San Diego Vs San Antonio (Spring Valley, Alpine: apartment, to rent, high crime)

[sdlife619]

How would you compare the 2 cities in terms of culture, urban neighborhoods that feel real, things to do, pace of life, people, does it feel like a big city, and jobs.

I am hoping that someday I might move to TX because the cost of Living is just too much for me to handle in SD, even in the "hood" area's of SD is getting more expensive.

You can't find a decent apartment to rent for under $1,000 a month anymore, that's like one persons whole paycheck depending on where you work. What about seniors that are on SSI? The Gov doesn't pay the old timers enough to survive, I know a couple of very nice elderly woman nearby that are on SSI, they barely get a $1,000 a month, and only have around $100 extra to spend on food and other needs. They can't afford a one bedroom, so they stay in studio's like a lot of broke people do.

Now I know a lot of Californians have already left for other states, but I just want to get a sense on where to go in TX, maybe Dallas? I went there for like 4 days a couple of years ago, and it reminds me of LA kinda the way everything is laid out and the city is huge and busy. I just want to live in an average city, not a place where materialism and money matter more than everything else in the world. I'm just tired of the lack of new affordable housing in SD, all the new housing projects being built around the county are super expensive, and yet cities around SD county have not addressed this main issue. Like I said before, I'm very surprised that SD's homeless population is not higher than what it is now, because people that work dead end jobs simply can't afford the basic expenses to survive in this town.

At least in other cities you can work at a fast food joint or retail store, and be able to pay your bills (including rent) each month. Not in San Diego, you will be on the streets Many people have to stick together longer than usual and pack a small home or apartment full of family members, in order to survive and make ends meet in SD.

I don't want to live with roomates, or family, or even a friend, I want my own privacy, and space to do whatever. Hopefully some good suggestions about San Antonio will be helpful to me. Or other cities in TX.

[ranzchic]

Well, the weather will be the biggest difference you will probably immediately notice.

[jksouthbay88]

I had family that lived in Alpine from 1991-1999 and Spring Valley from 99-Feb 2009 and they moved to SA.They are always telling me that San Antonio is better due to cost of living,more lively,has a little more culture and job opportunity.I also have a cousin that is in her second year at the University of Texas-SA and she fell in love with both the campus,and the San Antonio region.I would really look into San Antonio as well because it looks to me that SA is giving San Diego a run for it's money.

[NYSD1995]

SA is one of the cities I am looking at to relocate to. It is most definitely not San Diego but it has many similarities including a large military presence. It does have it's plusses and minuses.

Pros:
- dramatically lower cost-of-living vs CA
- easy to afford areas with excellent schools and gorgeous neighborhoods
- Job market and pay ranges are roughly comparable to San Diego
- large and growing city and region
- well-established and better-integrated Mexican-American culture than San Diego
- a larger, more thriving middle class than San Diego
- surprisingly large historic neighborhoods
- More Catholic than other TX cities, more laid back culturally

Cons:
- less of a robust tech economy than CA
- large areas of low-income / high crime
- downtown area is not revitalized like SD
- no mountains, beaches, etc...
- it's not California

[sandiegogolfer]

San Antonio is more affordable for sure but the heat in the summer will melt any former Californian.

You can not imagine how hot it can get.

Texans that lived in other parts of TX had a hard time too.

[bluejaye]

What about Austin Texas....I went all around texas a couple months ago and I would say that is the most comparable city to San Diego. Nice downtown, plenty of outdoor activities (I was surprised to possibly find more bike stores there, then in San Diego!), laid back. I'm not sure about home prices in Austin.... could be getting expensive.

Downside of many Texas cities is the traffic, most cities seem to be growing faster than the roads can handle....I especially noticed this in Austin. If you move to Texas hopefully you like heat and dust.

[SunKing]

SA is considered very low on the list of TX cities in which to live. SA is really not doing well ergo AT&T's move.

Let me say from direct and relevant personal experience that TX is a harsh place to live. Some people love it, and its got it charm. But it is harsh.

[sandiegogolfer]

Originally Posted by SunKing

SA is considered very low on the list of TX cities in which to live. SA is really not doing well ergo AT&T's move.

Let me say from direct and relevant personal experience that TX is a harsh place to live. Some people love it, and its got it charm. But it is harsh.

What do you mean by harsh?

Harsh weather?

[SunKing]

Landscape, people, attitudes, weather, culture..

It's not a place for style, elegance, or grace. Aesthetically it's awful (including urban areas) except the desert and hill country. ymmv

I'll say this, we all know CA is pretty. Well, living in Texas made me understand that the East Coast is also pretty! Don't know what you got until it gone...

[traveler guy]

Originally Posted by SunKing

Landscape, people, attitudes, weather, culture..

It's not a place for style, elegance, or grace. Aesthetically it's awful (including urban areas) except the desert and hill country. ymmv

I'll say this, we all know CA is pretty. Well, living in Texas made me understand that the East Coast is also pretty! Don't know what you got until it gone...

I sort of agree with you about Texas been more rundown then other parts of the country, but where did you get the desert from? last I checked the closest desert is about 200 miles west of SA.

Anyways SD has a far more urban feel then SA. SA has that southern laid back feel. There are even farms in the middle of the city.