Considering a move from the East Coast - need help! (San Jose: affordable apartment, rent)

[rwh0620]

Hey everyone... I originally posted this in the San Francisco forum, but received a message that posting here might land me some good results as well. I'm considering taking a job in Palo Alto, relocating from Philadelphia. Where should I be looking for a somewhat affordable apartment, that doesn't include a terrible commute? Could you provide some ball-park numbers for what a large studio and/or one bedroom apartment would cost in any of your suggested areas? Appreciate any advice in this matter you could provide. Thanks!

[Snort]

Try craigslist and apartmentratings.com for Palo Alto and surrounding area. Skip East Palo Alto if you have a safety fetish.

[gone down south]

As a former Philly resident, let me warn you that there's no way you can possibly be prepared for the cost of renting here. Imagine a stupid number, and rent here is probably higher than that. Renting in Silicon Valley/SF is on the level of renting in Manhattan.

On the other hand, quality of life is so much better that most of us gladly pay the extra money for the privilege of living here! Even the 'ghetto areas' people tell you to stay away from pale next to, say, K+A or Diamond and 16th.

The real questions you need to ask are : where exactly will I be working, how much commute do I want, will I own a car, will work provide shuttles from either SF or the nearest commuter rail station (many tech companies do), and do you need to live in an urban area or are you OK with the burbs?

[rwh0620]

Thanks for the responses!

@ gone down south - I'd actually be working for Stanford Hospital. And while I would prefer an urban area, (or something along the lines of Northeast Philly), I wouldn't mind something suburban, as long as there was easy access to the city. I would prefer my commute be 45 minutes or less... and I do have a car, and would most likely be bringing it with me.

[humboldtrat]

If you don't mind something suburban, check out Mountain View or Redwood City. You would be within 20 minutes of Stanford Hospital. Palo Alto itself is expensive. Rents run about $800-$1000 for a studio and about $1200-$1500 for a one bedroom.

San Francisco would be about a 50 minute drive with no traffic. Caltrain runs a commuter train between all these towns and San Francisco. caltrain.com Maybe an apartment near any of the train stations on the peninsula would work for you.

There is also a free shuttle bus service from the Palo Alto Caltrain station that goes all over the Stanford campus and to the hospital.

[gone down south]

If you want to stick close, you'd be happy in Palo Alto/ Mountain View/Menlo/Redwood City area. Those towns are Mainline-ish, in the sense of small towns with vibrant walkable downtown/main street areas.
Prices are still going to be an issue though, you're looking at $1600 as a minimum for a 1-BR apartment in most of those places.

SF and San Jose both have good Caltrain / shuttle connections to Stanford Hospital if you really need to live in a city. San Jose is smaller, but more affordable overall.

[mstnghu2]

Originally Posted by gone down south

If you want to stick close, you'd be happy in Palo Alto/ Mountain View/Menlo/Redwood City area. Those towns are Mainline-ish, in the sense of small towns with vibrant walkable downtown/main street areas.
Prices are still going to be an issue though, you're looking at $1600 as a minimum for a 1-BR apartment in most of those places.

SF and San Jose both have good Caltrain / shuttle connections to Stanford Hospital if you really need to live in a city. San Jose is smaller, but more affordable overall.

San Jose is actually bigger...much bigger than SF. It's just more suburban and spread out. SF is actually somewhat small.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by mstnghu2

San Jose is actually bigger...much bigger than SF.

San Francisco is taller, but not bigger.

[gone down south]

Originally Posted by mstnghu2

San Jose is actually bigger...much bigger than SF. It's just more suburban and spread out. SF is actually somewhat small.

OK Nerdheimer How about we say that the 'downtown core' of San Jose, which is what the OP was asking about, is much smaller than SF's.