Moved to san diego 2 months ago...here's an update! (Los Angeles: 2009, apartment)

[DubHaze]

Hey Everyone!

Sorry it's been awhile! My husband and I just got settled here in San Diego, we moved here April 8th 2009 and so far.. WE LOVE IT! I figured I would start a new thread for those hopeful movers wondering what it's like out here...

So the apartment... we are lucky. lucky, lucky, lucky. We found a great place in North Park. We originally wanted to be by the beach in OB but ick. for what we could afford anyway. Our place in North Park is a 1br for $1095.00 which I think is extremely reasonable!! We have a stainless steel kitchen, tile, washer/dryer, AND A COVERED PARKING SPACE!! way better than being by the beach with NO parking, and well the tiny cottage was like 400sq ft. SMALL!! much happier in North Park!! Close to Balboa Park, The Zoo, Downtown... It feels like we are 10 minutes from anywhere we want to go... very central! I also really like being close to Hillcrest too!!

I started working about 2 weeks after we moved here (I am a baby photographer for the hospital) which I transfered from MN, but I found work as a Nanny as well!! so that was great. My husband had a harder time finding work. He just got a call last week just to work at the mall in UTC. ANY JOB IS BETTER THAN NO JOB!!! So if you plan on coming out, make sure you have enough savings to hold you until you can find work. I would plan for atleast 4 months of rent/bills to be SAFE!

Also... I want everyone to know.... back in minneapolis rent is just as expensive. Yes i know to BUY a house here is expensive but if you are happy being a renter for awhile then go for it!!! OH... AND WHAT TRAFFIC IS EVERYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT? Go to minneapolis if you want to complain. I've driven in rush hour quite a bit and never have a problem!!! It takes ten minutes to get on the freeway and then it keeps moving!!!

And lastly. QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT COSTS OF FOOD. If you shop smart, get rewards cards for Ralphs (my fav, secondly vons) then you will do fine!!! Pop, Chips, FRUIT, VEGGIES just about everything is cheaper AND fresher than anywhere in the country!! Although if you are a HUGE meat eater, that can be expensive. (we are mostly vegetarians) We save $200 a month on grocery's here. Also.... there are a lot of free things to do here! Balboa park has free mueseums and organ concerts Tuesdays/Sundays, the beach, Mission bay park... a million attractions!!


SO SAN DIEGO WE ARE HERE TO STAY... YOUR STUCK WITH US AND I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!

IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT MOVING HERE FEEL FREE TO ASK!!!

[Jimrob1]

I lived in San Diego in the 80's. I lived part of those years in North Park on Arizona St and the remainder in Hillcrest on 5th Ave. I enjoyed my time there, but I questioned the cost of living vs the wages, something seemed really amiss so to speak. I remember how my rent was $495 in North Park and $550 in Hillcrest. How times have changed that would be a steal these days.

Im glad you are enjoying San Diego. One only lives once, might as well live where you are happy.

Best of Luck.

[moved]

If you're living in North Park, and want cheap veggies, try going to the Mexican/ethnic grocery stores. You'll find unbelievable prices there. Examples: Pancho Villa, North Park Produce, Murphys Mercado, La Especial Produce, Pepes Produce, etc.

[f_m]

Congrats on the move. Yes, I don't mind this area. Just drove back from LA and had to slow down on the freeway many times even though it's Saturday. SD has nearly full speed on all the weekends.

Food is fairly cheap because a lot is grown around here. You can subscribe to a CSA and get deliveries (or pick it up) from off the farm. There are farms you can visit and buy directly too. The ethnic markets are pretty good too for low prices, 99 Ranch Market, Zion, Mitsuwa, etc...

I would say that just hanging out at Balboa Park is nice, you really can't beat the easy, free parking.

I had to visit NH last December and didn't care for shoveling the snow off the car, which I've avoided for many years now. So in the winter you just get up and go, no warming the car up.

[Snort]

OH... AND WHAT TRAFFIC IS EVERYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT?

I take it you're not driving the I-5 during rush hour.
Traffic gets even more interesting in the summer months when the glut of tourists come to SD. You should start seeing a lot of Arizona license plates right about now.

[Oerdin]

Originally Posted by moved

If you're living in North Park, and want cheap veggies, try going to the Mexican/ethnic grocery stores. You'll find unbelievable prices there. Examples: Pancho Villa, North Park Produce, Murphys Mercado, La Especial Produce, Pepes Produce, etc.

All of the ethnic markets (Vietnamese, Mexican, Chinese, Korean, etc...) offer much cheaper prices then the "normal" American super markets with similar quality of goods. They're serving immigrant communities which often don't have a lot of money to spend so just to stay in business the ethnic markets need to keep prices low which is a great thing especially if you're willing to cook at home.

The local farmer's markets can also have some killer deals but there is a half dozen of them and some (like the La Jolla farmer's market) can be expensive. Shopping around will give you a feel for who has the best prices and quality. My girlfriend almost takes it as a fun challenge to hunt down the best prices on any given item. She's good at it too.

[SEAandATL]

The part where you're really lucky is that you have your own washer and dryer in the unit. Everywhere I lived in SD I had to use a shared laundry facility which you had to put in quarters. Glad you're enjoying SD. I'm sure you won't miss the winters in MSP .

[twisted_angel]

Thanks for the update! Hubby and I are moving from Green Bay WI to San Diego in a few weeks and I'm excited but terrified! We haven't begun to look at housing yet since he's staying in a rental while I'm staying in WI until our house sells.

He's working in El Cajon and we were hoping to find a home there but after reading some of the forums I think we may look in La Mesa instead. I'm not adverse to a condo but we have three cats and a small dog - probably too many pets for most of them.

[TristramShandy]

Originally Posted by DubHaze

Also... I want everyone to know.... back in minneapolis rent is just as expensive. Yes i know to BUY a house here is expensive but if you are happy being a renter for awhile then go for it!!! OH... AND WHAT TRAFFIC IS EVERYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT? Go to minneapolis if you want to complain. I've driven in rush hour quite a bit and never have a problem!!! It takes ten minutes to get on the freeway and then it keeps moving!!!

I'm glad somebody who has recently made the move said this. I think the complainers about traffic have either never lived outside of San Diego or, if they have, lived in Mayberry. Minneapolis was one I hadn't heard of before, but now it can be added to Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, etc as cities with worse traffic problems.

Same with rent. Certainly buying is different than renting, but it shows that you can get your feet wet in San Diego without draining your bank accounts.

[blakazdog]

Originally Posted by twisted_angel

Thanks for the update! Hubby and I are moving from Green Bay WI to San Diego in a few weeks and I'm excited but terrified! We haven't begun to look at housing yet since he's staying in a rental while I'm staying in WI until our house sells.

He's working in El Cajon and we were hoping to find a home there but after reading some of the forums I think we may look in La Mesa instead. I'm not adverse to a condo but we have three cats and a small dog - probably too many pets for most of them.

be careful in LaMesa man !

in some parts of LaMesa there be lots of armed robberies and carjackin goin on.

don't go by th west side of LaMesa.

like some folkz say "stay north of the 8 man".

and becareful in ElCajon if you are African-American.

some white folkz in ElCajon ain't too friendly to us.

@ sassberto, don't be mad @ me I'm tellin it like it is.