Hey everyone!

I’m looking to rent a 1-bedroom apartment in San Diego, and I’ve narrowed it down to Scripps Ranch or Mira Mesa.

I’d love to be within walking distance of an elementary school, and my top priorities are safety and a kid-friendly vibe. My budget is $3200 rent per month.

Any insights or experiences you could share about these two neighborhoods?

Thanks in advance!

My husband has accepted a job offer in San Diego. We have two kids, one in KG (4 yo) and 2.5 year old. I am feeling overwhelmed with the number of neighbourhoods in SD. I have a wish list and need help figuring out where we should look.

I want somewhere with low crime, top elementary school and a large enough house to accommodate our family as well as my MIL who will live with us for half the year and my mother who will visit us for a couple of months of the year (not at the same time). My budget is max $6.5k.

My husband is convinced that san Marcos would be perfect. I really liked Carmel Valley from what I’ve seen online but there’s not much available in our budget as we need a house big enough. We have Carlsbad and Rancho Penasquitos/4S. Would you recommend any of these or should we consider any other neighbourhoods?

We are moving from Toronto, Canada so won’t have many opportunities to visit SD before we make the move. We also need to enroll my youngest in a daycare as well as I’m planning on working full time so can’t keep her at home with me.

TIA

I’m considering moving to La Jolla and would love to hear from people in their late 20s or early 30s who live or have lived there. What’s the vibe like for someone in that age group? Are there enough things to do, social spots, or opportunities for meeting people? Also, what’s the cost of living and overall lifestyle like in the area?

Hi

I'm moving to SD, and taking to temporary accommodation before finding a permanent place.

Any feedback on if the area is safe? Has anybody stayed here before?

Any other feedback would be great. I'm staying here for about a month. Will be working near the Sofia hotel on w Broadway, is it safe to walk there?

Please let me know.

I used to live in San Diego but moved out years ago. I want to move back, but at the moment my work schedule won't allow me to visit SD for long enough to find an apartment. Are there any legit services that can help me here? Thanks.

I’m a gay guy in my mid-20s currently living in a suburban city in Santa Barbara County. I’ve always dreamed of living in a vibrant coastal city, and San Diego has been my top pick for YEARS. I’d love to spend the rest of my 20s (and hopefully forever) down there. That said, Los Angeles is also on my radar, specifically areas like Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Grove, or Culver City.

Here’s my situation:
I work for a company with two offices—one where I live now and the other between Santa Ana and Irvine, near the John Wayne airport. After discussing with my boss, I have the option to relocate and work remotely four days a week while commuting to the office once a week. This makes moving doable, but I’m torn about where to go.

If I moved to San Diego (maybe downtown or Hillcrest area), I’d need to drive 1-2 hours each way once a week to the office. To make the commute less stressful, I could pick up an evening side gig (like a spinning or yoga instructor) near the office and drive back to SD later at night to avoid rush hour? The big question: is this workflow sustainable, or will the commute take away from the lifestyle I’m chasing?

I’ve also considered Los Angeles. While it’s not my dream city like San Diego, neighborhoods like Santa Monica, Beverly Grove, or Culver City seem sooo appealing for where I'm at in life. However, the commute to Santa Ana/Irvine would still be about 1.5-2 hours each way. Long Beach is another option, but honestly, I don’t find it as exciting compared to SD or LA. Surfing is also a big part of my life, so proximity to a good wave is a must :)

Some other factors:

• Amtrak/Trains: If I lived in SD or LA, are there train options that would make the weekly commute easier?
• Lifestyle: Which city is better for a young professional like me, considering LGBTQ+ friendliness, social opportunities, and overall vibe?
• Rent: I’ll cross this bridge later lol, but I know it’s a big consideration too.

Cities like Anaheim, Santa Ana, San Clemente, or Huntington Beach aren’t on my radar right now—they don’t align with the kind of vibe I’m looking for, but I’m open to hearing suggestions if I’m missing something.

Would love to hear your insights, especially if you’ve dealt with similar commutes or have thoughts on SD vs. LA for someone like me. Thank you!!

Looking for as cheap of a place I can get really, all I need is a bathroom and studio. Moving back soon to work in the shipyards. Just me my fiancee and her cat.

Hello, I am thinking about moving to San Diego. I am a nurse with 1 year of experience and decided I want to fulfill my career here. Please if you know any really good hospitals here? How is the job market for nurses here? Is it worth the move?

