Potential blind move to SF

Im a 23-year-old software developer currently living in Nebraska, and I’m considering moving to San Francisco within the year. I’d love opinions from people who actually live in SF, especially people in tech or transplants who moved there in their 20s. I would plan on living solo in an apartment. Also this is just a plan and I wouldn’t move unless I had a job offer.

A little about me:

\- Currently working in enterprise software engineering (Java/Spring Boot/CI-CD/OpenShift/etc.) Been working for about 2 years
\- Looking at backend/platform/software engineering roles
\- Targeting \~$140k–180k total compensation eventually in the Bay Area
\- I’m financing a new 2026 Honda CR-V (3% APR), so I’d likely keep my car
\- Into gaming/anime/tech culture
\- I play recreational volleyball consistently and think rec leagues/sports would probably be my biggest social gateway
\- I want to live in a city where “major” things actually happen (concerts, conventions, events, etc.)

Things I’m trying to figure out:

\- Whether SF is actually worth the cost/stress for someone at my experience level
\- Whether my resume/background realistically fits SF tech companies yet
\- Whether I’d eventually burn out from the stress/cost/logistics

A few things that matter to me:

\- I want access to nightlife/events/social opportunities without living in total chaos
\- I don’t mind paying for parking if I have the salary to comfortably support it, but it seems impractical to pay high parking garage costs if I don’t utilize my car often
\- I’d ideally want a hybrid lifestyle:
\- public transit for work/events/nightlife
\- car for flexibility/weekends/volleyball/groceries/trips
\- I’m okay with moderate weather and fog, I just don’t want months of depressing Seattle-style gloom
\- I’d prefer to live around people in their mid-20s to early-30s rather than undergrad-heavy areas

Neighborhoods I’m currently considering:

1. Mission Bay
2. North Beach
3. Inner Sunset

Questions for SF locals:

1. Which neighborhood realistically sounds best for my personality/lifestyle?
2. Is keeping a car in SF worth it if I mostly use transit for commuting?
3. How bad is apartment parking REALLY? What do you actually pay monthly?
4. Is public transit realistic for:
5. \- work commuting
6. \- concerts/events
7. \- nightlife
8. \- groceries
9. \- volleyball leagues

Would really appreciate honest opinions from people actually living there.