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So this summer im moving to Riverside from LC for school, I'm planning on working my way through college and also i have educational benefits. I was wondering if the transition would be smooth or would i really be having to cut corners moving there?
Las Cruces, New Mexico is going to be much much much cheaper than Riverside, California. Remember, Riverside is in the San Bernardino metro area, which is not far from Los Angeles. The average home price in Las Cruces is $143,100. Riverside's average is $263,600. You might have to settle for a smaller home in Riverside than you would normally have in Las Cruces.
I will be renting, not buying so its more the cost of living more than anything. I know gas is a $1.00+ over there i visited about 2 weeks ago, but was too busy to really investigate myself.
Las Cruces, New Mexico is going to be much much much cheaper than Riverside, California. Remember, Riverside is in the San Bernardino metro area, which is not far from Los Angeles. The average home price in Las Cruces is $143,100. Riverside's average is $263,600. You might have to settle for a smaller home in Riverside than you would normally have in Las Cruces.
Glad I could help!
Actually, Riverside and San Bernardino are both part of the Inland Empire MSA, of which Riverside is the largest city. Both are seats to their respective counties.
To the OP, Riverside is considered part of the (relatively speaking, of course) part of California. You will fine many people who live there and commute to Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties for work and/or pleasure (on weekends.) Yes, gas is definitely more expensive than New Mexico. Nonetheless, as a student who (I hope) will be living close to campus, it really shouldn't be much of an additional cost to you. I had many friends who attended the University of California, Riverside without a car. They would mostly stick around campus, head to downtown (not too far from UCR, even on bus), or take metrolink whenever they came back home to OC, to LA or SD.
Also, if you do plan to work, I recommend getting a job as close to campus as possible. The city of Riverside is much more of a job center than the rest of the Inland Empire, so hopefully that won't be too difficult there.
When it comes to other expenses?
Rent will be more expensive, but you can splits costs by getting a room mate. Your university can help you with this.
Food Costs - generally, you will find restaurants more expensive in Riverside than las Cruces, but it won't be anything exorbitant like you would find in West LA, Coastal OC or San Francisco. You can definitely find PLENTY of cheap, yet delicious, hole in the walls in Riverside...in everything from Indian to Thai to Mexican (lots and lots of Mexican) to classic burger joints. Where you can save money is by cooking at home, since produce in California (generally) tends to be cheaper than other states. Same can't be said for meat and dairy. So eat your veggies.
Clothes - You will be better off in Riverside. Las Cruces is a small town, and only has so much variety. While, you will have higher taxes since it is California, you will also have access to lots of outlets like Ontario Mills in nearby Ontario, which offer a lot for those looking to spend less. Otherwise, you have the internet.
Don't be scared by the premise that Riverside is in California and California is considered an expensive state. Riverside is definitely on the affordable end (IMO), and remember that you will also have higher wages in Riverside as opposed to Las Cruces. Even just looking at minimum wage, there is a $1.50 difference (7.50 in NM vs 9.00 in CA). In this sense, Riverside is more comparable to Phoenix than to LA, SD or SF.
To the OP, Riverside is considered part of the (relatively speaking, of course) part of California. You will fine many people who live there and commute to Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties for work and/or pleasure (on weekends.) Yes, gas is definitely more expensive than New Mexico. Nonetheless, as a student who (I hope) will be living close to campus, it really shouldn't be much of an additional cost to you. I had many friends who attended the University of California, Riverside without a car. They would mostly stick around campus, head to downtown (not too far from UCR, even on bus), or take metrolink whenever they came back home to OC, to LA or SD.
Also, if you do plan to work, I recommend getting a job as close to campus as possible. The city of Riverside is much more of a job center than the rest of the Inland Empire, so hopefully that won't be too difficult there.
When it comes to other expenses?
Rent will be more expensive, but you can splits costs by getting a room mate. Your university can help you with this.
Food Costs - generally, you will find restaurants more expensive in Riverside than las Cruces, but it won't be anything exorbitant like you would find in West LA, Coastal OC or San Francisco. You can definitely find PLENTY of cheap, yet delicious, hole in the walls in Riverside...in everything from Indian to Thai to Mexican (lots and lots of Mexican) to classic burger joints. Where you can save money is by cooking at home, since produce in California (generally) tends to be cheaper than other states. Same can't be said for meat and dairy. So eat your veggies.
