|

11-16-2006, 06:33 PM
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
3 posts, read 17,641 times
Reputation: 18
|
|
A question regarding California rent....
Where can you find the cheapest rent in California (for a single person)? and how much would that rent generally be?
|
|

11-17-2006, 02:43 AM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Orange County, CA
175 posts, read 159,736 times
Reputation: 59
|
|
|
Well, that's kind of hard to answer. California is a huge state. There are vast differences between northern and southern CA. Your best bet is to find a general area that you're interested in and go from there. Even within certain counties, you'll find major price differences. The further you are from the ocean, the less you're likely to pay.
|
|

11-17-2006, 07:27 AM
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
3 posts, read 17,641 times
Reputation: 18
|
|
|
How about northern California?
(preferably around Modesto, Sacramento, or further north...)
|
|

11-17-2006, 11:05 AM
|
|
Not a member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: CA Coast
1,904 posts
Reputation: 350
|
|
|
Cheapest rent in CA? my guess,,, trailerparks along the Colorado River
|
|

11-17-2006, 03:09 PM
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
5 posts, read 7,402 times
Reputation: 10
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by info_seeker
Where can you find the cheapest rent in California (for a single person)? and how much would that rent generally be?
|
Rent in Modesto is going to be cheaper than Sacto (Sacramento) or The City (San Francisco), but there are cheaper cities. However, depending on where you are going to be working, the commute can be difficult. The Central Valley with some larger cities like Stockton, Modesto and Turlock (200K+ populations) are going to be a long 1 1/2 to 2 hour commute to the Bay Area or Sacto.
If the commute isn't an issue and you want cheap rent, smallish towns just outside of the larger ones are worth checking out. I can only tell you about the Central Valley: Try Riverbank, Ripon and Manteca (all near Modesto with under 30K population). Personally, I wouldn't live in Stockton if you paid me. Tracy is worth a look. Turlock is growing up nicely and would be a consideration. I don't particularly care for Ceres, Denair, Escalon, Hughson, Waterford or Keyes, they are generally old with a high percentage of lower income areas.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
|
|

11-18-2006, 02:34 AM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lakewood, CA
1,191 posts, read 1,300,315 times
Reputation: 479
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by greatbasinguide
Cheapest rent in CA? my guess,,, trailerparks along the Colorado River
|
Not too far from Death Valley. In another post I mentioned Imperial County, specifically El Centro and Calexico. With those two cities, fluency in Spanish is a BIG plus. 
|
|

11-18-2006, 11:41 AM
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
3 posts, read 17,641 times
Reputation: 18
|
|
|
Why don't you recommend Stockton?
|
|

11-18-2006, 06:34 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: WPB, FL. Dreaming of Oil city, PA
2,909 posts, read 4,077,734 times
Reputation: 642
|
|
I wouldnt want to rent if I have to commute 2 hours. The cost in gas and time would cancel out what you save in rent. Id rather rent a 2 bedroom condo with a roomate a 5-10 min commute from work 
|
|

11-19-2006, 07:44 AM
|
|
Moderator for San Francisco & San Jose Forums
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
9,140 posts, read 7,507,798 times
Reputation: 2674
|
|
Stockton
Quote:
Originally Posted by info_seeker
Why don't you recommend Stockton?
|
Because it pretty much sucks.  It's not the worst place in the world, and there are some decent neighborhoods, but it definitely would not be my first (or third, fourth, etc.) choice. I lived there for college, and in a nutshell, it's really hot, crime is very high, the scenery is minimal, and it even smells bad in parts. Sorry to anyone who lives there and likes it, but I left the second I finished school (UOP)... if you did choose to move there, stick to the West and North sides of town - i.e. campus area, Brookside, Grouse Run, etc.
To answer your original question, like others said, it's a huge state with lots of places to choose from. As for Northern Calif., basically the smaller towns in San Joaquin valley, Redding/Red Bluff, and North coast are the cheapest. I love the town of Arcata, if you don't mind being isolated, and there are also some cute towns in Mendocino county. Tahoe/Truckee is fairly inexpensive, but once again quite isolated... I lived in South Lake Tahoe for 2 years, and it's a gorgeous place, but you have to drive to Reno or Sac for real amenities. You could also consider Marin and Sonoma Counties, such as Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Novato, Sebastopol, Petaluma, and so on. These all still aren't be cheap by other state's standards, but you can probably find a place for around $650-900 (1 bdr.) in these areas. If you go to a really small & out-of-the-way town, you might get something nice for less than that!
Just keep in mind, you get what you pay for in California... it it's really cheap to live somewhere, there's usually a good reason. Now some of those reasons might not bother you (like isolation or bad weather), but definitely find them out first!  You're doing the right thing by asking locals, and you should also check craigslist to compare housing costs and/or talk to more people. Good luck!
Last edited by gizmo980; 11-19-2006 at 07:59 AM..
|
|

11-19-2006, 09:24 AM
|
|
Not a member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: CA Coast
1,904 posts
Reputation: 350
|
|
Quote:
|
Tahoe/Truckee is fairly inexpensive, but once again quite isolated...
|
Actually, extremely expensive, figure a rent on a room in a house will set you back at least $500 and up. A home? cheapest home for sale in Truckee is $300,000 960 square feet, no garage.
|
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
|
|