I would really like some opinions on this from my fellow g35 enthusiasts that live in Southern California. Ok here is the deal, I finish up college in about 7 weeks and will be moving most likley to one of these two areas. I am fortunate and am in the financial state where I can just get up and move anywhere and survive for quite some time with out immediately needing a job. Plus getting a job is like 10x easier if you live in the area where your applying for the job.

I have visited California twice in the past year. I live in TX (dallas-ftworth area) The first time I visited I went to LA for a couple of days. I went with some friends for a conference. I did not really get to see much because I was there for such a short time. I did like it though. Of course I would not live directly in LA(like any big metro city b/c it is often a little bit older, ghetto or run down) but somewhere on the outskirts.

I went a second time by myself at the begining of the summer for 4 days. I wanted to check out the outskirts of LA more and really spend some time in SanDiego. I arrived in Orange County airport because there somehow appears there is a $100 tax to fly into SanDiego airport than to (LAX or JohnWayne). After being pissed that I had to drive a crappy Lancer b/c they ran out of the some of the somewhat "decent" cars they promised me (like cobalt coupe) it didnt even matter, because I was just in such shock at the beautiful scenery and hills, driving through irvine and towards the coast.

I wanted to focus on the areas outside of LA so after enjoying the coastal scenery I headed east towards the riverside area to check it out. Well it seemed the more I drove east the more deserty scenery appeared to show up, it started to get a little less exciting visually plus I started to hit heavy traffic when I got around highway 15. I was like forget this so I just took 15 and headed to SanDiego.

I just loved SanDiego! I actually spent the next 2 days there. There is so many little beaches all types, the people there seem real chilled and layed back. LA area people seem more stuck up and every body seems to think they are either a rockstar, moviestar, or celebrity. Orange County area seems much better than LA but SanDiego seems the coolest.

After going back to Irvine on the '5' then the '1' hwy I was able to see the entire coast area on the way back. The last day I spent driving around the Orange County area. I really loved the Irvine area and the little cities around that.

My working industry is going to be in the construction managment/Architecture area. From looking there apears to be so much more potential in the OrangeCounty/LA area vs the SanDiego area. Thats one of the main things keeping me from SanDiego.

Whats everybodys thoughts on the two areas?? People who live there, lived in both??

 

It seems as though you got a pretty good grasp of the area in such a short time. Orange County is really nice, especially Irvine and the surrounding areas. San Diego is nice, but a place I would choose to live if I was retiring or something. OC is nice because it is close to the beach, Los Angeles for the clubs, and the mountains if you want to snowboard

 

I grew up in LA/Orange County, and I went to college at UCSD. I got a job down there, so I was there for about 9 years total. I just moved back to Irvine about 2 years ago. I lived in the La Jolla/Mira Mesa area when I was down there. San Diego is a great city. It's kind of boring if you grew up in LA, but its also much more laid-back. San Diego is great if you like outdoor activities (biking, hiking, watersports, etc...) The nice thing about SD is that there is a lot of greenery, and many undeveloped areas. The drawback of that is that their freeway and road systems are terrible. There's too many hills and valleys. I've ran into many areas in SD where there is terrible traffic everytime I drive by, and its mainly caused by poor planning and design. It takes them forever to get a project completed. Just ask some San Diegans to tell you about the 56 freeway project. Plus, there are a lot of old retired folks in San Diego, so be prepared for a lot of very slow drivers. San Diego is not cheap though. Its supposedly one of the most overinflated real estate markets in the country. So is Irvine, so be prepared to pay a high cost of living. For example, there's a new development in the Solana Beach area of San Diego. It is next to the Solana Beach Amtrak station, RIGHT ALONG the tracks, and they're starting price is $1.3 mil. I think that's ridiculous to pay that much to live along side train tracks.

Irvine is a very nice area too. It's a great place to raise a family, and that's about it. They've got a excellent school district if you have kids. Very quiet area with nothing much to do. If you like clubs or bars, you can always head over to Newport instead of LA/Hollywood. The nice thing is that there are quite a bit of large companies in Irvine, so its awesome if you can live and work in Irvine, however, most people can't. If you're looking at a house in Irvine, you have to look at at least $650K starting. There are a lot of new houses there, but you're looking at $650K for about 1500-2000 sq. ft., and $800K+ for anything over 2000 sq. ft.

I loved living in San Diego. I have no regrets of moving to Irvine either. I personally like Irvine better because its closer to my friends and family. Again, both areas are great, and you can't really go wrong with either. Good luck with your relocation.

