9 Painless Ways To Save Money In America’s Most Expensive City

Regardless of your zip code, it can often feel like the city you call home is draining your savings. But, according to a recent study by Go Banking, that feeling could actually be fact if you live in the Bay Area. The financial site tallied what factors could help or hurt your goal of saving money in a city — like sales tax, median home price, median income, unemployment rates, and gas prices — to determine what towns are the best and worst for stacking dough. No crazy surprise here: San Francisco is the worst offender.

With the proliferation of pricey restaurants and new things to do, going out certainly seems worth the cost, but saving money in the process seems straight-up impossible.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way: If you’re smart about your spending habits, you can overcome even the worst of statistics and see your bank account flourish even while living in an expensive city. From ride-sharing services that cost way less than a cab to produce-shopping at your local farmers’ market, the nine foolproof tips we rounded up ahead will help you save a buck. It may sound like a lot of work, but it's worth it to see your dollar go a long way.