Can you live off 42K in San Diego? (August: apartment, rentals)

[AlmostAnAlumna]

Hi,

I am a soon-to-be college grad with a job offer to come to the San Diego branch of a company I interned with last summer. I've NEVER been to San Diego but all I hear about is the cost of living... which concerns me. I'd be looking for a 1BR but on 42K I don't think I could comfortably afford anything over $1,000 a month ($1,100 MAX). I don't have any kids or any other major financial obligations, but I don't want an entire paycheck going to my rent.

Is this at all possible??? And if so, in what parts of the city should I look? And of course I don't want to stay in any sketchy areas. I'm afraid I may have to walk away if they don't up the offer. THANKS!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by AlmostAnAlumna

but I don't want an entire paycheck going to my rent.

That's life in Southern California unless you've owned property for years, live with your parents, or have roommates.

[mewzikguy]

You'll be ok, may have to have a roommate or 2. .look in North Park (funky shops/ restaurants), Normal Heights, Hillcrest, South Park, University Heights. . .Good Luck Craigslist is your friend.

[kettlepot]

If your car is paid for, a single person can live quite reasonably, even comfortably on 42k/year. You will have to acquire furniture and electronic items slowly but if you avoid the "must have it all, NOW!" mind set you will do fine.

There are plenty of 1 bedroom rentals in reasonable neighborhoods in your price range. However, in regards to housing costs, again you will have to avoid the "I must live one block from the beach, in a quiet and safe neighborhood next to a shopping mall and a nature preserve or I won't be satisfied" mentality that some people come to these boards with.

If you tell us in what part of the city you will be working, what else you are looking for besides non-sketchy, and frankly what you consider sketchy, we could be more specific in guiding your housing search.

[Wordgirl99]

The prices in the county vary WIDELY. I guess you mean the actual City of San Diego? People here tend to call everywhere in the county "San Diego." I'm in North County, where it is much cheaper. Here, you could get a one-bedroom for $1,000 easily, even in a decent neighborhood.

I do think you could make it on $42k if you were really frugal AND you lived close to your job, and didn't have the gas costs. But I think S.D. city area, especially coastal, would have higher rents, especially if you don't want to be robbed when you leave your apartment.

Since you are young, you might enjoy living here, especially if you are active outdoors. Otherwise, for middle-aged people newly moving here who need a house, and will have to commute to afford a house, I would never recommend it.

Great weather (IF you are near the coast ONLY, or it is hot), beautiful beaches, but CROWDED. Terrible overcrowding and horrendous traffic. During tourist season (June, July, August), forget about going anywhere without a lot of traffic. So, to me, it is not a good place to live.

[BNB]

I'd vote for finding a nice house to rent with a room-mate. My daughter is renting a one BR apartment in Carmel Mtn. Ranch and they are paying 1300 a month...its beautiful and in a good area, but geeee....that is horrible. It just kills me that they pay that. I have a three bedroom house in Clairemont for 1900. But I have to pay for water and maintain the lawns.

[RD5050]

I totally agree. Start out by moving into an existing month-to-month roommate situation. There are plenty to be found here at Craigslist:

san diego rooms & shares classifieds - craigslist

Then once you become more familiar with San Diego, you can decide if you want to rent your own place.

Clairemont is a very nice section of San Diego. It's close to the beaches, and has plenty of shopping centers, restaurants, and everything else you need to live. Plenty of roommate situations can be found here:

san diego craigslist > rooms & shares: search for "clairemont"

[blondmom]

i'd find a roommate, or somebody that owns a home and needs help paying the mortgage. use that time to gather nice furnishings (craigslist) and look around for areas that you'd enjoy.

you may find something under $1000, but not desirable.

[LookingtoLeave]

I advise everybody to do some researching once you know what area you want to be in. Just go to Rent.com, ForRent.com, or like someone said Craigslist.

Once you know your salary, go to PaycheckCity.com - Employee Self-Service Tools To Better Manage Your Paycheck to see the precise amount you will take home and then take it from there.