Tips on living in Santa Barbara, CA for a single, 25 yo, male Engineer (Vista: home)

[Xelius]

First time posting on city-data.

I'm 26 years old, single, male, and considering moving to Santa Barbara.
I'll be coming in as a mid-level software engineer, making around 90k/year.
What's the general 20-30 yo populace like?
I'm mostly introverted, but I do enjoy the occasional nightlife. Is it a "single friendly" city?
How dangerous is it, really?
How expensive is it? (I know I'll have to fork anywhere between $1700 to $2000 on a modest monthly rent, wanted to know how expensive everything else is).
I'm also of Latin American descent, I don't know if that means anything in California as I've always been told it's a very tolerant state.
My biggest fear is that there won't be a whole lot to do, that it'll have too much of a small town feel, and not being able to interact with many other young individuals my age.

Thanks!

[nightlysparrow]

UCSB has about 25,000 students. You can hang out in Isla Vista.

[BB_210]

Make money and bang the college chicks.

[Ruth4Truth]

Santa Barbara is full of families of Mexican descent from the time that CA belonged to Mexico. And yes, in my experience, it's a good town for young singles. There's a beach; what more do you need to do, with young singles? And there's a university. With its own beach.

You don't seem to realize how fortunate you are. A lot of people would kill to move to SB, but they can't afford it. As a techie, you can afford it. Make the most of it. If you decide after a year or two that there's not enough going on for your needs, you can take your raises, and parlay your experience into a job in the Bay Area. LOTS to do up there. By the time your salary grazes 6 figures, you'll be able to afford it.

[Kevroqs]

Originally Posted by max210

Make money and bang the college chicks.

Wish I could live in a beach town filled with hot college chicks instead of living in a desert town with bored married housewives and 50+ year old grandmas.

[1752]

You should be able to live fairly comfortably on that salary but you might want to make a conscience effort to live below your means as Santa Barbara like any other decent place in California is expensive. As for romance, it is a lot easier in your twenties or fifty five and up in SB. Most folks over their twenty's are hitched. As for the Latino thing most folks here are cool about it I think. If you are young looking you may want to pay attention to what areas are claimed by gangs(https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...919921874&z=12) Gang activity is pretty low right now but that can change. Also gangs around here tend to be traditional turf gangs so unless someone mistakes you for a guy from an opposing clique you will probably be left alone. As for non-romantic socializing you have to make your own way, you will be leaving your own friends behind and it can be hard to make new ones. there is a recurring theme of folks moving to a west coast town and finding it hard to break in because most folks they encounter already have something going on (search for Seattle freeze) but in between the downtown clubs, softball, kickball, adult education, sierra club, there is lots of opportunity.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Santa Barbara is full of families of Mexican descent from the time that CA belonged to Mexico. And yes, in my experience, it's a good town for young singles. There's a beach; what more do you need to do, with young singles? And there's a university. With its own beach.

You don't seem to realize how fortunate you are. A lot of people would kill to move to SB, but they can't afford it. As a techie, you can afford it. Make the most of it. If you decide after a year or two that there's not enough going on for your needs, you can take your raises, and parlay your experience into a job in the Bay Area. LOTS to do up there. By the time your salary grazes 6 figures, you'll be able to afford it.

Yep, that future figure salary will definitely buy a home in Palo Alto.