The peninsula is much nicer than the city, I think. I lived in the city for a little while after moving here, but after my car got broken into TWICE in one month, (even my sunglasses were stolen), and a couple of way too expensive parking tickets and even getting towed on one occassion, I decided to go migrate south. Very glad I did; it's much cleaner, there are more trees, less crime, and notably fewer crazies. It's easier to hear yourself think, too. Rent is not really any less than you pay in the city, but you seem to get more -- as in square feet -- breathing room, etc.