moving to cali (San Diego, Riverside, Huntington Beach: apartments, to rent, condo)

[katiem2006]

im from tcentral illinois...ive lived here all my life...im graduating in a month and getting out of here. im looking to move somewhere in california(somewhat close to the shore)...but i need the cost of living to be decent...i could only afford rent thats like $600/month...and i need somewhere that i could get a decent job to still afford to live...i waitress right now but its hard to find a good waitressing job sicne im only 18 and you have to be 19 to serve alcohol (and wont be 19 for almsot another year). i would love it if anyone had any good ideas as to where would be a good place to move to. thanks.

[Roman11]

Wow, that's a hard one. 600 a month and close to shore is going to be tuff. I live in San Diego and there is nothing around here that's less than $1000.00 per month, and that's for a one bedroom. Your going to need to do the roommate thing just to survive. Good place to start looking is craigslist San Diego and look up Apartments and jobs, or choose another city on the same site and look around.

Removed

Good Luck...

[katiem2006]

yeah...thats kinda what i figured...im also looking into the gulf coast of florida or maybe even texas but im not sure yet...right now im leaning more towards florida and probably somewhere around the fort myers area. thanks for the help.

[Roman11]

Originally Posted by katiem2006

yeah...thats kinda what i figured...im also looking into the gulf coast of florida or maybe even texas but im not sure yet...right now im leaning more towards florida and probably somewhere around the fort myers area. thanks for the help.

Don't be scared away from the idea...really think about it before you make the move. There are a lot of people here not making 6 figures and they're living just fine. If you really want to live in San Diego or somewhere in California then if there is a will there is a way. You can always go inland and fine cheaper apartments and it's only a 15 min or 1/2 drive to the coast. There are a lot jobs here too, just gotta look for them.

[katiem2006]

true...the hurricanes kinda make me nervous about living in florida (espically since id be moving there at the start of hurricane season) i just keep reminding myslef that if so many other ppl are able to make it on their own and everything than i can too if i just try.

[lookingfortheperfectplace]

the only way to get a place that is $600 a month here is to live in the ghetto. The Inland Empire will welcome you. It's between san Diego & L.a.(San Bernardino, Colton, Fontana) The beach (orange county beaches, which are nice) is only a 45 minute drive but with traffic (which is always) it takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours. And forget about buying a house for under $300,000. in CA. I have lived in CA for 30 years and I am going to move to Colorado. You have to be 21 to drink or sell it here. If you get a roomate, Corona is not too expensive and still close to the beach.

[Hawaii-SantaBarbaraMom]

Hi! I'll put in a plug for Santa Barbara, CA. Since you are young and have waitress experience it might work for you. They have a great community college here too. You can't find a more beautiful place to live on the coast, that's for sure. It is like living in paradise here. It is always warm and breezy and there are TONS of jobs available. You would have to rent a room in a home or condo to be able to afford it though. It is very expensive but since you are so young you can do things like ride a bike instead of have a car, and you don't require as much food as a family of four and so on. I made a major move when I was young to Hawaii and lived "poor" but very happy for a few years. I've never regreted it. I met my husband there too. Well, good luck!

[Hawaii-SantaBarbaraMom]

Originally Posted by lookingfortheperfectplace

Corona is not too expensive and still close to the beach.

Corona close to the beach?? I don't think so. I don't think Corona or anywhere in Riverside is a good place for a young person to live the "california life". I think he or she would be very disapointed, unless they simply wanted the sunshine. I'm thinking Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach (though a little big and "rough" to be alone), and other small beach communities with lots of tourism would be better spots in Ca. In MHO

[gmb]

I hate to be negative, but it will be near impossible to find a nice room for $600 near the beach. It is so beyond expensive here. I live in Santa Barbara, so I am rather surprised that someone mentioned trying to live here. Please do not come here unless you have a close friend to share a place with otherwise you will be living with a stranger. When I was in college back in the early 90's my crappy apartment near Santa Barbara community college was $900 for a two bedroom. There are ways to make it work, it is just more challenging and a bit cramped. I also lived in Ventura which is 30 mileas south of Santa Barbara and it is a bit cheaper. It is on the coast and they have a number of places to waitress. I wouldn't consider L.A. or inland near there. San Diego is an awesome college town, so I am sure living with a stranger there wouldn't be bad at all. I would recommend San Diego first, then Ventura. There is a reason CA is so expensive, we do have great weather and no hurricanes! Good luck!!

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by gmb

I hate to be negative, but it will be near impossible to find a nice room for $600 near the beach.

Not necessarily; For Central CA, look into Seaside and Salinas (near Monterey and Carmel). Also check out Nor Cal. Crescent City and Eureka might be viable options within your price range. Good luck.