Monthly living expenses in San Diego? (transporting, rental, insurance)

[kelhuck]

Hello! We are anticipating a move to San Diego in the next few months, and I have begun the task of researching rental houses. However, I don't really know what price range to look in for rent, because I don't know how much typical living expenses run in SD. We are a family of 2 adults and 3 preK's. Would like to live in Rancho Bernardo area, probably renting a house around 2500 sq ft. I know there are a TON of variables, but can you give me an idea of how much I could expect the following to cost each month?
- water
- Cox Cable/Internet/Phone bundle
- elec/gas
- Verizon cell phones (we currently pay $90 in Indiana for 2 phone lines- are the costs drastically higher over there?)
- renter's insurance
- Mella Roos- I ASSUME these will be paid by the homeowners, but I'll need to ask them to be sure. Anyone else have a different experience? (Don't need to know what you all pay- I can see that in the house listings- just want to know if you, as the renter, are responsible for these)
-Gardener- some listings say that I would have to pay the gardener- how much does that usually cost?
- Am I missing anything major?

Any help you can give me would be REALLY, REALLY appreciated!! Thanks so much!!

[kelhuck]

Bump

[1AngryTaxPayer]

RB area is pricey, expect 2-3 g for rent. Cox bundle around 100 or so a month. G and E can be 150. Cell phone plans are the same all over.

[DR TORQUENSTEIN]

do they have comcast cable in the SD area?

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Cox, TW, and whatever dishes.

I wish I could get Cox service but I'll take TW as a close second.

[DBallerz]

Food?

[fishwiz]

What about the water bill? and city/ sewer/ trash pick up?

[Oerdin]

You're going to have to give us more to go on. What do you eat and how much? Do you dine out or cook for yourself? I know you said there are a lot of variables but you're going to have to define some of them if you want a useful answer.

[dweej]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

RB area is pricey, expect 2-3 g for rent. Cox bundle around 100 or so a month. G and E can be 150. Cell phone plans are the same all over.

Only $150 for gas and electric on a 2500 sq ft. home? I pay that on a 1050 sq. ft. apt. I'm thinking, especially in the summer in RB, you'll easily pay over $200. Water is also one that takes people by surprise- water itself isn't so expensive here, but transporting it here for all the landscaping and irrigation costs a pretty penny. I've never had a place that big....maybe someone else can chime in on the water question?

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by dweej

Only $150 for gas and electric on a 2500 sq ft. home? I pay that on a 1050 sq. ft. apt. I'm thinking, especially in the summer in RB, you'll easily pay over $200. Water is also one that takes people by surprise- water itself isn't so expensive here, but transporting it here for all the landscaping and irrigation costs a pretty penny. I've never had a place that big....maybe someone else can chime in on the water question?

It depends on the structure. If it's one of the old flats with no insulation or slat windows you can take a bath on your bills.
I own a 2400 sq foot place but it's near the coast and fully insulated so yes, my bills are lower. Water is a bigger hit and will only go up. If you want to look at food bills you can go to Ralphs, Vons or Costco and enter a local zip code to compare food prices.