SF does have a decent amount of culture (in the old sense) and a good tech scene. The latter is the reason for being there, if you’re in the right frame of mind.

It’s also the gateway to Northern California, and you can be out of the city in some truly beautiful places in a relatively short time if you head north. In SD you get TJ, Hell Ay, or some mountains and then a whole lot of desert depending on which way you go.