How is it to live in Fresno? (San Jose, Santa Ana: for rent, insurance)

[vanez1106]

I am planning to go to Fresno and want to know how much money do I need for rent, food, transportation and other utilities. I'm a 18 years old girl. I also would like to know how hard is to find a job in Fresno and how good/bad is the pay compare to the expenses?. Thank you so much for the help you can give to me.

Btw, I don't spend too much money in food, I have a small stomach xD. And at the beginning I have no problem with living without going out to the movies and stuff very often, so please don't count that part.

[theunbrainwashed]

Judging by your English, it sounds like you're from a foreign country. Do you have the proper visa first?

[jeffredo]

For a one bedroom that isn't totally ghetto - at least $700. Everything else is pretty hard to pin down since it depends so much on the individual, but the cost of living isn't any worse than most places in the country.

[bmw335xi]

Why Fresno? If you don't have a job lined up, there are so many better options. I personally think Fresno is one of the worst cities in the United States.

[vanez1106]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

Judging by your English, it sounds like you're from a foreign country. Do you have the proper visa first?

I'm asking about cost of living. Anything else is my business. I won't go there illegally

[vanez1106]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Why Fresno? If you don't have a job lined up, there are so many better options. I personally think Fresno is one of the worst cities in the United States.

Why do you think Fresno is one of the worst cities?.. Wich city would you consider is a better place to live? (in California)

[FresnoFacts]

At 18, with the assumption from that you do not have specific job skills to offer, the job situation will be toughest. The competition is high for the low skill jobs in this area, be it in restaurants, retail or whatever.

I posted this in another thread, but maybe this story written by someone close to your age about spending time living here will help. She is a college student who spent the summer doing an internship in Fresno.
http://fresnobeehive.com/2011/07/an_outsiders_ta.html (broken link)

[MtnSurfer]

You are asking the wrong question without providing enough information for anyone to answer you with even remote accuracy.

First and foremost there is no set dollar amount for expenses vs. pay as these are both variables depending on the person (e.g. x+y=z). As I've pointed out in another thread in which you asked the same question the answer depends more on you, your expenses, type of housing, job skills, ambitions, etc... than Fresno itself. As a recent HS grad (I'm assuming) your whole life is ahead of you. This includes time to begin serious training/education in a particular profession.

Do you plan to:
* Go to college full-time?
* Work full-time?
* What type of work experience do you have? What type of job do you hope to find?
* Live with roomates which is the most affordable option at this age?
* Live like a starving student for the next 4+ years?
* Do you have financial help from others sources (parents, etc...)?
* What are you used to and what are your expectations?
* Most young people these days consider their iPhone/smart phone as impotant as their food bills. What expenses do you have (e.g. car to get to school/work, insurance, iPhone, etc...)?

The primary cost differentiator between Fresno and other places including the rest of the nation is housing. In relation to the rest of the state Fresno is pretty reasonable. Check Craigslist for rooms for rent.

I recommend adding up all your normal expenses you have regardless of the area you live, then factor in housing seperately and you will have your answer. Once you create a basic budget you can use that with any town you move to.

Derek

[Wilson502]

Originally Posted by vanez1106

Why do you think Fresno is one of the worst cities?.. Wich city would you consider is a better place to live? (in California)

For starters, we have some of the worst air quality/smog issues in the nation, chronically high unemployment (some of the worst in the country as far as unemployment rates and unemployed to job availability ratios) and low paying jobs, little economic diversification, Hot summers, stupidity runs rampant (esp. with how our lovely local govt. operates), high amounts of crime, poverty, drug and gang activity due to this being a drug trafficking region, considering your age at 18, there are many better places to live in California than Fresno, but as the previous poster stated, you need to better explain yourself, but i can name some cities that are much better places to live than Fresno in California. But if u have to Live in the "fresno area" than live in Clovis.

San Jose and the surrounding Bay Area cities such as Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Fremont, Mtn. View, etc.

Santa Ana, Irvine, Fullerton, and the surrounding cities in Orange county (Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Tustin) are also decent choices. But it all boils down to if ur going to school, job, etc. Cant really guide you further till you provide some more details as the previous poster put.

[RJay123]

I cannot endorse it either. Besides all the factors people mentioned, it really feels like you're on an island in Fresno because it's literally surrounded by nothing.