From FL to LA...maybe??? (San Bernardino: real estate, apartment, rent)

[Leahbeautiful]

My husband and our two little ones are considering a job offer in southern California. We have the choice of two options: LA (beverly hills/brentwood) or San Bernardino. The only problem: the salary. The salary offered is not much more than we are making now...but with the promise of larger bonus...totalling about $65,000 a year, to start. Once we are familiar with the company there is plenty of places to go. It seems like a good opportunity but we are VERY concerned about raising a family on that salary in California. Can a family of 4 live off of that in one of these places?? What good suburbs are there around these places that are nice, safe, affordable for raising a family...or should we just scratch this whole idea??? HELP!!! we have been to california several times and love it...we love the idea of living there...but we are not sure about the high cost of living, taxes, real estate, gas, and on and on and on....

[WINNIEK]

A family of four on $65k that will be extremely tough.Do you plan on renting or buying?Are you comfortable on the salary you make in FL.I would suggest you use the salary calculator tool to see what you need to make here. Southern CA is very exspensive I would pass with that salary.

[Des_Demona]

Family of 4.... 65k.... is that the only income you will have?? I live on a family income of about $80k for just 2 people (no kids) and I rent a 2 bedroom condo and I struggle every day just to have enough to eat and pay rent. If that is going to be your only source of income I definitely think it would be a really really BAD idea to make that move. Now if say, you have a similar income and your family is making over 100k you might be able to make it work. With 65k your prospects will be a 2 bedroom that your kids have to share with bad schools and neighbors who are either illegal immigrants making all kinds of noise with tons of kids to one apartment or a gang neighborhood. You could make it work, but it would be miserable and dangerous, especially for your kids. Again, if you have double that income for your family though (most people in California have two adults in the household working and many with 2 jobs each) then you could make it work a little better. Oh and you definitely don't want to live or work near San Bernadino. It's the most crime-ridden place in California just about... very dangerous.