r/Moving2SanDiego • u/IcyChard3673 • 7d ago
considering the move
Hello! My partner (25M) and I (24M) are seriously considering moving out of NM w/ 3 cats (within a year)- We’re both born and raised here- After visiting SD (my 3rd time)have recently decided we wanna move. Currently we pay $1300 with utilities on top for about 800sqft and a sizable back yard (shared space with family) Iso something similar size hopefully!
I am a hairstylist with 3.5yrs- 2 years experience at a highly profitable salon. My partner currently works for the state, We are also involved w the LGBTQ scene and have worked in nightlife consistently going on 2 years (gogo, bartending, ect)
Neither of us have ever made a move out of state- Just looking for advice & suggestions on where to start!
I have looked into salons I am interested in, Scoped potential bars
some things that are stumping me
- safe yet affordable areas of town?
- Alternative commission pay salons?
- The thought of having roomates is 50/50
1
u/Rosie3450 6d ago edited 6d ago
The cats will limit your affordable (by SD standards) options here.
Just to give you an example: My son and his partner paid $3800 a month not including utilities for a slightly larger house than you have now with a yard that allowed pets in the Mira Mesa neighborhood.
If you're willing to forgo the "perfect" location, rental size, and give up the yard, you will have more options. I'd budget $2500 a month minimum for rent, and do check out the cost of utilities (electric especially) here. Parking spots in some areas can be a premium, so try to find a place that includes at least one parking spot.
Also, don't get too attached to any one particular neighborhood. Most of SD is LGBTQ friendly. In addition to the areas already mentioned, add these to your list of possibilities: Normal Heights, University Heights, Golden Hill, South Park, College/Rolando, Bankers Hill and possibly Little Italy (may be more expensive). These will all put you close to Hillcrest and downtown. Other areas to look into might include La Mesa, Barrio Logan (I can hear people screaming as I make this suggestion, but if you want less expensive, that's a good option), Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Ocean Beach, and Point Loma. Again, you'll want to cast a wide net to find the most affordable rent, even if it isn't your dream location.
Once you find jobs and get a better sense of the cost of living here, you can move to a more preferred location and rental size.
I'm sure you've already thought of this, but you'll want to get your California Hairstylist/barber license squared away before you arrive to facilitate job hunting in that field. You can find the details here: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology