San Diego, California, has a lot going for it, which explains why it’s the eighth-largest city in the United States. Of course, living in San Diego has pros and cons, so it’s a good idea to do your research to help you decide wither to move here. By doing your homework before making a big move, you’ll be well-prepared for your new environment, ensuring that you adjust quickly and easily.
Pros of living in San Diego
Living in sunny San Diego has a lot of benefits. Check out these top reasons you may enjoy making this beautiful city your new home:
Incredible weather
One reason so many people love living in San Diego is because of its incredible weather. The daytime high temperatures usually stay between 65 and 75 degrees all year long. At night, you’ll rarely experience temperatures below 50 degrees. The variation between night and day temperatures is only about 10 degrees, so you can pretty much always get outdoors. It does rain frequently during the fall and winter, but with more than 200 hours of sunshine each month, you won’t need your umbrella for long.
Outstanding job market
San Diego has a strong job market, making it simple to find a job. If you work in industries like health care, transportation, manufacturing, or military and defense, you’ll have no trouble finding employment here. Hospitality and leisure are other fields that provide jobs for many people living in San Diego.
Excellent food scene
Because of its diverse population, you’ll find an excellent array of eateries in San Diego that promise appetizing cuisine from around the world. Being close to Mexico means mouthwatering tacos, but you can’t go wrong hitting up one of the area’s food trucks that offer delicious menu items like Polish dumplings, savory seafood, and even shawarma, which is a Mediterranean-style meat dish.
Upbeat people
It might be all the fresh air and sunshine, but whatever the case, the people in San Diego tend to be pretty upbeat and laid-back. This gives the city a positive vibe that makes it a fun place to be. It won’t take long before you’re out socializing with the locals, who are sure to make you feel welcome and right at home.
Top-notch culture and entertainment
Thanks to its diverse population, the culture and entertainment in San Diego are top-notch. You can easily catch a live theater performance, check out a live band, or explore an interesting and educational museum. Balboa Park is home to the famous San Diego Zoo as well as several museums that are more than just fun to visit — the architecture is also something of interest in and of itself.
Cons of living in San Diego
Although there’s a lot to love about living in San Diego, the city has its downsides. Here are a few of the cons of living in San Diego:
Expensive housing costs
You’re going to pay quite a bit for housing to live in San Diego, especially if you want to be close to the water. People pay $2,295 a month on average for a one-bedroom apartment and $2,995 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. If you want to live near the ocean, you can expect to pay even more. To buy a house, you’ll spend well above the national average, with an average home price of $897,180.
Lacking public transportation
Despite California’s push for making a greener planet, the city of San Diego is seriously lacking when it comes to public transportation. While there are buses and trolleys that can get you around, the public transportation system doesn’t service many of the city’s neighborhoods.
Congested traffic
Since the public transportation system in San Diego isn’t great, you’ll definitely need a car to get around. And, because everyone else is also driving, traffic can be extremely congested most of the time. This makes commuting take longer than it would in less populated places.
High tax rates
Another thing you should take into consideration before moving to San Diego is the high income tax rate. San Diego actually has the highest income tax rate in the country and, depending on your salary, you could pay up to 13.3% in income tax. This can be a big surprise when you see your paycheck, especially if you’re coming from a state like Texas or Nevada that has no income tax.
Problems with parking
With so many people driving their own cars, you may struggle to find parking in many places in San Diego. You’ll also need to be ready to pay for your parking space and make sure you’re parking where it’s legal to avoid expensive fines.
FAQ: Living in San Diego
You may still have questions about whether moving to San Diego is right for you, so consider the answers to these FAQs:
Living in San Diego will cost you about 47% more than the national average, so saying it’s expensive is an understatement. You’ll pay more for everything if you choose to move here, including food, utilities, and entertainment. For example, energy bills alone cost about $236.85 per month. But the city has a lot going for it, so it may be worth it if you have a high-paying job and really love the location.
San Diego is pretty close to major cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, which will all take several hours to drive to, but you can get to any of them within a day. You can also get to the Baja peninsula in Mexico in about 30 minutes.
If you’re thinking of moving to San Diego, then you’ll want to consider these best neighborhoods in the city including Hillcrest, Little Italy, North Park, Gaslamp Quarter, Ocean Beach, La Jolla, and University Heights.
San Diego is considered a great place to live by many due to its mild climate, beautiful beaches, outdoor activities, diverse population, and booming job market in various industries such as biotech and technology.
Living in San Diego has its pros and cons, but if you take everything about the city into consideration before you move, you’re more likely to make the right choice. If you’re looking for a fresh start, use this guide to help you get where you want to be.
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