Hello all. My wife and I are planning on moving from Chicago suburbs to SD! We have a 1 year old and a dog and are looking for our forever home to raise our family. We plan on having one more kid. Don’t need a huge house but 3k-4k square feet would be nice. Our budget is flexible but don’t want to go over 3M. Would be happier at 2M but it seems we may not find anything at that range. We are visiting currently and drove around Carmel Valley and really did not like the tract style homes and the area felt maybe a little too suburban. We prefer larger lots and some character to the street. We like older homes that are renovated. Walkability is nice. We drove through Leucadia. Not sure if we went to the right spots, but the streets seemed busy and not ideal for kids to be playing on. Any suggestions for areas we should look?

Anyone know of any neighborhoods that have a similar vibe and walkability to north park that don’t require the terrible 5/805 south traffic every day? Sad about moving, but about to have a baby and can’t do the commute between north county down to north park every day. TIA!

My wife and I (late 20s) will be moving to San Diego in June/July as she starts a job with the university for 2 years. I am WFH and our combined income is above $200k. We are moving from Boulder, CO area and are very into the outdoors for hiking, camping, off-roading and golfing. We have 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 truck, and 1 car.

I am used to living in a dedicated apartment complex with assigned parking and a garage for storing camping gear, tools, bikes, etc... along with having a 2 bed 2 bath with dish washer and in-unit laundry all for around $3k/mo. I have never lived in or near a real city (Denver is a 20 minute drive) so I am not sure how to appropriately find a place for us to rent for 2 years that is within our budget of $4500/mo and restrictions. I know 2b/2ba might be difficult, so we are open to 1b/1ba (preferably 1.5ba) if it really helps find something.

We want to find a good mix where her commute is <20-30 min (maybe more if there is a significantly "better" place to live a little farther away) and not have to live in too busy of a place where it is distracting for me to WFH or worry about parking for 2 vehicles, so we don't want to live too close to the city itself.

So the ultimate question: where does $4500/mo make sense to rent with our interests/restrictions? I really appreciate any responses.

We are so excited to move here and plan to visit again in March to spend time scoping out any recommended places!

Hi, moving to Poway area and looking for a nice family neighborhood with bigger homes (3000+ sqft) bigger lots (with pools or pool-sized). Budget is around $2.5 million. Hoping for neighborhood with a community feel too it where there are neighborhood/street get togethers and families/kids know each other and socialize. Any recommendations for neighborhoods like this I should check out?

Is LaJolla the area where all the rich folks live? Is it true for Soledad South hidden valley, Bay ho Pacific Beach and North clairemont as well? I'm trying to see what areas would be good for networking with people with a lot of financial capital.

Hi All, I’m searching for a 1 bed room apartment for rent in these 2 areas as they are close to my work place.

Can you guys please help me choose 1 considering my priorities are safe kid/family friendly neighborhood with elementary school in walkable distance and close access to grocery stores.

My budget for rent is up to $3200 per month.

Pointers to specific apartments will be appreciated. Thanks for your help.

Moving to SD in the next couple of weeks from New Orleans and am trying to decide whether to live in Grant Hill or Bankers Hill... I've found cheap options in both 'hoods but wondering what would be better/safer/more convenient/cooler.

I don't mind some grit and grime (have yall seeeeen New Orleans??) but just wanted to hear the thoughts of folks already in SD

I’m currently living in Carlsbad and considering my next move as a 30-year-old single woman. I recently toured the new luxury Alta Oside apartments in Oceanside and absolutely fell in love. It’s my dream apartment—beautifully designed with amazing amenities and a decent price, especially with the current promos. I like Oceanside and have noticed how much it’s been growing, with new restaurants and developments, particularly in South Oceanside, which I find really appealing.

However, I’m torn. Oceanside is farther away from the rest of San Diego, and I already feel somewhat removed from it in Carlsbad. Another factor is that my boyfriend passed away earlier this year. Leucadia and Encinitas, where he lived and where we spent a lot of time, hold a lot of memories for me. As much as I love those areas, I’m not sure I want to live somewhere that constantly reminds me of him. Oceanside feels like it could be a fresh start—it’s a place where we didn’t share memories, and I genuinely like it.

Would you recommend moving to Oceanside, or is it better to stay closer to everything in Carlsbad or San Diego?

