Spectacular weather, a healthy economy, and endless things to do make San Diego the perfect place for anyone to call home–especially recent college graduates. Thinking of moving to San Diego? Here’s where you should consider living.
Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter
The heart of SD is young, upbeat, and pretty pricey. Chock full of dining options and nightlife, Downtown is where San Diego goes to party. It’s known mostly for the trendy “Gaslamp Quarter” area where you can get a great meal, dance the night away at a club, sip craft cocktails in a lounge, or belt out ‘Sweet Caroline’ at a dueling piano bar. This urban neighborhood draws huge crowds nightly, so if you’re ready to party, this is your ‘hood, especially if your new job is downtown.
Pacific Beach
This laid-back beach community between Pacific Beach Drive and the Crystal Pier is classic SoCal. Known as “PB” by the locals, this area attracts surfers and bar-hoppers alike, but keep in mind it also attracts tourists.
Mission Beach/Mission Bay
Spanning nearly two miles of oceanfront, Mission Beach is a community built on a sandbar between the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay. Dotted with restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and rentals, Mission Boulevard divides Mission Beach from Mission Bay. Mission Bay Park, the largest waterpark of its kind in the US, covers 4,200-acres and is surrounded by 27 miles of sandy shoreline, where you can do just about anything humans have ever thought of doing on water, from jet skiing to sailing.
There’s even a boardwalk and amusement park on the beach! Belmont Park has a rickety wooden roller coaster (the Giant Dipper, built in 1925), plus a carousel, arcade, carnival food, and miniature golf.
Normal Heights
Bordered by Interstate 805, Interstate 8, and Interstate 15, Normal Heights is a great place to be for commuters who need to hop on the highway. This vibrant, diverse neighborhood is anchored by Adams Avenue aka “Antiques Row”. Here, you’ll find cafes, bookstores, vintage shops, and other small businesses. Cinephiles will be pleased with the local live music scene and festivals, including Southern California’s largest free music festival, The Adams Avenue Street Fair (held in September), as well as Adams Avenue Unplugged, and Art Around Adams.
Your paycheck will go further at Normal Height’s dive bars, and you’ll have more options than tacos (but you’ll have those, too) at all the ethnic and vegetarian restaurants in the neighborhood.
Ocean Beach
A surfer’s paradise and scenic wonderland, Ocean Beach is named for the beautiful, wide, sandy beach on the south side of the San Diego River mouth. This laid-back, oceanside neighborhood gives off classic, bohemian, SoCal beach vibes. The neighborhood is full of old-school bungalows, walkable main streets, and surf shops. This is another great spot for swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and fishing off the pier. It’s also a nice place to live if you have a dog, since the beach itself has a special off-leash area.
La Jolla
If you want to live that bougie beach life, look no further than the ritzy, hilly seaside area of La Jolla. With a super healthy budget you can live in a high-end luxury apartment overlooking the sea. With an “I’m broke, I just got my first real job” budget, you can still find an affordable place in La Jolla (with plenty of roomies, of course).
It’s not all upscale shops and restaurants; the seaside cliffs at Torrey Pines State Reserve offers hiking trails and breathtaking views, and the La Jolla Underwater Park attracts scuba divers, snorkelers, and kayakers to its nearly 6,000 acres. Between that and La Jolla Cove, the area is home to some of the city’s best beaches.
Hillcrest
Rainbow flags hanging from stores and restaurants welcome you to this hip, LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood. Just a few minutes from both Downtown and Balboa Park, this local favorite’s pedestrian-friendly streets are packed with places to eat, shop, and go out at night. This energetic spot is an affordable fit for those who need quick access to Downtown, too.
North Park
Reasonable rent, craft breweries in walking distance, and art hops; what more could a new grad ask for? You’ll fit right in at North Park, which is popular among young professionals, hipsters, and students.
There’s really no bad place to settle down in sunny San Diego — it is “America’s Finest City” after all. Wherever you decide to call home, search thousands of apartments on Zumper and find the perfect place.
Related content
