Moving to San Diego/Chula Vista area in July. And I need some crucial advise.

[Fran66]

Originally Posted by unspeakable

Its San Diego, not San Francisco. Southern California cost of living is within the income of most individuals. Also doesn't sound like OP is trying to stay in the finer parts of San Diego either.

San Diego COL is 25% over the average COL in The US. The average income in The US is $51,000. (OP's average income is, at best, $33,600 -- not even the median income.) Which means that if an individual is making $50,000 a year in the 'average' city (wherever that is -- I don't know LOL), he needs to make at least $62,500 in SD (which is 25% OVER the average) to maintain his current standard of living.

Doesn't sound that "most individuals" can afford to live in SD. If most individuals could afford to live there, SD would a lot more crowded (than it already is).

Now I do realize these are government stats and we all know about government stats. But I would certainly err on the side of caution when it comes to living in SD.

[unspeakable]

Don't fool yourself. If you never looked for low income housing in Southern California then you certainly would not know its doable. OP will have no problem finding rent for 800 - 1200 in the area. Granted it will not be the finer parts of the city unless it is a building that unfortunately has an income cap.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by echo42

Based on what info? Personal experience or statistical?

News. And reports (KPBS comes to mind, I don't think they're the only ones) about what they're trying to do to correct it.

[Gabriela2010]

Can I step in and ask a few questions about San Diego as well? It sounds like many of you can help me and probably C will get a few answers for her questions too.

We are a young family living in UK and we are looking at moving to San Diego in September/October this year. We are looking for a good neighbourhood, with good amenities, community feeling and near a Waldorf school preferably. I looked at Waldorf school in Encinitas and read a bit about that area and it seems to suits us really well. We love surfing, nature, good food (by that I mean cooking with natural ingredients). We have 2 young children, a 4 yrs old girl and a 16 months old boy and we really want to make sure that we are in an open-minded, relaxed place where we can all settle and make friends. My husband is French and I am Portuguese and we speak the 3 languages at home so would be great to live in a place where there is diversity. It is overwhelming because although we have been in UK for 10 years, US is huge and I am a little scared that it will be difficult to have the community feeling that we have where we live at the moment. On the other side, I just cannot wait to live in the sun 365 days a year!
Many thanks in advance for all your help.

[mandasand]

Originally Posted by Gabriela2010

Can I step in and ask a few questions about San Diego as well? It sounds like many of you can help me and probably C will get a few answers for her questions too.

We are a young family living in UK and we are looking at moving to San Diego in September/October this year. We are looking for a good neighbourhood, with good amenities, community feeling and near a Waldorf school preferably. I looked at Waldorf school in Encinitas and read a bit about that area and it seems to suits us really well. We love surfing, nature, good food (by that I mean cooking with natural ingredients). We have 2 young children, a 4 yrs old girl and a 16 months old boy and we really want to make sure that we are in an open-minded, relaxed place where we can all settle and make friends. My husband is French and I am Portuguese and we speak the 3 languages at home so would be great to live in a place where there is diversity. It is overwhelming because although we have been in UK for 10 years, US is huge and I am a little scared that it will be difficult to have the community feeling that we have where we live at the moment. On the other side, I just cannot wait to live in the sun 365 days a year!
Many thanks in advance for all your help.

You should start a new thread...

[Fran66]

Originally Posted by Gabriela2010

Can I step in and ask a few questions about San Diego as well? It sounds like many of you can help me and probably C will get a few answers for her questions too.

We are a young family living in UK and we are looking at moving to San Diego in September/October this year. We are looking for a good neighbourhood, with good amenities, community feeling and near a Waldorf school preferably. I looked at Waldorf school in Encinitas and read a bit about that area and it seems to suits us really well. We love surfing, nature, good food (by that I mean cooking with natural ingredients). We have 2 young children, a 4 yrs old girl and a 16 months old boy and we really want to make sure that we are in an open-minded, relaxed place where we can all settle and make friends. My husband is French and I am Portuguese and we speak the 3 languages at home so would be great to live in a place where there is diversity. It is overwhelming because although we have been in UK for 10 years, US is huge and I am a little scared that it will be difficult to have the community feeling that we have where we live at the moment. On the other side, I just cannot wait to live in the sun 365 days a year!
Many thanks in advance for all your help.

Living in sun, 365 days out of the year, is BORING.

Stay where you and visit SD a couple of times a year.

You really don't want to live in The US. Not anymore.

[rosa surf]

Originally Posted by Gabriela2010

Can I step in and ask a few questions about San Diego as well? It sounds like many of you can help me and probably C will get a few answers for her questions too.

We are a young family living in UK and we are looking at moving to San Diego in September/October this year. We are looking for a good neighbourhood, with good amenities, community feeling and near a Waldorf school preferably. I looked at Waldorf school in Encinitas and read a bit about that area and it seems to suits us really well. We love surfing, nature, good food (by that I mean cooking with natural ingredients). We have 2 young children, a 4 yrs old girl and a 16 months old boy and we really want to make sure that we are in an open-minded, relaxed place where we can all settle and make friends. My husband is French and I am Portuguese and we speak the 3 languages at home so would be great to live in a place where there is diversity. It is overwhelming because although we have been in UK for 10 years, US is huge and I am a little scared that it will be difficult to have the community feeling that we have where we live at the moment. On the other side, I just cannot wait to live in the sun 365 days a year!
Many thanks in advance for all your help.

There are alot of Portuguese (Brazilian) speakers in many SD beach areas. I learned Portuguese, also know Spanish and of course English. San Diego is pretty open to speakers of other languages.

I think you would like Encinitas if you want that community feel. There are other beach communities such as Ocean Beach( a little more hippie) that you may like as well.

[chanoptah]

Originally Posted by Fran66

San Diego COL is 25% over the average COL in The US. The average income in The US is $51,000. (OP's average income is, at best, $33,600 -- not even the median income.) Which means that if an individual is making $50,000 a year in the 'average' city (wherever that is -- I don't know LOL), he needs to make at least $62,500 in SD (which is 25% OVER the average) to maintain his current standard of living.

Doesn't sound that "most individuals" can afford to live in SD. If most individuals could afford to live there, SD would a lot more crowded (than it already is).

Now I do realize these are government stats and we all know about government stats. But I would certainly err on the side of caution when it comes to living in SD.

I did the research and found out that 39% of the people living in San Diego cannot afford to live there.

[Mugsy]

Well, there is always Mexico...pretty cheap to live there, might work for a truck driver...

and a lot of Americans live there very close to the border.

[mysticaltyger]

You don't need advise. You need advice.