Also, here's the link to the apartment I toured. It's just beautiful. Hard to say no.
https://altaoside.com/?rccustomid=NjQ5MDg%3D-JPzfR0IUiko%3D&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvP-6BhDyARIsAJ3uv7ZjwAj80SPFrOL-06v5mqgiYLoiaIPAR-0zwF9Sg05kGJGbfzUaz_kaAgZvEALw_wcB

Hey!

Will be making the move from the UK, to the US (California) over the next month, and one of the first things I'm hoping to arrange is a car! My employment will last at least two years, possibly longer, and exploring options once arriving. I have naturally thought about buying a cheap car, and selling at the end date, and whilst perhaps logical, driving an older model, paying for potential repairs, higher insurance etc could seem more hassle. Whilst leasing may be a little more expensive month to month, the hope of simply 'renting' the car for 24 months, and giving back with little fuss is a priority right now.

Looking for any advice, or suggestions on what could be the best option, which dealers offer something on these lines etc.. Any comments, I appreciate it!

Hey everybody! My girlfriend and I are planning on moving in together and are looking for some places to rent. We have two dogs, two vehicles, and a decent amount of snowboarding/surfing/camping gear that would require some extra space.

Our preferences are: -2bd 1ba OR 1bd 1ba w/ garage -yard or deck

Our budget is max 3k a month, and we’re not super picky on location. Do you guys think this is possible?

Hi everyone,

We are planning to move to San Diego for new job, and we’re currently looking for a 1-bedroom apartment for rent. We have a 5-year-old daughter, so we’d love to find a place within walking distance of a good elementary school. It would also be great if there’s an Indian community nearby, as we’re hoping she can find friends to play with and adapt more easily as she recently travelled from India.

Our budget is $3200 per month. We’re open to recommendations for family-friendly neighborhoods, apartment complexes, or any helpful leads.

Thank you so much in advance for any suggestions

I am getting divorced, having to move in the next few months in this less than stellar housing market, finding it difficult to find affordable homes in the great school neighborhoods! Looking for advice from parents with kids in Elevate elementary and middle school. It is highly rated and reviewed online and close to work, will be easier for both parents since we will share custody of our son. . Very worried about my son fitting in since he is shy and loves his current school and neighborhood.

1. Is this only for higher income or middle income families?

2. We live in the 92127 zip code, at least for now, is it even worth applying since we live farther away?

3. Are there any issues with bullying or safety for the kids? Thank you in advance!

I’m 25 yr old, single woman who is planning on moving to SD next year during the summer. I’m hoping to live in PB for the first year to experience it but have been having trouble finding a roommate. I’ve used FB groups in the past to find roommates but most of the FB groups for CA are just fake people scamming. Any advice?!

Have any of you moved to SD with no job and had it work out? I have a pretty useless degree and about 20K in savings and I’m thinking about pulling the trigger. I don’t want to waste anymore time.

right now I’m a certified personal trainer and know I could find that type of work anywhere, but I know it’ll take a lot more income to make it work in SD.

interested to hear some similar stories

I’m in a predicament & trying to figure out next steps. Not sure if this is the right place to post. Without getting into too much detail I found out my (32F) boyfriend (36M) cheated (again) & I have not confronted him about it yet but I am planning on breaking up with him & leaving (hopefully silently, I’m tired of the fighting & am completely over it at this point).

My problem is that I currently live in San Diego & unemployed. He has been providing for both of us financially while I’ve been in school to pursue an allied health program, which I’m supposed to start at the beginning of February. I don’t have family that lives in the area & was thinking of taking out federal loans through FAFSA to cover rent or moving back with my mom on the east coast. I would like to keep pursuing school regardless because I only have a useless Associate’s under my belt & I’ve been struggling to find a job.

There is the same allied health program near where my mom lives but moving out of state would mean paying out of state tuition which is almost 4x’s more than the college I’m currently going to. My financial aid here would completely cover my tuition.

Would be better to take out federal loans to cover rent here, likely with roommates, until I could at least find a job or finish the program (it’s about a year & a half) or to go out of state & have to take out loans to cover tuition? Or would it just be the same either way?

27 F, the guys I’ve seen in San Diego aren’t too great. It would be nice to have attractive guys from other states move here.

hi i’m 22 and planning on moving to sd in late august with 30k in savings. i’m planning on getting two jobs and a 1b 1bath apartment. obviously i’d need two jobs for a year or two then i want to do online college for a better paying job do you think that is doable?