Reasons not to move to San Diego/Southern CA (Jackson: real estate, to rent)

[tonyinsd]

I've been hearing a lot about how if you move from another high cost of living area to here, you need to make more here to maintain the same standard of living.

I decided, let's see what the data shows.

I went to bankrate.com and checked out their cost of living comparison calculator.

Cost of Living comparison calculator

I plugged in $50K for DC and here. According to their calculator, you can take a 5.58 percent paycut if you move from DC to here and still maintain the same standard of living. If you move from New York, the difference is minimal.

Now, if you're making $50K in Omaha and move here, then yes, you will need to make a lot more to maintain the same standard of living. You'll need to boost your income to $75K. Moving from Pittsburgh would require a jump from $50K to $72K.

It's all relative.

[Sealtite]

Originally Posted by Fran66

The state of CA has somewhere between 37-39 million people. San Diego County and Orange County EACH have over 3 million. (The state of NM, which is only a little bit smaller in total area, than CA, has a total of 2 million people.) There is almost NO way to get away from people.

I drove up to the Palomar Observatory last weekend. I live about 35 minutes from it. On my way up there, I pulled off at one of the many designated scenic overlooks and peed while facing due west. Nobody saw me.

[MovingAloha]

Originally Posted by Sealtite

I drove up to the Palomar Observatory last weekend. I live about 35 minutes from it. On my way up there, I pulled off at one of the many designated scenic overlooks and peed while facing due west. Nobody saw me.

TMI!!!!!!

I know you're trying to help, but..........

[Sealtite]

Originally Posted by MovingAloha

TMI!!!!!!

I know you're trying to help, but..........

From where I was standing, I essentially exposed myself to all of north county, so the OP is wrong. My God, once you go east of the 15 freeway, it's all back country and mountains complete with podunk little hick towns and everything. Hell Ramona and Julian might as well be in West Virginia because they've got the same vibe. Not saying that's a bad thing....just saying that's how it is.

[Flasket]

I lived in Laguna Beach for 1 year. The minute I drove into LA, I hated it.
I could not stand the climate, way too many earthquakes within a year, and the people were not down to earth. I'm glad That I'm back in the city that never sleeps .

[Clevelandgal]

Originally Posted by Flasket

I lived in Laguna Beach for 1 year. The minute I drove into LA, I hated it.
I could not stand the climate, way too many earthquakes within a year, and the people were not down to earth. I'm glad That I'm back in the city that never sleeps .

Just my opinion, but Orange County has a very different feel than San Diego-at least central SD. I have been to OC many times since I have been here, and found it to have the character of a giant suburb. The drivers are aggressive and obnoxious, the communities lack character and people seem to be consumed with consumption! I think the beaches are nice, but it would not be enough to warrant living there. While no city will have the character of NYC, San Diego has some unique charms of it own.

[onebyonesd]

Originally Posted by Fran66

If you ski, you will have a horrible time in the winter getting home from the ski areas on a weekend (and often times getting to the ski areas), due to traffic, and if you go to the beach (during the summer), you will have a horrible time trying to find parking. And good luck trying to get out of your car if you even find a way-too-skinny parking place -- anywhere.

well if you surf, you can do it year around but you can't do it where you live now

I personally think San Diego is Jewel of Southern California.

[alexxiz]

Originally Posted by onebyonesd

well if you surf, you can do it year around but you can't do it where you live now

I personally think San Diego is Jewel of Southern California.

I moved to SD because of the over-hyped "jewel" reputation and I did have a good paying job... run from there like from hell, the place is suffocating, overpriced, full of stuck up people who hate anyone who wasn't born in the US, conservative, nothing to do, no nature really or forests, little outdoor opportunities unless you're a surfer or into beach, impossible to meet interesting people, uniform-looking boring stucco houses, strip malls, endless, extreme sun. Beach is the only activity. Portland was such a pleasant contrast, like a cup of fresh water after SD.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by alexxiz

I moved to SD because of the over-hyped "jewel" reputation and I did have a good paying job... run from there like from hell, the place is suffocating, overpriced, full of stuck up people who hate anyone who wasn't born in the US, conservative, nothing to do, no nature really or forests, little outdoor opportunities unless you're a surfer or into beach, impossible to meet interesting people, uniform-looking boring stucco houses, strip malls, endless, extreme sun. Beach is the only activity. Portland was such a pleasant contrast, like a cup of fresh water after SD.

I don't know which San Diego you were in, but it's not the same one I live in.

[tonyinsd]

Originally Posted by oddstray

I don't know which San Diego you were in, but it's not the same one I live in.

What he said is so wrong on so many levels. I'll just take the hate everyone who wasn't born in the United States. Uh huh. Because a border city, where so many people have Mexican heritage, is going to be like that.

But I'm glad he's out of here. One less negative person to ruin our day.