considering moving from California to St. Louis - am I crazy? (University City: fit in, transplants)

[bestplacetolive]

I am considering moving to St. Louis from the Bay Area. Obviously the cost of living is much cheaper than in California, but am I insane for giving up the ideal weather?

Has anyone else moved from the Bay Area to St. Louis - what has been your experience?

Also, and Asians out there who have relocated from California?

Thanks.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Housing and fuel costs are boatloads cheaper than in California. Grocery prices are about the same. Beer and wine cost more.

Winters are not as bad as you think they are (Although the previous few weeks were pretty cold). If you are use to coastal living, beautiful scenery and a population that is very diverse and open minded, you may be in for a bit of a cultural shock.

If at all possible, try living here for a few months before jumping in all the way.

[Marksman84]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Housing and fuel costs are boatloads cheaper than in California. Grocery prices are about the same. Beer and wine cost more.

Winters are not as bad as you think they are (Although the previous few weeks were pretty cold). If you are use to coastal living, beautiful scenery and a population that is very diverse and open minded, you may be in for a bit of a cultural shock.

If at all possible, try living here for a few months before jumping in all the way.

Solid advice. As a native I have to agree with the DP. Spend some time here and interact with the locals before making the big move. My wife and I grew up here, spent many years away in the military/college, and returned with a more worldly perspective.
For the most part, St. Louis is good, but it definitely has some character quirks that one may not be accustomed to.

[keep on livin]

No, it's not crazy.

I am moving from Los Angeles to St. Louis in the next 45 days, without a job. But I am from the midwest, and know what to expect in terms of Cost, Weather, People, and the Labor Market.

What is crazy?
Living in a place where you are underemployed, because wages are driven down by many factors.

Living somewhere strictly due to the nice weather.

Believing that California is the greatest place on earth, and has more to offer than anywhere else.


St. Louis is a cosmopolitan city. I think that most people can fit in well. If you don't like it, and have the means, move somewhere else and try it.

Good Luck

[Brickmama]

No you are not crazy. STL has a lot to offer but make take a bit to adjust to everything. The weather will be different but you will discover we have 4 beutiful seasons.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by keep on livin

No, it's not crazy.

I am moving from Los Angeles to St. Louis in the next 45 days, without a job. But I am from the midwest, and know what to expect in terms of Cost, Weather, People, and the Labor Market.

What is crazy?
Living in a place where you are underemployed, because wages are driven down by many factors.

Living somewhere strictly due to the nice weather.

Believing that California is the greatest place on earth, and has more to offer than anywhere else.


St. Louis is a cosmopolitan city. I think that most people can fit in well. If you don't like it, and have the means, move somewhere else and try it.

Good Luck

I would seriously rethink the idea of coming here without a job. The job market is not kind to transplants, although If you have a local pedigree, you may be OK.

My California clients are the ones that allow me to pay my bills. I've been here for a year and a half and try as I may, I cannot pick up any new local business.

[moorlander]

My neighborhood has a large asian population. You will find many asian transplants in the central corridor especially in Clayton, the Central West End, University City etc. I would estimate the population of my street to be at least 20% asian. Olive road from 170 to the city limits is our little "china town."

One might also say St. Louis "could" be on the cusp of seeing it's first wave of immigrants from china when we land this chinese air cargo deal (the Big Idea).

more on that here
http://urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=5407&start=0&hilit=china+town (broken link)

[keep on livin]

dinsdale pirahna,

I am moving because California is bleeding bigtime. My business out here has basically waved by-by, and is not going to return anytime soon. Discretionary spending is history, and some of the essential spending as well. A lower cost area is just what is right at this time for me, and I would bet for a lot of other people as well.

The job market out here for a livable wage is gone as well, even if I wanted to work for someone else.

I don't know, but you may be getting business from the west coast because you are able to pass on lower costs to your clients. The cost may be higher than the local St. louis area will pay for your services. New business is hard without some give away first.

Live Long and Prosper

[marigolds6]

I grew up in San Diego, though I lived in Iowa for 10 years. I ended up dropping out of the interview process with Google (I was up to the campus interview phase) to take a job here. Why? When I crunched the numbers, I realized that when adjusted for cost of living I would be getting significantly higher pay here than I would with Google.

[OA 5599]

FWIW, while job-hunting about a year ago I looked here, Portland, and the SF Bay Area. Companies in the SF Bay Area and Portland were laying people off in my field and I was able to find an opening in St. Louis despite being a transplant (albeit one from the Midwest). The cost of living to income ratio is very favorable in St. Louis. I can buy a house, by myself, in a good neighborhood in the city or one of the 'burbs, while still in my twenties. Such would be unthinkable in California.

Although the cost of living is low and wages are comparatively high, St. Louis does not have the Golden Gate Bridge, we don't have Point Reyes National Seashore, we don't have Napa Valley, nor do we have skiing/boating at Tahoe within a few hours. We have the Chain-of-Rocks bridge, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the Missouri Wine Country, Hidden Valley, and Lake of the Ozarks. Some transplants greatly miss those things about the coast. Being a Midwesterner myself I know how to live without them so I do fine.