We are seriously considering moving to San Diego. Mostly because I feel the most at peace there, the water, the weather, the beaches, lots of military equipment moving around. Everything I love about life is in that city. Haven't made the decision yet since all of my family and all of my wife's family live here but every day that goes by, we think more seriously about it. Plus my daughter LOVES SD.....she'd move there today if I asked her.




And here's a possible alternative choice. My wife thinks she loves London, although I suspect she'd tire of the rain and the clouds pretty quick not to mention driving on the wrong side of the road, the crazy cost of living, etc.

My friend said she loves San Diego and thinks it's absolutely gorgeous but she just told me that she'd never be able to pay for it because it's so expensive unless she had a rich husband.

I've done some checking of course and found it would cost me about $1000-$1500 more per month to live there due to the housing cost difference. The remainder works out to about a wash. Somethings are more expensive here than in SD and other things are much less there with regard to basic living expenses.

This is especially true if you are more interested in renting than owning. Which at this stage of my life, I am not interested in owning real estate again so being a long term renter is fine with me, which puts the monthly housing around $2500 +/- a bit. That is doable.

So about $5000 a month for a decent living.....my needs are simple so I don't require a huge mcmansion to live in or a BMW to drive.

As to @BeachTrader's point, California is only a few tenths of a point higher in total taxes than AZ overall, CA is 8th highest in the nation and AZ is 11th. Not that big a difference.

So yes, living expenses would go up a bit, but I think so would our quality of life. Its brutal hot here in the summer, there's not that much to do unless you like desert activities and we don't. The only thing holding us here is family.....which is a hard one to deal with....although I suspect if I had a spare bedroom, I'd see more of them if I lived in SD than I do now!!!

Post a picture of a place/house you'd like to rent hypothetically if you went out there when you have time, or your dream house there. It seems like you've given this some thought. Pictures, pictures, pictures!

We are seriously considering moving to San Diego. Mostly because I feel the most at peace there, the water, the weather, the beaches,...

can't beat the weather, probl the best on the planet.