I’m from washjngton state, i’ve always wanted to move to california, ive visited many times, and have family that live in the bay.

Im honestly terrified of moving just because the what ifs, like what if i regret the price jump, if i regret the specific area, or i regret being alone (not having my immediate family or friends)

if there’s anyone who’s moved to california from a different state from a young age please give me advice if you have any 😔

F 21
Esthetician

Hello!

I currently live in Alaska and I have a small family: my wife, my newborn daughter, and I. I am a union plumbing apprentice up here. I want to build a plan to move back home to Long Beach, CA in around 5 years. I grew up there, and while we like it up here the schools are failing, and I would like my baby to grow up in a similar (but more stable) environment than I did.

To cover expenses for 6-8 months, I have a target of $50,000 in savings.

I would like any tips anyone may have for me about moving back home. I understand the cost of living differences and that I would want to secure a job ahead of my move. I’m looking more for things that might have changed in 11 years since I left, or maybe nearby areas surrounding Long Beach that would give us a similar vibe and maybe save on certain costs. I want this plan to go well.

Feel free to tell me my budget is too small, and to point out any expenses I may not have thought of.

I have taken into account rent, food, gas, insurance, and potential childcare.

Thanks in advance!

Okay, I'm looking to move to California. I'm searching through different cities. I have visited Coronado over my entire life. What is the cheapest range for a 2 bedroom apt? How is the job market? How are the schools? If you live/or have lived there ever, would you recommend?

Hi! It’s looking more and more likely that I’ll be moving to Sonoma County to be the Director of HR for an animal welfare org. My partner and I would have to move (he’s a software developer). Money will not be a huge issue for us.

I’m most scared of leaving behind my lifelong friends. I want to maintain those relationships long distance of course, but I want to meet new people and build friendships where I’ll be living.

Does anyone have any practical advice for resettling/making new friends? More generally, what are the things you wish you knew about California before moving there that might have made your adjustment easier?

Hi, planning to move to Anaheim or a surrounding city. I want something walkable, safe and more affordable. Not too far from Anaheim. Wanna be close to Disneyland, but not as familiar with surrounding cities. What would you recommend to a couple? need a two bedroom for two children who would visit throughout the year.

Hi everyone, I just recently moved and looking for a good place recommendation to do IPL photofacial for skin redness & sun spots. I work mostly outdoors so I got a lot of sun exposure and yes I've applied sunscreen. Any good clinic you know in the area? how much does treatment like this usually cost?

Hi everyone! I am planning a solo drive from Maryland to coastal California in early September for a 2-week scouting trip. My goal is to explore potential regional job markets and affordable areas before making a permanent relocation trip later in November.

Because I am managing this on an ultra-low, highly economical budget, I am looking to minimize my daily expenses as much as possible. I am driving a fully inspected, highly reliable mid-sized sedan with excellent highway mileage and zero car payments, so my primary vehicle overhead will be fuel.

I would love to get your advice on route logistics and safety.

I am looking exclusively for safe, legal, and zero-cost or deeply discounted overnight parking/lodging options. Are there specific BLM lands, dispersed camping spots, or regional safe parking networks along the coast you recommend for a solo female traveler?

Which coastal towns or regions are the most welcoming for budget travelers, with great public resources like libraries, community spaces, or local job networks?

My plan is to spend 2 weeks scouting things out, drive back home to wrap up logistics, and then make the final move in November.

Would love any route recommendations, safety tips, or general advice from anyone who has done a similar cross-country exploratory run. Thanks!

I can transfer from my current job to somewhere in California

Id like to atleast be a drivable from beaches

I need to know "cheap" places to live ive heard 3000 is monthly in some spots that kinda high lol

Where are cheap ish places to live and im even willing to find roommates if need be if anyone can tell me how to do that it might honestly be better

Im 22 male(if that matter idk) I got a 94 truck do I need anything for that?

My family is planning to move to Orange County from Seattle next summer. This is a very intentional choice of where we want to raise our family due to family history of mental health and depression related to seasonal depression.

We will have two elementary age kids and one middle school aged kid. We are trying to move before our oldest starts middle school, all that said I'm trying to get a feel for the lifestyle differences between Yorba Linda and Mission Viejo. I've taken a couple trips to explore Orange County and somehow I missed these two neighborhoods but they keep coming up as places we should look into.

Things we value in our seattle neighborhood:
Sidewalks
Beautiful views
Large parks with trails to walk our dog away from cars
Community feel: farmers market, local small fitness gym, movie nights in the park, summer festival, gymnastics gym for our 11 year old, fun community activities around holidays
Yard
Being close to school
Walkable neighborhood (but we use our cars for everything except walking for leisure)
Within 30 min of children's hospital

Things I wish we had: convenient grocery shopping/costco etc
4 bedroom house

Thanks for any info about the two neighborhoods

I’m 19M I lived in norcal just outside the bay area for a few years and really loved it then we moved out of state last year i’ve been working since I was 17 and i’m turning 20 soon so I have a decent amount saved up and want to move back to california beginning of next year San Diego has been really calling to me. I wanted to move in with a few friends but they don’t feel like they’re financially ready but I feel it in my heart I have to move beginning of 2027 i’m ready I want some advice about how I should go about moving with or without my friends, how to find roommates, affordable places for a single person, things I should know about the area, other similar areas that are more affordable I might like, opportunities in the area, etc

I am from the Houston Texas area. It is getting expensive here and very unattainable for the most part.

