Is it really that bad??? (San Diego, Long Beach: low income, apartment, crime)

[Think (Freedom)]

Is it really that bad???

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I've been coming to this forum on and off for a while, and have read some serious bashing on L.A.'s lower income neighborhoods.. but these are the only kinds of neighborhoods I seem to be able to afford if I want to live in L.A. I want to know if these areas are really as crime ridden as I read in the stats and etc. Now, I'm not from a small town, so I know crime.. theres plenty of it here in Miami. Yet I've never had a problem, and I've lived here most of my life. I'm not saying I want to go live in Compton or anything. But how do areas like North Hollywood, Korea Town, Long Beach, Inglewood, Glendale, Torrance and Bell Flower compare in relation to crime and safety to Miami?

I know that L.A. (and most of California) is very pricey, but South Florida is getting just as bad, and with very low wages. How are the salaries for an average worker, without a degree, just basic office skills and whatnot? Would this be enough to survive, or am I just dreaming?

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by dragonofillfaith

Is it really that bad???

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I've been coming to this forum on and off for a while, and have read some serious bashing on L.A.'s lower income neighborhoods.. but these are the only kinds of neighborhoods I seem to be able to afford if I want to live in L.A. I want to know if these areas are really as crime ridden as I read in the stats and etc. Now, I'm not from a small town, so I know crime.. theres plenty of it here in Miami. Yet I've never had a problem, and I've lived here most of my life. I'm not saying I want to go live in Compton or anything. But how do areas like North Hollywood, Korea Town, Long Beach, Inglewood, Glendale, Torrance and Bell Flower compare in relation to crime and safety to Miami?

I know that L.A. (and most of California) is very pricey, but South Florida is getting just as bad, and with very low wages. How are the salaries for an average worker, without a degree, just basic office skills and whatnot? Would this be enough to survive, or am I just dreaming?

You're dreaming.

The low income neighborhoods in CA are not nearly as bad as many say, but they are going to be a lot more expensive than a similar neighborhood in Miami.

You're not going to make any more money in LA with "basic office skills" than you would anywhere.

[Woof]

You might have to start out living in a room, perhaps sharing an apartment for the first few years. There are lots of people who live on a small income in expensive cities who manage that way.

It wouldn't be a good solution for me because I'm hypersensitive to bassy music and people noises which abound in poor neighborhoods, but lots of folks don't share that difficulty.

[Axiom]

There are a lot of salary/cost of living calculators out there. I'd certainly play around with a few, as well as continuing to ask questions and research, and make at least one exploratory house hunting trip before I packed up and moved.

I have no idea what your numbers are, but if you plug in a salary of $35,000 in Miami on cnnmoney it says you would need a salary of $46,703 in the LA area in order to live a comparable lifestyle. While you might make slightly more in CA, I'm guessing it won't be that much more. Of course housing is your biggest problem. According that particular calculator it would be about 88% more expensive in LA than in Miami-Dade county FL.

[Think (Freedom)]

You're dreaming.

lol.. thank you. Seriously, I know the reality of it is that I need some kind of education if I even want to think about living there (or almost anywhere in CA). I just wanted to know the opinions of the some locals

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by dragonofillfaith

lol.. thank you. Seriously, I know the reality of it is that I need some kind of education if I even want to think about living there (or almost anywhere in CA). I just wanted to know the opinions of the some locals

You just need money, or low expectations. I lived in San Diego for years with almost no money, it can be done, but be prepared to scrape by.

Invest in your education, and everything else will come.

[TwistedxKiss]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

You just need money, or low expectations. I lived in San Diego for years with almost no money, it can be done, but be prepared to scrape by.

Invest in your education, and everything else will come.

Define "low expectations" ?

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by TwistedxKiss

Define "low expectations" ?

Sleeping on a couch? Crappy studio apartment in a crappy neighborhood? Riding the bus?

[Angel Bear]

Invest in your education, and everything else will come.

That is very wise advice

The only reason we're able to even consider Southern California is because my husband and I both have college degrees It opens you up to many more possibilities The hard work does pay off

Much luck and blessings to you!,
AB

[Think (Freedom)]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the advice. I am looking into some local colleges