest Peninsula options for easy city access.
Are there good schools and public amenities in Daly City?
Daly City offers multiple public library branches (I filmed by the Westlake branch) and neighborhood amenities like parks, recreation centers, and local community services. Public school quality varies by neighborhood, so I recommend looking at specific school boundaries for any property you consider.
What should buyers watch out for when purchasing in Daly City?
Common issues in older Daly City homes include garage slab cracking, potential asbestos-containing materials in older insulation or duct coverings, and unpermitted conversions of garage space to living areas. Always get a thorough inspection and consider tests for asbestos if suspected. Also verify that safety items (water heater bracing, smoke and CO detectors) are up to code prior to close.
Where should I eat in Daly City?
Daly City has a surprisingly diverse dining scene with strong Filipino, Thai, and other international options. The Westlake area hosts a Thai restaurant that has earned Michelin recognition and delivers creative brunch offerings. Shopping centers like Serramonte and Westlake provide a mix of local favorites and national chains.
Is there an active outdoor culture in Daly City?
Absolutely. Between Thornton State Beach, Fort Funston, San Bruno Mountain trails, and Lake Merced, Daly City is an excellent base for hikers, trail runners, dog owners, equestrians (in certain areas), and anyone who appreciates easy access to coastal scenery.
Final Thoughts
Daly City blends big-picture practicality — proximity to San Francisco, highway access to Silicon Valley, and a mild coastal climate — with very real value in today’s Peninsula market. The $1.2M median price point and the range of condo options make Daly City a top choice for buyers looking to enter the San Mateo County market without sacrificing coastal lifestyle possibilities.
From parks and dog-friendly beaches to surprisingly excellent international dining and solid mid-century housing stock, Daly City deserves a look whether you’re a first-time buyer, an investor, or someone relocating to the Bay Area. If you’d like a tailored tour, neighborhood comparisons, or help evaluating listings, reach out — hello@burlingameproperties.com or 650-822-7088. My team and I are here to help you make a confident move in Daly City or anywhere in San Mateo County.