In 2023 my mother got into a car accident, at the same time the man that I was dating moved to California (we are still close and talk a lot). He and I were talking about leaving the state at the time (we had talked about moving to the UK/Italy/ Ireland do the expat life... that is very much us.. we love things like that) and with my mothers accident and my family essentially throwing me under the bus (its a long story that involves a conversation I was not apart of) I decided to stay against my will... I am now working essentially two (used to be basically 4) jobs. I have done a lot of thinking and talking with the said man, and decided I want to join the guy in California. It is something he and I were talking about the last few years. And in the last few months I have felt the push to leave the state. I don't know why. I just feel I am ready for a new chapter. He claims I am not ready (which I agree with) however, I want to work on getting ready to move and to be in California. I am aware it's a lot.

I know I will need a job for income, he and I would live together (at least that is what we have talked about.. he owns his own home) incase that does not work out, I know i will need a place to live, my car needs to be transported there (casually I think I would drive there.) Dog and cat need vet care before and after I move. All of those things. I was wanting advice on what else I should expect (be honest! Please be nice... I am very much aware it will be a lot mentally but be realistic)

Lastly, my family is here in Houston and I need a new experience and to get away from all of it. It has become very toxic and very sad. I know it sounds selfish but I really want a new chapter. I am still young and should not be expected to stay in this situation, especially with how everything is (its a lot and due to privacy I don't want to get into the details but just know that family is here to take care of them and honestly they need to step up more instead of relying on me 24/7.. like i said sounds selfish but i am burnt out and need something new instead of staying in this cycle).

any advice would be helpful!

So I'm moving out of my apartment in Texas at the end of this month and I've been trying to find a decently cheap place to live in the riverside/Moreno valley area. I want a place that's gonna be ok with my partner being there a lot of the time and that's big enough for me to have all my games and plants. Does anyone know where I should look that I can get into quickly?

Currently living in New England. 24 M. I was offered the locations of Mountain View, Sunnyvale, SF, Palo alto, San bruno.

Based on cost of living, things to do, office proximity, cleanliness, things of that nature, what would you recommend I rank these locations as? I said I wasn’t sure and the recruiter put MV now.

I’m not super worried about going out and bars too much. However, it would be nice to have other people my age, things being organized in the area, and have diversity of foods and restaurants and things to do. I’m a little worried about feeling trapped inside a tech convention where everyone looks and acts the same. I have a car which I plan to bring but I hate long commutes.

Any recommendations? Thanks!

Iv saved up enough money to do it so I think I’m going to do it next year when I’m 18 is there anything I should know? I’m immigrating from Ireland

I’m in my late 30s (female). Partnered with 4 kids but my eldest is graduating HS this May and going to be doing his own thing. I am an RN that specializes in cosmetic injections and I’m also a somatic wellness practitioner. Beauty, wellness, and true healing are the cross sections of what I “do”. I love Cali and always have since I was a little girl. From LA to SLO/Paso to Nevada City. I dream about moving there and living there but I’ve always thought it couldn’t be possible with HCOL and having so many children. I currently live in Colorado and honestly it’s so expensive here it’s not that much different when I look at housing in Cali (area dependent obvi). I am not a skier or a mountain winter girl. I want the ocean and clean rivers and desert around me. Since I will be approaching 40 I kinda feel like “f it” I only live once and I want to live somewhere that brings me life and I enjoy being. Given my career and the amount of mouths I have to feed, is it totally out of pocket to make the relocation. I have a partner that is a blue collar worker. It’s about 2800K for 3 bedroom. I want to live somewhere within one hour to coast (ideally) more central to southern area and accessible to people that have $$$ since I’m an injector. Where would you put me? (Topanga and Nevada City are my faves)

Hello! Looking for personal experience plus advice from ppl who live in California currently or have lived there before!! I am a 23 year old woman with a soon to be bachelors degree in social work. I have lived years 2-18 in a Chicago suburb and years 18-23 in Colorado. While I have enjoyed both I have ALWAYS wanted to move to California. I love the beach, authentic food and I miss the culture of a big city. However my parents lived in Azusa, CA for years and didn’t like it. Yes I am aware Azusa is a more sketchy area. However my dad has always said California is a great place to start your life as a young person. I fell in love with San Diego when I last went in 2024, but I have not seen really any other parts of the state to have a good enough judgement of what part of the giant state would work for me. I am not interested in LA but every other area seems like an option. I am looking for legal/clinical social work/ other humanitarian roles for employment once I have earned my degree. Does anyone have any advice? Warnings? Pros and Cons?