College Students from Tennessee (San Diego, Kensington: cheap apartments, find a job, school)

[Hayezb]

Whats up! I'm going to try and keep this short...

Me and a friend, 23 and 24 years old, are saving up to move to California in the summer and attend school. We are both from Tennessee and have been contemplating this move for 2-3 years now.

We are looking at moving to San Diego, and have been looking at the San Diego Community College District but they do not appear to have on campus housing. Would living on campus for 1-2 years be the best bet until we can establish ourselves with the area?

I'm currently employed as a computer programmer and should be able to keep my job as long as I've got an internet connection... My friend would have to find a job but thankfully for him his parents should help keep him afloat until then.

If we have to move off campus, where in San Diego would the cheapest ( using that word lightly ) and cleanest places be to live? We would be looking at $_____ to $_____ for a 2 bedroom.

Just want to reassure you guys this is not a spur of the moment idea from 2 kids. We've both been living on our own here in Tennessee for a couple years but need a change of pace. We may live there a month and move back, but I want to experience it.

[T. Damon]

There is no on campus housing at any of the community colleges in the county that I know of.

[mewzikguy]

Look at North Park, South Park, Hillcrest, University Heights, East Village, Pacific Beach- - all areas where you'll find like-minded people your age. You can drive to any of the community colleges you pick. If you live downtown, (East Village, Gaslamp, Golden Hill) you can walk to City College. Good Luck guys

[kettlepot]

In addition to the areas mentioned by mewzikguy, look at Normal Heights, Kensington (southern part), Talmadge (southern part), City Heights west of I-15 (Cherokee Point). These are cheaper, but acceptable areas that will mitigate the sticker shock coming from Tennessee. You may find 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartments for as little as $800 month. These cheap apartments in cheap, Huffman style apartment buildings will run anywhere from $800 - $1050 month. You might be able to find a more modern apartment or a pre WWII California Cottage in the $950 - $1300 month range. Or you can go for all the bells and whistles from $1200 on up for a 2 bed, 1 bath place.

You can of course find a two bedroom apartment for less than $800 month, but we couldn't honestly recommend such places to you.

So, for broad planning purposes, assume you will be paying $950 - $1100 month unless you have champagne tastes, and are prepared to fork over the cash to live that way.

Feel free to post back here about various areas where you find apartments you are interested in, and we will give you the inside information.

[Hayezb]

Awesome, thanks guys!

I'm going to sit down and really check into some of these places this week and I'll be sure to come back here with what I find or if I have any questions!

[illusion887]

You can find a comfortable 2 bedroom apartment for $1200-1300 almost anywhere.