Is SD better than LA? (San Diego, Long Beach: apartment, condo, construction)

[Losfrisco]

Originally Posted by tstieber

I don't think you're truly looking at the average Joe. You're looking at people who come to LA to make something of themselves, self-starters, and you're comparing them to more or less deadbeats with no motivation. It's the people you're comparing, not the places. It's true that more self-starters are attracted to LA because it represents opportunities in people's minds, but for someone just looking for a middle-class life, it's a pretty tough place. Just drive on the freeway for a while, and you'll see people either driving a extremely expensive cars or really really old crappy cars. La is very much a city of people who make it big and a huge working class that supports them. San Diego is much more of a middle-class town overall, although we also have large pockets of wealth and poverty.

I think we need some clarification on the definition of "average joe." Average Joe is only "making it" in San Diego if he arrives pre-dialed into the few existing San Diego industries.

The Average Joe I was thinking of is the guy who grew up in Buffalo or St. Louis who feels trapped by the limitations of his environment and feels that if he could get to a bigger city he could be an entrepreneur instead of just going with the inevitable "it's not what you know, it's who you know" of the American mid sized metro.

[Losfrisco]

Originally Posted by sdlife619

L.A. has become insanely expensive just like SD, but what makes L.A. still more affordable to average person than SD is that there’s many many more options and areas for people to live compared to SD.

We have very limited neighborhoods these days that are affordable anymore, and these areas aren’t very large. They are also gentrifying very fast, so not too far into the future many ghetto neighborhoods in South SD, SouthEast SD and cities that some people would never fathom of living in, will be occupied by upper middle class residents. SD will be Ghetto free in the next 10 years, while L.A. will be Ghetto free in like 20-30 years as all of South Central and East L.A. will be a hipster/yuppie haven. You’ll wonder where all these poor people are going to live? On the streets? The housing crisis is not going to get better either.

While in L.A. at least you still have East L.A. and South L.A. which are massive, and rents are more realistic for the average Joe vs here.

The affordability issues hurt San Diegans more than they do up there.

I'm glad we have posters on this sub forum that can see the obvious and save me some time writing responses.

So yes, there is no where in all of L.A. county that will not gentrify and rapidly appreciate in value in the coming years. Yes, you see it happening right now in some south/east San Diego areas and you will see it on a much, much larger scale in the vast expanse south of I-10 from El Segundo to Long Beach all the way over to Norwalk and El Monte in L.A. county. The gold and expo line expansions are already creating a massive commuting area, and those are just the first steps in much larger scheme.

[Zambon]

Originally Posted by dajohnson99

What makes San Diego better than LA?

Short answer: yes.

San Diego doesn't have the dickheads that Hollywood attracts. It's slightly farther south, so the ocean is slightly warmer, and it is less crowded and easier to get around. It isn't a night and day difference because the two cities share a lot of things in common, but I prefer San Diego to LA.

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

I think we need some clarification on the definition of "average joe." Average Joe is only "making it" in San Diego if he arrives pre-dialed into the few existing San Diego industries.

Tell me something about the "average Jose" in Los Angeles....

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

Thank you for posting this to save me the time. There is literally better Mexican food in the Midwest/northeast than in San Diego. Yes L.A. and Palm Springs both a lot better. Of course, in San Diego you an go right into TJ and get great Mexican food, maybe that's what people mean.

There's "Mexican food" and there's "Mexican food".

San Diego (and most of SoCal) does well by Baja California Mexican food.

The midwest has Rick Bayless who knows that Mexican food is far wider-ranging than Baja California.

And yes, there is the possibility from San Diego of going right into Mexico (TJ or Tecate or . . . ) and getting real - read 'great' - Mexican food.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

Tell me something about the "average Jose" in Los Angeles....

I think this was a typo and should read Average Joes, yes?

[WizardOfRadical]

Originally Posted by Zambon

Short answer: yes.

San Diego doesn't have the dickheads that Hollywood attracts. It's slightly farther south, so the ocean is slightly warmer, and it is less crowded and easier to get around. It isn't a night and day difference because the two cities share a lot of things in common, but I prefer San Diego to LA.

Yes it does. Instead of entertainment, they are just in the military. Or transplants from the mid west.

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by oddstray

There's "Mexican food" and there's "Mexican food".

San Diego (and most of SoCal) does well by Baja California Mexican food.

The midwest has Rick Bayless who knows that Mexican food is far wider-ranging than Baja California.

And yes, there is the possibility from San Diego of going right into Mexico (TJ or Tecate or . . . ) and getting real - read 'great' - Mexican food.

I have yet to really explore 'real' Mexican food across the border, but I know every single Mexican person I've ever asked about where to get the best Mexican food in San Diego just laughs and tells me there is no such thing. What we perceive as great Mexican food here is really Americanized gringo food, but I do love it!

FYI, Rick Bayless opened one of his "Red O" Mexican restaurants in UTC about six months ago, if you are looking for more interesting options.

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

I think we need some clarification on the definition of "average joe." Average Joe is only "making it" in San Diego if he arrives pre-dialed into the few existing San Diego industries.

The Average Joe I was thinking of is the guy who grew up in Buffalo or St. Louis who feels trapped by the limitations of his environment and feels that if he could get to a bigger city he could be an entrepreneur instead of just going with the inevitable "it's not what you know, it's who you know" of the American mid sized metro.

Yes, it's good to clarify. It sounds like you are definitely talking about self-starters with entrepreneurial mindsets that came from an average background. That's not what I would think of as an "average Joe," because only a small minority of people have that mindset. To me, the average Joe is the one who's complacent and happy to stay in their lower-paying job. That would be easier in SD than LA.

[beenhereandthere]

Pretty much.

A few things that I can think of that LA clearly has the edge on SD for is, racial and ethnic diversity (especially Non Latino Diversity), Pro and College Sports and Arts and Concerts.

But other than that?

I was down in SD last week and had to go from Little Italy to the Sports Arena last Saturday, didn't even take 12 minutes to go 4 miles. Most of LA, that same trip takes double that.

And as far as livability? Clearly SD. Even as far as tourism, SD has almost as much to do.