From Tokyo to California. Need living advice (Los Angeles, San Diego: apartment, find a job)

[surya2u]

Hello. I am an American living in Tokyo, Japan. I have previously lived in a mid sized city in the midwest. I have been living in Tokyo for 2 years, and am moving back to America in the next few months. I have decided on California because my only family (my sister) lives near Los Angeles with her family.

Currently, I am able to live in a super small studio 30 minutes by train to central Tokyo. I live alright on about $2000 a month. I would like to live near the ocean in a youth friendly city (i am 25). Preferably a city that is medium to large size, since I have grown accustomed to city life such as Tokyo where there are countless things to do.

I hold a business degree and am just looking for a standard entry level business job. I am just looking for a place to live that is not dangerous, and I where I can somewhat comfertably live on an entry level salary. Being used to small living accommidations, I can live in a very small apartment or studio again.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. As I have been out of America for so long I am sort of out of the loop on things. Thanks.

[Cacumen667]

Wait, so will anywhere on the California coast do, or do you want to live in or near Los Angeles?

ps. I'm jealous. I absolutely love Japan! Pretty awesome you actually got to live there. Nice.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by surya2u

I have decided on California


I hold a business degree
looking for a standard entry level business job.
I can live in a very small apartment or studio again.

First find a job.
Once you do that, you will know what you can afford and where living makes sense.

Nobody can really give you any advice on where to live until we know the above.

What you are making in Japan is probably irrelevant.

[Snort]

This would seem like a neat transition: Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
if you want to live in the L.A. area to be near family.

[surya2u]

Originally Posted by Cacumen667

Wait, so will anywhere on the California coast do, or do you want to live in or near Los Angeles?

ps. I'm jealous. I absolutely love Japan! Pretty awesome you actually got to live there. Nice.

yeah its been a great experience but i realized living close to family is more important. i want to live closer to los angeles

[Cacumen667]

Originally Posted by surya2u

yeah its been a great experience but i realized living close to family is more important. i want to live closer to los angeles

I like the Los Feliz/Griffith Park area of LA.
You might also like Long Beach. I don't really know much about that area, but from what I've heard from various people, it's a pretty cool place.

San Diego and Santa Barbara are great too. But both are approximately 2 hours away from LA. Not that far away, but not that close either.