looking specifically for Floridians who made the move (Los Angeles: rent, buying)

[Sweetbottoms]

Are there any Floridians who made the move FL-CA (name the towns for both plz!) and what are your thoughts and opinions on it.

-Housing expense compared rent or buying
-Food Cost
-Utility cost

etc


What brought you there and without needing to give numbers (only if you want) was your pay difference from Fla to Ca enough to bridge the gap, so to speak, in expenses?

My husband and I go back and forth with Cali. We live in Naples, Fl (SWFL) and tried a stint up north to NH. We're not long extreme winter people. Cali is a closer climate to Fl but less extreme. My husband currently is a 911 dispatcher and we've looked at jobs out there in his field and some pay up to $40+ an hour but most are $28 +. We don't know the income tax situation out there enough to know if that would even be worth it, because we have no income tax in Fla and it could just be a pay cut from his current pay ($19.00). We have a small daughter and could never just take a risk with her. My brother lives in LA and he's really the only person we'd know out there besides some friends in San Fran. I wouldn't want to live in a down town city situation but a suburb. .So thats really our situation , we'd rent for a year if we ever made the move and could probably be happy with a town home. I know living near the beach is a pipe dream but maybe close enough to be able to drive for the day. Not looking for any dessert type weather but warm summer, mild winter. Florida-ish minus 113 degrees with 100 % humidity.

So with all that I also ask for suggestions to just look at, we are trying to visit next year and it'd be nice to be able to drive to some places and look. I was told Walden Oak is nice .

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I'm young and single person so I can't help you with the money/family thing, but I moved from Tampa, FL to Los Angeles, CA back in February and I don't regret it at all.