What to expect coming from suburb south of Seattle to Newport Beach area? (Huntington Beach: apartments)

[murreybn]

24yr old male born, raised and currently living in the same city my whole life looking for something new for a few years. Like a working holiday for 2 or 3 years.

I've found a few jobs in Irvine that I'm experienced and qualified in and was looking at Newport Beach area.

I would only be making about 50k-55k a year and was wondering if that is enough to live on in newport beach let alone close to the beach where I would prefer.

I was looking into studio apartments close to the beach and it looks like I can find a few decent ones for around 1200 or so a month.

I was just curious on peoples thoughts on my budget and what other things to expect? I would be driving down in my truck from WA.

Edit: Is there a middle/lower class area for a lifestyle like mine in Newport Beach or is it all ritzy millionaires?

[cnev3]

You might feel like you don't belong in Newport if you arent making at least six figures, and enjoy yachting, wine tasting, golfing, and jetsetting. They'll take one sniff and know you're not their kind.

Newport Beach had a big community of laid back surfers, but they've been priced out of the area long long ago.

Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Mission Viejo are close enough to the beach, and Irvine, and are more middle class.

[Socalpal]

Originally Posted by cnev3

You might feel like you don't belong in Newport if you arent making at least six figures, and enjoy yachting, wine tasting, golfing, and jetsetting. They'll take one sniff and know you're not their kind.

Newport Beach had a big community of laid back surfers, but they've been priced out of the area long long ago.

Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Mission Viejo are close enough to the beach, and Irvine, and are more middle class.

Mission Viejo is close enough to the beach? Are you talking about the one at Lake Mission Viejo? It takes a good 30 mins to get to the beach(ocean) from Mission Viejo.

[murreybn]

The job is in Irvine and from the sounds of Irvine it is just like WEEDS with little boxes on the hillside. I dont mind living in some ****hole as long as it close to the beach and close to Irvine. Newport beach seems like the best option?

Huntington beach would be too much of a commute I think.

[Coldjensens]

Balboa Villiage in Newport beach is heavily populated with College students. The permanent residents range from young new arrivals like you to boaters, resturuant and T-shirt shop owners, salty dogs, a bit of everything. There are some millionaires out at the point, but they mostly stick to themselves. Most of the big mney residences are only used a few weeks each year.

Costa Mesa is more affordable yet you can get places where you can ride a bike to the Newprt Beaches.

Huntington Beach is more of a surfur dude place. The really rich people are mostly (but not entirely) clustered along the harbor.

A few non-wealthy people live in Laguna or South Laguna. They share apartments or condos with several people.

Shop around you can find beach close places in Balboa that are affordable. You just cannot be too picky. If you insist on conveniences like parking, laundry, no cockroaches, or a kitchen, it may be hard to find something affordable. If you are flexible, you can find bargains.

We had an apartment in Balboa you entered through a door in a smelly alley behind a resturuant. It had a bedroom, a bathroom and a common room. It also had two patios, one large and one on the roof with spectacular ocean views. The beach was half a block away. We built a little shed on the lower patio to hold a fridge. We put a hot plate and microwave on a shelf unit in the common room for a kitchen. It worked out fine. We lived there for a year plus. Had loads of great parties, frequently had overnight guests (who slept on a giant bean bag in the cmmon room). The only isse was my wife really disliked that we had to wash dishes ont he patio with a garden hose and a tub. It was cheap and it was a blast. We still remember that place and that time fondly. Occaisioanlly we woudl get a cockroach invasion form the resturuant next door. We would just fumigate. The place was so small that two fumigators woudl kill everything, so we could easily fumigate weekly if needed. (Otherwise we just made a lot of noise as we came up the stairs so they would all run and hide before we turned on the light.).

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by murreybn

24yr old male born, raised and currently living in the same city my whole life looking for something new for a few years. Like a working holiday for 2 or 3 years.

I've found a few jobs in Irvine that I'm experienced and qualified in and was looking at Newport Beach area.

I would only be making about 50k-55k a year and was wondering if that is enough to live on in newport beach let alone close to the beach where I would prefer.

I was looking into studio apartments close to the beach and it looks like I can find a few decent ones for around 1200 or so a month.

I was just curious on peoples thoughts on my budget and what other things to expect? I would be driving down in my truck from WA.

Edit: Is there a middle/lower class area for a lifestyle like mine in Newport Beach or is it all ritzy millionaires?

I think your salary might be a little to low to even consider living in Newport. Newport doesn't know the meaning of middle/lower class.

[DinsdalePirahna]

There are parts of Newport that can be affordable (the east side of PCH near the HB/Costa Mesa Border)

Check out Huntington Beach (try to stay within 1 mile of PCH).

I would also check out Costa Mesa (the east end merges right into NB), and there are some decent areas on the west side.

You can still have quite a bit of fun on a 50k a year salary. There are plenty of activities here to keep you entertained.

If you get caught up in a "keeping up with the joneses" mentality and become a "50k a year millionaire" you will be setting your self up for disappointment.