Can SD be done on a 35-40K salary? (San Diego: credit, loan)

[BSL63087]

I'm 20 and looking for a big change. I want to move to the west for nicer scenery, better weather, and for more things to do. I am considering Dallas and Phoenix but if money were no object I'd choose San Diego over those two in an instant. I guess my question is, how much more expensive is it in San Diego than those other two places? I'm from Indiana, near Louisville, KY and I find it very boring around here, I'm a big pro sports fan and it's non-existant here in the city although it's a pretty good college sports area. Cincinnati and Indianapolis are within a couple hour's drive for games though. I'm single, no kids, no major debts, and I think the main things I would be interested in is going to a lot of games (Padres and Chargers) and walking along the beach a lot for fun and for excercise (the best thing about the beach is it's free). I'm not much of a party type so clubs and nightlife and such aren't that big of a factor to me. I'd like to live in a decent place, nothing necessarily luxurious or anything but also nothing in a run down poor area with high crime, etc. Around here a reasonable rent for a 1-2 BR apartment in a decent nieghborhood would be around $550-700/month. How much more would it be for something similar in the SD area? I'm sure the farther out from the ocean you get the cheaper it gets. I would be ok with living somewhere a little farther away from the beach if it meant a better chance of making a move there realistic. How much more expensive are everyday living expenses such as utilities, car insurance, food, gas, etc? It seems like you probably don't really need to heat or cool your house much which would be a plus. I know finding a roommate would be ideal for awhile, but I'd really prefer to live alone. Can anyone give me an honest opinion on just how much more SD would be compared to places such as here, Phoenix, Dallas? In your opinion is the ocean/beach and near perfect weather year round worth it? Living any place isn't exactly cheap. I want to be as happy as possible and while I think I'll be very happy in Dallas or Phoenix, I feel like I would be even happier in San Diego but I just get the impression that trying to live there on an average salary would be simply overwhelming. I hope this isn't the case.

[kettlepot]

Yes, at your age you can do it on 35-40 a year. It would be a big plus if you already own a car.

Food runs about average. Utilities will be less because as you said, not much call for heating and cooling. Overall, utilities, Gas/Electric, Cable, Internet, Telephone, will be under $200/month. Water is usually paid by the landlord in apartment buildings. Gas probably is 20% more than the national average. If you drive the average amount, 1250 miles/month, and average 25 mpg, gas would be $150/month. Not sure about car insurance, but being under 25 it's going to be more expensive. Food at home with a modest amount of eating out, like a sandwich at work, and pizza on the weekends would run about $400/month.

1 bedroom in an older building without amenities but in a safe-ish urban neighborhood, $800 - $1000. 2 bedroom, $950 - $1150. Newer building with amenities, pool, W/D, dishwasher, A/C, etc, 1 bedroom probably $1000 - $1200. 2 Bedroom, $1200 - $1500.

So we have $750 from the first paragraph, plus car insurance, ($250?), plus $1000 for rent. That's $2000 per month for the necessaries. Say you earn 3k per month less 20% for taxes, leaves you $2400. Minus 2000, and you have $400/month for extras like clothes, an occasional date, and maybe a trip home once a year, plus car repairs. So, 36k means you can do it, and have a little bit of a cushion.

[hgclyde]

If you are look for an apartment in $550-700 I wish you wellRentals are in older buildings in areas where safety maybe an issue. Decent one apartments will cost $800 in some urban areas like National City, Logan Heights/Barrio Logan, East San Diego and Kensington. A salary of 35 -40 k can be had you may need to consider a roommate for more popular areas like Pt. Loma/Rosecrans, The beaches(i.e. Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach), La Jolla. Since you are in your 20's College Grove area(San Diego State University is an option about 6 miles inland off the Hwy 94( Helix Fwy) is an affordable option and the University Heights/Normal Heights/ North Park is an another option(The private University of San Diego is in that area) you can get a roommate. Unfortunately , apartments in the price range of you are asking in San Diego is impossible. Depending Your current job or career your salary will be higher based on the cost of living.

Thats not saying much. Others will give you insight. I am sorry.Thats they way it is.

