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Old 08-06-2012, 01:54 PM
 
2 posts, read 10,474 times
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I am a single 25 year old male and I am looking to relocate to the Bay area after a job offer with a salary of 60K a year. I am specifically going to work at Walnut Creek area. I have never been to the Bay area but I know that there is a high cost of housing as well as of general goods and services. I am currently living in Las Vegas, NV and I only make around 15K to 20K a year. With this salary I feel that I am living comfortably. My current bills are 15K student loans, 350 a month on car, 250 a month on credit cards, and 550 a month on rent and utilities. I am thinking I can do it but I still have some doubts. Also what areas in Walnut Creek are the best to live in in terms of affordability? Do I even need a car or should I just use public transportation to go to work?

Thank you for reading and I appreciate the replies.
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Old 08-06-2012, 05:24 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles
460 posts, read 981,768 times
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Curious to know what industry you are in.

A roommate is probably best to get situated to the area and gives you flexibility to pay off student loans. If you work in the Walnut Creek area, why not also live a few miles away? You will need a car anywhere in Contra Costa County. Berkeley is the most public-transit friendly city in the East Bay.
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Old 08-06-2012, 06:19 PM
 
Location: SF Bay Area
18,980 posts, read 32,627,760 times
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You'll want a car in the WC area. You probably want to live with a roommate and I would plan on spending at least $600-700+ on rent and utilities in that situation.

Creekside is probably the most affordable area along with apartment complexes along N. Main St. Concord and Pleasant Hill are cheaper as is Martinez if you don't care too much about being in WC.
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Old 08-06-2012, 06:51 PM
 
2 posts, read 10,474 times
Reputation: 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngusHsu View Post
Curious to know what industry you are in.

A roommate is probably best to get situated to the area and gives you flexibility to pay off student loans. If you work in the Walnut Creek area, why not also live a few miles away? You will need a car anywhere in Contra Costa County. Berkeley is the most public-transit friendly city in the East Bay.
I'm in the engineering field, specifically in the gas industry and this will be my first official engineering job. Yes, I am also looking at other areas nearby Walnut Creek if that will save me on living expenses and if it won't be a hassle for travel.
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Old 08-09-2012, 09:26 AM
 
77 posts, read 316,819 times
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I'm a teacher and was surviving on 40k in Walnut Creek. Look at apartments in the Saranap area for cheaper places to live. You'll be paying 1200 unless you want a rooommate though.
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Old 08-09-2012, 09:36 AM
 
Location: New York City
675 posts, read 1,189,803 times
Reputation: 544
Quote:
Originally Posted by elecmon View Post
I am a single 25 year old male and I am looking to relocate to the Bay area after a job offer with a salary of 60K a year. I am specifically going to work at Walnut Creek area. I have never been to the Bay area but I know that there is a high cost of housing as well as of general goods and services. I am currently living in Las Vegas, NV and I only make around 15K to 20K a year. With this salary I feel that I am living comfortably. My current bills are 15K student loans, 350 a month on car, 250 a month on credit cards, and 550 a month on rent and utilities. I am thinking I can do it but I still have some doubts. Also what areas in Walnut Creek are the best to live in in terms of affordability? Do I even need a car or should I just use public transportation to go to work?

Thank you for reading and I appreciate the replies.
Having a car in Walnut Creek is preferable, BUT, I had an apartment in Walnut Creek, and I didn't have a car for over a year, and I survived no problem. I lived about 3 blocks from the BART train, and worked in the city (Financial District). If you are living on 15k-20k a year in Vegas comfortably with your current bills, you should have no problem living on 60K in Walnut Creek. Your salary increase is tripling or more. Whatever you chose to do, best of luck to you.
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Old 08-09-2012, 10:25 AM
 
Location: Oakland, CA
28,226 posts, read 36,855,940 times
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Yup 60k is fine. Choose your rental price wisely so you can save more. You didn't talk much about they type of neighborhood you are looking for. I would say, if working in Walnut Creek, you definitely need a car.
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Old 08-09-2012, 12:10 PM
 
11 posts, read 28,864 times
Reputation: 18
Yes $60k is sufficient. You can probably even get by in San Francisco and SF's cost of living is higher than WC.
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