Couple and dog moving to San Diego from Salt Lake City (apartment, for rent)

[Branson182]

Hello,

My girlfriend and I are moving to San Diego in January! We couldn't be more excited! We are a 24 and 23 year old couple with a dog. We are trying to find an apartment that is dog friendly, and not super over-priced. We have a mutt (Australian Shepard/ Lab mix) who weighs in at about 60 pounds, he is house trained and well behaved. Do any of you locals have any suggestions?

Also, I have been breaking down the cost differences between SLC and SD. It seems to me that the cost difference is not that much. Here in Salt Lake I make $11/hr, Rent was $1100 for a 2 bedroom, and I was paying $700. Gas here is about $3.75 a gallon, and I know that is less than what SD is, but I believe SD makes up for that in other areas. Such as, No activities here in Utah are free, even going to the mountains to hike costs money. Last time I was in SD there were so many free activities that go on in the downtown area. So Im assuming we would spend less on entertainment. What are your guys opinions on the cost of living?

Any advise for living in San Diego would be great!

Thanks,

Branson

[Branson182]

Also, does anyone know anything about Cosmetology licensing? My girlfriend is a Hair Stylist, has been for a little over 2 years and has had her license for just under 3 years. Utah requires 2k hours where California only requires 1600 hours, I'm assuming she just needs to pay for her California License?

[moved]

Your girlfriend will have to take the CA exam in order to work here. You can find the information in CA Gov/Dept of Consumer Affairs/Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

If you plan to live on $11 here, be prepared to look for a second job. Also, you may have problems finding a place to live with a 60lb dog. You won't know until you start looking.

[Branson182]

Originally Posted by moved

Your girlfriend will have to take the CA exam in order to work here. You can find the information in CA Gov/Dept of Consumer Affairs/Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

If you plan to live on $11 here, be prepared to look for a second job. Also, you may have problems finding a place to live with a 60lb dog. You won't know until you start looking.

Thanks for the response. I'm planning on making more than that, I was just showing I made $11hr in Utah and paid $700 for rent. Im hoping to make about $15 an hour, plus then whatever she makes working at a salon. She will end up making more than me, but it will take her a few months to get established. The dog situation is what worries me.

So if anyone knows of an apartment, not in a scary area, that allows bigger dogs that would be great. I would like to be within 15 minutes of the beach, but thats not something that is mandatory.

[moved]

Start looking on Craiglist for places that say that they allow dogs, and post the addresses here. It's going to be really hard for two people to live on $15 per hour, even temporarily.

I seem to remember all of this being posted before.

[oddstray]

Don't move here (or anywhere) on a "hope" of making about $15 an hour. At best, have a job. At least have a plan, plus a backup plus savings to tide you over.

[mdm1]

The idea that you're going to make up the COL difference in saving on entertainment is laughable (and the dog/parking if you've got two cars might be a problem). Salaries in SLC almost certainly are more inline with the COL, whereas in San Diego, people move here with external sources of money or accept a lower standard of material living to live with nice weather, beaches, etc. Food is more expensive, taxes are higher, utilities are more expensive, and everything cars will be more expensive (tickets, maintenance, registration, smog, gas, you name it). See this COL estimator for more. Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

[ShelbyGirl1]

Your gf will have to sit for her cosmetology license here. It is not just a matter of paying for the license. Also, hate to throw a wrench into your plans, but....EVERYONE would like to live within a couple of blocks from the beach. Plan on paying considerably more for rent (near the beach or not) on an apt. Plan on paying MORE for everything, including car registration. Depending on weight and yr....Just paid almost $1000 for a Ford Raptor Truck. In Tx..it cost $36 to register!
Re your dog: Unfortunately, no matter what breed or how well behaved, more and more apts are banning dogs over 40 lbs. Even then, a hefty deposit is required. You will have to do a search of apts. accepting your size dog.
The above link on the cost of living comparison is a good one. Moving here without a job is just plain crazy...there are already so many that have done the exact same thing.