Considering moving from upper Midwest to San Diego without a job lined up - bad idea? (Corona: apartment, rentals)

[r_hcb]

I'm curious about the condition of the job market - perhaps some San Diego locals can chime in. My background is in sourcing/procurement.

I have enough money to cover living expenses for about 1 year. I would like to be in North County or Coronado and rent for less than $1,500 a month. I'm fine with renting a small place. I found a few small places on Craigslist that would not be too bad. I would be moving alone.

Also, if if live in North County San Diego (or Coronado), will I likely have to drive to downtown San Diego for my job? Just How bad is the commute in terms of traffic?

[moved]

Not a good idea. How much money do you have saved up? What do you call living expenses for a year?

By the time you spend money to move here, rent an apartment (deposit + 1st month's rent), have internet installed, register your car, have your it smogged to meet CA emission standards, and get CA, auto insurance, pay for gas to look for a job, your money will be gone very quickly.

[r_hcb]

I have $20,000. Could I live on $1,700 a month, perhaps? I'm thinking I could find a job in retail until I find a real job.

Where do all the people who work service jobs in San Diego live? Are they all in hot & ugly inland, or do they live with roommates?

[hkbruin]

are you moving from Chicago or elsewhere? Cause Chicago is comparable in terms of expenses, at least earshot, but not so much anywhere else at all.

[r_hcb]

Saint Paul. I currently spend $875 a month for rent.

[moved]

By the time you spend money to move here, rent an apartment (deposit + 1st month's rent), have internet installed, register your car, have your it smogged to meet CA emission standards, and get CA auto insurance, pay for gas to look for a job, your $20,000 will be gone very quickly. Also, if your car doesn't meet emission standards for CA, it can be very costly to have the repairs done, or you may have to trade it in for a CA car.

There's lots of competition for work here, so if you really want to move, save up more money and try to get a job lined up first. People with service jobs live where they choose to live, with or without roommates.

[John7777]

Originally Posted by r_hcb

I'm curious about the condition of the job market - perhaps some San Diego locals can chime in. My background is in sourcing/procurement.

I have enough money to cover living expenses for about 1 year. I would like to be in North County or Coronado and rent for less than $1,500 a month. I'm fine with renting a small place. I found a few small places on Craigslist that would not be too bad. I would be moving alone.

Also, if if live in North County San Diego (or Coronado), will I likely have to drive to downtown San Diego for my job? Just How bad is the commute in terms of traffic?

I don't know anything about your industry, but I do know a little abut trying to live in San Diego.

Figure $1500 a month for an apartment, maybe more. Add another few hundred for utilities, internet, etc. Add food, gas, insurance and you're at $2500 a month. Can you do that for 12-18 months? If not, stay where you are.

[moved]

Originally Posted by John7777

I don't know anything about your industry, but I do know a little abut trying to live in San Diego.

Figure $1500 a month for an apartment, maybe more. Add another few hundred for utilities, internet, etc. Add food, gas, insurance and you're at $2500 a month. Can you do that for 12-18 months? If not, stay where you are.

Yep, just like I said, the money won't last.

[Bakeneko]

Originally Posted by r_hcb

I'm curious about the condition of the job market - perhaps some San Diego locals can chime in. My background is in sourcing/procurement.

I have enough money to cover living expenses for about 1 year. I would like to be in North County or Coronado and rent for less than $1,500 a month. I'm fine with renting a small place. I found a few small places on Craigslist that would not be too bad. I would be moving alone.

Also, if if live in North County San Diego (or Coronado), will I likely have to drive to downtown San Diego for my job? Just How bad is the commute in terms of traffic?

Corando for 1500 a month? Not going to happen,

[RosieSD]

Just curious: what attracts you to San Diego? Hopefully, you have some solid reasons besides the weather or having visited Coronado on a vacation.

Coronado has two main industries: the Navy and hospitality. Unless you're planning to enlist in the Navy or work as a waiter, you'll need to look elsewhere for work. The fact that you don't seem aware of this doesn't suggest you've done a lot of research. And, of course, if you're going to make a major move like this, you have to do your research. I know it *seems* like a good idea to ask about the "job market" on a forum like this -- simple, easy, quick and hey, maybe someone will know of a job for me! -- but really, if you're serious about moving here, go to a website like Monster.com or Indeed.com or perhaps the trade journal for "procurement" and run a few searches to see what type of jobs in your line of work are being advertised in San Diego County and how your experience might be valued here.

I would LOVE to see any rentals you've found on Coronado for $1500 a month. Are you sure they weren't in Imperial Beach?