Tips From A Local On Moving To San Diego

San Diego is one of the top 10 biggest cities in the U.S. and there are many appealing reasons to move to America’s Finest City. Whether you’re drawn to SD for a job, following your partner, or improving your quality of life, here’s what you need to know before you make the move.

San Diego is a coastal county of California – that alone lets you know that this will not be an easily affordable place to live. Landlords and real estate agents know that if you don’t move in, someone else will, and so the cost of housing is incredibly high in San Diego. It makes the list as the ninth most expensive city to live in the U.S., so be prepared to spend a good portion of your paycheck on housing, even if it doesn’t entirely meet your standards of living.

If you already have a job lined up, be sure to find housing that is within ten miles of your workplace. Commuting is the absolute worst in San Diego and should be avoided at all costs. For most, public transportation isn’t an option, as unfortunately the bus lines and rail system are not laid out to reach most business parks or neighborhoods. If you don’t know where you will be working yet, plan to live close by the Miramar-La Jolla area, or Carlsbad, where most of the jobs will be found.

However when you do find a place to live, be sure to purchase a big, comfortable couch or two, because yes, it will be occupied every weekend. When you break the news to your friends and family that you’ll be moving to San Diego they will express sadness, quickly followed by, “I’m coming to visit!” Every resident of San Diego regularly has guests who also want to explore the city and soak in the sunshine.

If you’re arriving in San Diego single and ready to mingle, there’s an upside and a downside. First, the upside: There are plenty of intelligent and attractive single people in the city – we have top universities, strong aerospace and biomedical industries, and nearly year-round sunshine that pull people out of their homes and beg them to stay healthy and active. Single people of all ages are constantly out exploring new restaurants, beaches, and breweries, and are active on dating apps. The downside will be that competition is high, and with so many distractions, many single people find it hard to hold someone’s attention and settle down.

Yes, there are loads of excellent restaurants across all neighborhoods and you can’t forget the oxymoron of the huge microbrew industry in San Diego. With so many choices and establishments to experience, it’s hard for San Diegans to keep their money in their pockets. We can’t provide any advice on this, the struggle is real.

One thing is for certain, if you move to San Diego, you won’t regret it. When people move here, they generally don’t leave, hence the growing population. Even if you lose your job, there are more waiting. Break up with your S.O.? Get a dog and meet someone new at Dog Beach. Stressful day? Go to the beach. Despite the high housing cost and the mind-numbing traffic, San Diego is truly one of the best places to live in the country, and you’ll be making your friends back home jealous with your social media posts in no time.