Living in Sausalito, California

Sausalito is the first town north of the Golden Gate Bridge, tucked along the edge of Richardson Bay. The geography is striking. Hillside homes rise steeply from the waterfront, while the marina below is lined with sailboats, houseboats, and converted ferries. The town is compact, scenic, and carries a unique blend of charm and eccentricity.

This is not a typical suburb. Sausalito feels more like a coastal village with views of San Francisco, an arts legacy, and a long tradition of doing things its own way. Some parts feel almost Mediterranean. Others feel like old Marin before the rest of the county got polished. That contrast is part of the appeal.

Sausalito draws creatives, retirees, remote workers, and people who want beauty and culture within arm’s reach of the city, but not the pace.

Living in Sausalito means looking at the water nearly every day. Mornings often start with a fog bank that slowly burns off to reveal the city skyline across the bay. It’s not a town where people rush. Residents walk their dogs along Bridgeway, paddleboard near the marina, or sit outside with coffee from Equator Coffees.

Events are small but memorable. The Jazz and Blues by the Bay series runs on Friday evenings in summer, with locals bringing picnic blankets and folding chairs to Gabrielson Park.

Sausalito also has a strong houseboat culture. The floating home community near Gate 5 is one of the most distinctive in California. It’s artistic, self-sufficient, and friendly. People decorate their boats with string lights, murals, or found art. It feels different from the hillside neighborhoods, and intentionally so.

Dining is local and scenic. Restaurants like Bar Bocce or The Spinnaker offer waterfront patios. Tourists are present, especially in the summer, but most leave by evening. Sausalito at night is quiet.

To see what locals do for fun, check out the Sausalito Calendar of Events.

We highly recommend visiting Sausalito and staying in the community at a VRBO instead of a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can also receive discounted fares on travel through our partnership with Expedia.

There’s a mix of professional backgrounds here. Some residents commute to San Francisco, either by car or ferry. Others work remotely or run creative businesses—design firms, galleries, media companies. Many of these businesses line the water on the north side of town. Sausalito also has a surprising number of consultants and self-employed professionals who split time between home offices and coffee shops.

A few tech offices and nonprofits maintain small footprints here, but most work happens elsewhere. Tourism and hospitality jobs are concentrated along the waterfront. The rest of the economy is dispersed and largely residential.

The ferry ride to San Francisco remains one of the most scenic commutes in the region. That alone makes it appealing to people who want a beautiful in-between space.