Clothes - You will be better off in Riverside. Las Cruces is a small town, and only has so much variety. While, you will have higher taxes since it is California, you will also have access to lots of outlets like Ontario Mills in nearby Ontario, which offer a lot for those looking to spend less. Otherwise, you have the internet.
Don't be scared by the premise that Riverside is in California and California is considered an expensive state. Riverside is definitely on the affordable end (IMO), and remember that you will also have higher wages in Riverside as opposed to Las Cruces. Even just looking at minimum wage, there is a $1.50 difference (7.50 in NM vs 9.00 in CA). In this sense, Riverside is more comparable to Phoenix than to LA, SD or SF.
To be fair about the minimum wage thing, although the New Mexico minimum wage is currently at $7.50 an hour, in Las Cruces, NM, it is currently $8.40 and scheduled to increase to $9.20 soon.
Here's a my source: New Mexico Minimum Wage Rate 2016 - Minimum-Wage.org
To the OP, Riverside is considered part of the (relatively speaking, of course) part of California. You will fine many people who live there and commute to Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties for work and/or pleasure (on weekends.) Yes, gas is definitely more expensive than New Mexico. Nonetheless, as a student who (I hope) will be living close to campus, it really shouldn't be much of an additional cost to you. I had many friends who attended the University of California, Riverside without a car. They would mostly stick around campus, head to downtown (not too far from UCR, even on bus), or take metrolink whenever they came back home to OC, to LA or SD.
Also, if you do plan to work, I recommend getting a job as close to campus as possible. The city of Riverside is much more of a job center than the rest of the Inland Empire, so hopefully that won't be too difficult there.
When it comes to other expenses?
Rent will be more expensive, but you can splits costs by getting a room mate. Your university can help you with this.
Food Costs - generally, you will find restaurants more expensive in Riverside than las Cruces, but it won't be anything exorbitant like you would find in West LA, Coastal OC or San Francisco. You can definitely find PLENTY of cheap, yet delicious, hole in the walls in Riverside...in everything from Indian to Thai to Mexican (lots and lots of Mexican) to classic burger joints. Where you can save money is by cooking at home, since produce in California (generally) tends to be cheaper than other states. Same can't be said for meat and dairy. So eat your veggies.
Clothes - You will be better off in Riverside. Las Cruces is a small town, and only has so much variety. While, you will have higher taxes since it is California, you will also have access to lots of outlets like Ontario Mills in nearby Ontario, which offer a lot for those looking to spend less. Otherwise, you have the internet.
Don't be scared by the premise that Riverside is in California and California is considered an expensive state. Riverside is definitely on the affordable end (IMO), and remember that you will also have higher wages in Riverside as opposed to Las Cruces. Even just looking at minimum wage, there is a $1.50 difference (7.50 in NM vs 9.00 in CA). In this sense, Riverside is more comparable to Phoenix than to LA, SD or SF.
While I agree with most of what you're saying I wouldn't call Las Cruces a "small town",
it's population is just over 100,000 (metro 210,000) and also has El Paso nearby 750,000
and just over the border Juarez at 1.5 million.
Riverside population is about 320,000
Interesting thing for me is their climates at first glance are similar,
both receive tons of sunshine and surprisingly almost same
average annual precipitation 10.3 inches for Riverside....9.7 inches for Las Cruces
However Riverside receives most precip in winter, Cruces it's summer (monsoon)
Riverside has a milder winter but warms up slower than Las Cruces (may and june warmer),
typical of California Riveside stays warmer longer in the fall.
Thank you guys for your replies, this helps immensely.
What about the job market? Is it possible to find a job within a month (minimum wage that isnt food industry)? If i go with 3k in savings will i be safe? Being a single female who just graduated with only an associates (but coming to get my bachelors) im just deathly afraid because, yes, it is california and every experienced adult had scared me into it being too expensive. its basically killed my confidence.
Thank you guys for your replies, this helps immensely.
What about the job market? Is it possible to find a job within a month (minimum wage that isnt food industry)? If i go with 3k in savings will i be safe? Being a single female who just graduated with only an associates (but coming to get my bachelors) im just deathly afraid because, yes, it is california and every experienced adult had scared me into it being too expensive. its basically killed my confidence.
If you will be in the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, fall, is hiring season for both the rich snowbirds, and also the winter season !
Riverside is more of an extension of OC/SD than LA
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i visited about 2 weeks ago, but was too busy to really investigate myself.