[Jax]

I can understand your desire to leave Indiana. I grew up there myself in northern IN, and once I left...I had no desire to move back permanently!!!! OK...I totally made it San Diego and rarely made even what you're planning on making regarding salary. I even student taught for months w/out a salary (granted, that's where a loan comes into play, but that's another story). I always had roommates, though. Line something up ahead of time and go for it. I moved out without a job, BUT I had something lined up as far as a living situation. It's easy to think you can't make it in San Diego when you read these posts, and honestly, cost of living is one of the reasons we left and moved to Jacksonville, FL about 6 months ago, but if you're young and single and you have the desire to give it a try, I always say go for it. If you're into church, you may be able to contact some of the larger churches in SD via website, etc., to try to locate a roommate ahead of time. That worked for me when I moved to Colorado Springs years ago. Best wishes!

[PhotogRyan]

I've done it on ~$40k for about a year, and after that year was up, I really had nothing left over, but I did make a few mistakes along the way that affected my finances.

I lived with my gf, which really helped by way of 50% rent. We lived in a 1977-built condo complex, and rent was $1050. The mistake I made was buying a $20k car right off the bat, because I wanted something "nice." Don't fall prey!

If you can live a lean lifestyle, find activities to keep you busy, then you can definitely make it out here on $40k. Just don't go crazy and buy things you don't need. You might want to rethink about roommates, just interview a lot of them to get a sense of how they are.

We previously had a one bedroom, but then decided to rent with roommates in downtown, two blocks from the water. We now have a much nicer place (3bd/2ba/1loft/20ftceilings) for only $100 more than we paid for the 1bd/1ba, have great views, and living much better than before. It also helps that our roommates are easy to get along with.

[BSL63087]

Thanks for everyone's responses. I'm in the process of figuring out what I want to do and while I hope to someday make a lot more than that, I was just wondering if it would be possible to get by on 35-40K or so. I often hear people talking about how California is soooo expensive and wanting to move somewhere else for cheaper cost of living, but I think it's pretty much expensive to live in any city in the United States if you ask me. I know some places cost more than others, but then again, I'm also a believer that you get what you pay for.

[DaveArrrrr]

I'm from the Louisville area myself and am contemplating a move to SD in the very near future. I'm 26 so I feel as though it's now or never really.. single, no kids, I have my Bachelor's degree and I work in IT for a large healthcare company here. UNfortunately, we have no corporate office's in California.

I make a bit over 45k here, what could I expect to be fair in San Diego for someone with a Bachelor's and working in IT as a Security Administrator... I know, I'd need to list my resume for a fair review

The plan is actually for a buddy of mine to move as well so we could split the rent on an apt but I'd like to be as independent as possible, while being able to maintain the same lifestyle I have here, with regard to retirement funds and savings.

Not sure what else to add here to make this a worthwhile post to receive input on, so please feel free to inquire.

Thanks!

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by DaveArrrrr

I make a bit over 45k here, what could I expect to be fair in San Diego for someone with a Bachelor's and working in IT as a Security Administrator... I know, I'd need to list my resume for a fair review

Impossible to say without knowing your experience level, but we pay 60k+ to new grads, so I think you can do better than that.

[boi2socal]

As long as you have minimal credit card payments and a reasonable car payment I think you would be ok, but tight, on your own. You'd be much more comfortable splitting rent.

[LookingtoLeave]

Originally Posted by PhotogRyan

I've done it on ~$40k for about a year, and after that year was up, I really had nothing left over, but I did make a few mistakes along the way that affected my finances.

I lived with my gf, which really helped by way of 50% rent. We lived in a 1977-built condo complex, and rent was $1050. The mistake I made was buying a $20k car right off the bat, because I wanted something "nice." Don't fall prey!

If you can live a lean lifestyle, find activities to keep you busy, then you can definitely make it out here on $40k. Just don't go crazy and buy things you don't need. You might want to rethink about roommates, just interview a lot of them to get a sense of how they are.

We previously had a one bedroom, but then decided to rent with roommates in downtown, two blocks from the water. We now have a much nicer place (3bd/2ba/1loft/20ftceilings) for only $100 more than we paid for the 1bd/1ba, have great views, and living much better than before. It also helps that our roommates are easy to get along with.

Am I reading this right or did you say you now have a 3 bd downtown near the water for $1150? That seems awfully low.