SF is smaller in size, and slightly smaller in population than Austin.
Check out the average times, etc.
Try to imagine for a second how much easier and less expensive it is to deal with Austin than SF.
http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2013/04/03/navigating_the_trea... is a wonderful explanation
Realize it is so bad they have a many-page colored guide on replacing a fucking window:
http://www.sf-planning.org/ftp/files/publications_reports/St...