While it doesn&#x27;t effect the city itself, the geography appears to constrain suburbs. The lack of nearby suburbs probably drives prices up.<p>New York has sprawling suburbs that go into nearby states.<p>The SF equivalent of a lot of those areas are mountain ranges and oceans. To be sure, SF has suburbs (or suburb equivalents): SV, Oakland, etc. But a lot of prime area for suburbs can&#x27;t support one.<p>Draw a 30 miles radius circle from manhattan and SF, and I bet NYC has more livable land.<p>That said, that is all the more reason for strong development in SF. Or else you are going to end up with SF just being a rich neighborhood for millionaires in a Bay Area megacity.