cheapest and best places to move to in California? (San Diego: apartment, for rent)

[lifesforliving]

I'm 19 years old, i live in a tiny village in England and i'm desperate to move to America, there is a course in film i want to do in America and i can do it in any of the main cities in USA and i had originally chosen San Diego but i have heard that SD is really expensive. Where would you recommend as a cheap, nice place to live in California?

[jaynetarzana]

If it is cheap, it usually means that it isn't very nice.

[lifesforliving]

thats my dilema, i don't want to move to the other side of the world to somewhere i'm not going to like, but i only have so much money to get over there, find an apartment and to live on until i find a job.

[Highnlite]

I don't blame you, but, how will you support yourself?

My Grandfather did the same, at 25 he immigrated to California, He worked hard, and created wealth, that is not just the American dream, it is the American fact.

Find what you love, figure out how to make some money doing it, and do it.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by lifesforliving

Where would you recommend as a cheap, nice place to live in California?

That's like asking for a cheap place to live in Knightsbridge or Kensington. There's no such thing.

[fatmancomics]

Well, at least we know that you want to live in one of the major cities because when I read the title line I immediately thought of lots of places that aren't anywhere near anything having to do with the film industry.

What you need to do to get feedback is include more details. How much money will you have when you move here? What's your budget? How much are you willing to pay for rent? How close do you want to be to studios and industry places? How far are you willing to commute (because you will have to commute no matter what if you're going to be in the film industry)?

Give us more details and we can give you more detailed answers.

[lifesforliving]

thats exactly my reasoning for moving, i have been to the US three times before and i love it more every time i go, and film is my passion and this course is amazing, it is especially arranged so you do it around your job. I've worked out that in a month or two i should have saved enough to get over there and hopefully enough for about three months rent and the deposit. by then i should hopefully have a job.

[Curmudgeon]

Decidedly mutually exclusive terms!

[lifesforliving]

fatmancomics
i was thinking around $1300 for rent - i am not naive in thinking i'm going to get anywhere really nice for this price but i am hoping i can find somewhere that will be close enough to train/bus stations. i am aware that i will have to commute to both my job and for my course and idealy for my job as it will be full time i wouldn't like to have to travel for much more than an hour each way but for my course i am more flexible. as for my budget when i move, i have saved around £4000 ($6300) but as i have no set date to move yet it should go up quite a bit.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by lifesforliving

by then i should hopefully have a job.

Presumably your authorization to enter and reside in the U.S. would be accomplished by way of an F-1 visa. That would entitle you study, but not to work. How do you expect to have a job when employers are falling under intense scrutiny to make sure that all workers are properly documented?