Cost of living (San Diego: apartment, rent, car insurance)

[mjkk2001]

I have been reading the threads here and see that the cost of living is high. Is that just if you are buying/renting? Is the price for groceries, gas, and other bills really high as well?

[kettlepot]

It's mostly just the cost of housing of housing that is high. The other items are about on par with national averages, except for gasoline which runs about 10% higher. On the other hand, fresh produce is generally cheaper than the most parts of the country. One wild card is car insurance. Car insurance here is probably a lot higher than some places, but a lot cheaper than someplace like New Jersey where the cost of insurance is notorious high.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

,,,,except for gasoline which runs about 10% higher.

I have been across the nation in many cities the last few weeks and I have seen gas at $3.05 just about everywhere.

[LHudson]

Yes, I've been wondering this, too. Do things like electricity, natural gas, water, etc. run higher? For example, here in Texas where it's hot most of the year, our electricity bill runs us between $300 - $500 per month (2,300 Sq ft home).

[kettlepot]

Originally Posted by LHudson

Yes, I've been wondering this, too. Do things like electricity, natural gas, water, etc. run higher? For example, here in Texas where it's hot most of the year, our electricity bill runs us between $300 - $500 per month (2,300 Sq ft home).

It's entirely possibly that the actual cost per kwatt or btu will be higher than Texas, but you'll use so much less of it, that your monthly costs will be lower. My gas and electric bill for my small 1000 Sq ft home runs between $35 - $60 month. However, I don't have A/C so even on those days when I wish I could run it and my bill higher, I can't. However, if you end up living beyond the 10 mile limit of the temperate zone, your heating/cooling bills could be substantially higher.

Water is probably substantially higher than national averages, or at least given the distance it is shipped it should be.

[CrissCT]

While fresh produce should be cheaper here (since a lot of it is grown right here), I feel it is not. I cannot believe how expensive groceries are here, but it has just forced me to be more creative in my grocery shopping. I get all my dry good groceries at target (I save about $2 alone on a box of cereal), and I get my fresh produce from local markets instead of the chain grocery stores. Sometimes it is cheaper to eat out than to buy groceries!

Heating/cooling bills are significantly lower (up to $400 a month!) than in the midwest and northeast like kettlepot said because you will use a lot less.

Our water bill is cheaper than it was when we lived in the midwest - maybe because our home is new and very water efficient (i.e. - no water pressure!).

And while gas may be $3.05 in the rest of the nation, it is about $3.30 here.

[x-evanstonian]

IMO, cost of living reflects owning and renting only. Anywhere really, but esp.HERE! Maybe gas too. But those are pretty HUGE factors when you are trying to make it here on earth!

[Suav]

Originally Posted by CrissCT

While fresh produce should be cheaper here (since a lot of it is grown right here), I feel it is not. I cannot believe how expensive groceries are here, but it has just forced me to be more creative in my grocery shopping. I get all my dry good groceries at target (I save about $2 alone on a box of cereal), and I get my fresh produce from local markets instead of the chain grocery stores. Sometimes it is cheaper to eat out than to buy groceries!

I wil have to agree with you on this. ralphs club or vons club or whatever storeCLUB card discount they give out for items on the shelf, is generally the price you would pay at say, target(dont know about walmart since I dont like going there).

and yes, sometimes eating out is cheaper, with the trade off of not being as healthy.

what local markets do you get your produce at?

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by LHudson

Yes, I've been wondering this, too. Do things like electricity, natural gas, water, etc. run higher? For example, here in Texas where it's hot most of the year, our electricity bill runs us between $300 - $500 per month (2,300 Sq ft home).

When I lived in San Diego, we had a 1000 square foot apartment (on the third floor), and we ran our A/C all the time. Our electric bill was about $250/month, but we lived near Rancho Bernardo, where it gets a bit warmer.

V. =)

[Sampaguita]

I find the cost of living to be higher here in terms of housing - whether owning or renting - in comparison to previous cities I'd lived in - Buffalo & San Antonio. We've been trying to convince my parents to retire here but they balk at going from having no mortgage/rent (they own their home outright) to paying through the nose for either rent or a new mortgage.