Anybody live there? I'm pretty deadset on moving to San Diego and being a nurse after I get a license years from now :3 I know everything's expensive but they get paid more too

I was born and raised in So Cal. Yes, rent is expensive if you want to live within 20 miles of the water, but what most people don't know is that the cost of actual stuff, the cost of living, is some of the lowest I've seen anywhere in the country. Food and necessities are dirt-cheap around here. And you don't even have to shop at Walmart to get those prices.

I would say that highly depends on where you want to live. I've lived in LA the whole time I've been in California (6 years now).

At first I lived in Marina del Rey which was right next to my work and right next to the water ($$$$$)

Then I moved into a house with 4 people, about 3mi from the water ($$$)

Now I live in a commercially zoned property with 15 friends, about 10mi from the water ($). Half of the people I live with have no income at all besides unemployment / odd jobs.

I feel like there is a place where about anyone could be happy in one of the big California cities if you are looking to rent. Though to buy a house here in the big city seems like financial suicide. It all depends on what kind of living you want!

You can economize in SoCal, but in my experience the less expensive places to live are a bit sketchy.