What is the cost of living in California? Please help! (Orange: for sale, apartments)

[KaseyIsAmazing]

Hey you guys. I need a little help here. I'm 17 years old. I graduated high school a year early and I'm now in college. I'll be graduating from there in January. I need some help though. I am living in Ohio now and I want to move to Southern California this year. I've picked a list of cities out (although there are way too many to name on here) based on income of the jobs I can get once I graduate college. Right now though, I am trying to save up money before I move so I can move before I graduate. I've tried using every mean to find the cost of living there (I know about rent I need utilities etc.) I can't find anything on the subject.

I was wondering if I would be able to move there on about $20,000 until I graduate (I plan on moving in June or October or sometime in between. I'm not sure yet. If you could give me the specifics with those dates that would be great).

Is it possible to live there for around $2,000/month?

Whats the average cost of ulitities per month?

How much can I expect paying per month total for everything if I pay about $975/month on rent?

Any information anyone could give me would be great and I'd appreciate it so much. I've planned for my life thus far but this is the only thing I need to put into place. I know for a fact I need to be where I want to live 3 months before I graduate so my college will help me find a job.

Thanks so much!

PS ~ I know there are other threads on this subject but I thought my situation was unique...Also if you need any other information just ask please.

[coyoteskye]

One thing that you can do to get a sense of monthly rental expenses is to look at craigslist.
Find the county that you're interested in and see what the apartments in that county rent for on average.
Sometimes you'll see a rental that looks too good to be true and that means that it probably is ... that it's a scam and it will be flagged and removed soon.
When you see an ad that interests you ... that looks affordable ... then come back to city-data-forum and inquire about the particular neighborhood of that rental.
And take note of the sub-forums above like Orange County, L.A., etc.
Often posting there can be more helpful as the people that frequent those forums usually in that area and know it well.
craigslist: california classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

Below is a map of the counties in CA.
California, especially most of the coastal areas, is extremely expensive.
I don't live on much but a 2K budget for the month may be a real challenge for you ... unless you're open to a house share situation.

Good luck!

[wburg]

Cost of living in California depends on where in California, although even the cheap parts of California are expensive compared to much of the country. Where are you going to attend college? Your immediate housing decision depends more on where you plan to go to school than where you plan to get a job after college.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by KaseyIsAmazing

PS ~ I know there are other threads on this subject but I thought my situation was unique...Also if you need any other information just ask please.

So odd you consider yourself so unique!

[KaseyIsAmazing]

I'm already in college. I'll be done in January. It's not about where I go to school it's about where I want to work at this point.

[KaseyIsAmazing]

Thanks for the info Coyoetskye

[wburg]

Well then...where do you want to work?

Hang on...you started college at 16 and are finishing next year when you turn 18? An AA, or a BA? In what field? Some parts of the state are better for some jobs than others.

Basically, the big coastal cities are the most expensive and jobs there tend to pay more. Living inland is cheaper but there is less opportunity for work in the really high-tech or creative fields. Living in small towns is cheaper still but it's probably not what you're looking for in terms of job prospects.

[KaseyIsAmazing]

Why would a 2 k budget be hard for me?

[KaseyIsAmazing]

I graduated the day after my 17th birthday and was in college August of last year all the same year. I'm getting my Associates in Criminal Investigations and I have job options like A forensic tech, forensic science consultant, forensic engineer, crime lab analyst, and Criminal Investigator which is on the I don't want this job much. I've already looked up the average salaries in all of the cities I want. It's not so much about then. It's how much I can live on before I get those jobs. I need to know pretty much how much people spend a month to live in a 1 bedroom apartment.

[KaseyIsAmazing]

As long as I can live well and not have to struggle so much 3-6 months before I graduate I'll be ok.