 

You'll find anything your'e into in San Diego, whether it's beaches, mountains, deserts, the club scene downtown isn't LA but there's more than enough to keep you in trouble if that's what you want. I used to think I wanted to move, but after spending months at a time in some of the coolest places in the country especially Florida, I decided that I'd rather be here. Just my 3 pennies.

 

One other thing to consider is that salaries are typically lower in San Diego even though the cost of living is higher. I work for a very large corp. with offices throughout the U.S. and California. There is a national mean that they adjust regionally. San Diego is 7% above. LA is 14% ABOVE, while San Jose is 21% above. Why is San Diego lower? Because people are willing to live with that to live here. I am. I lived in L.A. during college (UCLA). What field are you in?

sd_diver

 

Thanks guys for all the imput, this has helped me a bit more. Its always good to get perspectives from people who lived there or currently lives there. I know by living in a few places that you do not get the same experience visiting than actually living there. From the views that I have got so far it seems like I would like San Diego a bit more, but the irvine area might be the best for me right now starting out since I heard a lot of major home builders and designers have headquarters around that area

I will be graduating with my bs in Architecture. I am looking at working for more of a construction firm and hopefully transitioning into construction managment, but may end up at an architecture designing at first.

I am still young and not starting a family or anything anytime soon. I am aware of the rediculous housing rates, good thing I will not be buying a house or desire a house anytime soon. For me it is well worth it to pay the higher rent rates to live a much more exciting and fun quality of life.

Anyone else have any thoughts or lived in both these areas?

 

Irvine's a great city...low crime rates. Unfortunately you missed out by a couple of yrs when Irvine was just developing and housing was cheap. You got a lot of good places to go, Tustin for shopping and Laguna Beach. The Hollywood scene is only an hr away. San Diego's a nice chillaxin' place...no wonder why a lot of retirees reside there. I particularly didn't like driving thru the Gas Lamp district...don't know if it was due to the busy traffic or something. A lot of friendly people tho...

Have you checked out Santa Monica or Pasadena? If money wasn't an option, I'd look in the San Marino/Acardia area. One of the best school districts in California...for your future family u kno

 

low crime rates? me and patrick just got jacked!

 

If you like LA, but don't necessarily like the big city feel...you might want to check out the San Fernando Valley AKA "The Valley"....only 10-20 minutes without traffic away from hollywood, beverly hills, Santa Monica, ETc...
I don't know what your exact requirements are, but you might want to take a quick look.

 

suburbs between LA and OC are my favorite. Fullerton/cerritos/buena park/la mirada area.

 

San Diego is a great place. But really, you'd enjoy wherever you move, I think. I love San Diego for the Gaslamp (which has an auto show every year) and all the nice places around there. Places like La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe are great too, which are in San Diego.

 

So Cal is crowded. SD, OC, and LA are crowded. Traffic. CHP. Clubs in SD are
sausage fests.

SD local, born and raised.

 

A couple? hahhaa. More like 15 yrs

I grew up in Irvine in the 70s where there wasn't much around. It's a nice place I guess... but has no character, and is quite boring. I live in Costa Mesa now and the people here I like more. Everyone's more down to earth. Not as pretentious as those in Irvine. The problems I have with the Irvine neighbors are they're full of ****. Everyone keeps to themselves and watches you like a hawk to make sure you're not doing something they don't like. And with all the mellaroos and association crap that's around... I'd rather live somewhere else. just one man's opinion though. Plus Irvine PD does a good job but watch out if you start to mod your car. Just stay away from UCI campus.

Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, are all really nice places to live.

 

Where in the DFW area you coming from? I lived in Plano for about 15 years before moving out the Cali. Alot of SoCal is nice so I'm going to just say one thing...STAY AWAY FROM IRVINE!! hahhaha. I think its way over rated and the damn Irvine Mafia (IAC) owns that city. I totally agree with what Frizzle Fry said. I live in south OC in the city of Aliso Viejo. Kind of expensive but I think one of the best cities in this area. Kind of far off the hwy but its pretty much smack dab in the middle of san diego and la. about an hour drive to both.

 

I live in Arlington. Right in the middle of Dallas and FortWorth. Plano is probably one of my favorite areas in the metroplex.

I can see the advantage of living in S. OC as being in the middle of SD and LA, your far enough away to not be right in there but close enough to take a drive on the weekends. It seems like I got a pretty good heads up on really looking at the surrounding cities. From what I heard it seems that although Irvine is nice it seems like it might be a little pretentous, but basically immediate surrounding areas next door and south OC seem just as good but while still being very close.