Los Angeles and San Diego are two heavyweights when it comes to where people get excited to move to in California: but how do you pick which city to go with? These are the top things to consider between the two and why the differences matter!
Do You Have a Car?
Do you drive yourself, or do you usually take public transit? This can be a huge deciding factor in which city you move to since the wrong choice could leave you on public transit for many hours a day.
Although both cities are massive and can take an hour to get from edge to edge when driving by yourself, San Diego has far more traffic. If you don’t have a car, you don’t want to move to San Diego.
What Career Do You Want?
What type of career do you see yourself ending up in? Are you more into creative works, or are you interested in tech? San Diego has a huge tech industry that allows you to work in anything from app development to animation and computer design.
If you’re more into the arts, Los Angeles has a giant entertainment industry that basically spills out of the city. You can do anything from being a television extra to writing for sitcoms if you have the experience and skills for it.
You’ll want to live closer to the area that has your career in mind.
Are You Concerned About Safety?
How concerned about safety are you? Although both of these cities are relatively safe when compared to cities like Chicago or Detroit, Los Angeles has 15% more crimes than the California average, and San Diego has 19% lower than the state’s average. Although most LA crimes can be avoided if you know the streets to stay away from, it’s still a city that could be scary to someone who’s never lived anywhere with a higher crime rate.
Would You Rather Have an Apartment or a House
Everyone wants something different, and that includes housing. When you think about moving, do you see yourself moving into a house or an apartment? These cities are split in the type of spaces they offer. Although LA has amazing apartments, San Diego houses for rent are generally more affordable and more spacious. If you’re starting a family, or you simply don’t want to have to live with six roommates to survive, San Diego could be a better choice.
Do You Want More Nightlife?
If nightlife is what you care about, Los Angeles comes through in spades! Los Angeles has a massive nightlife scene that allows everyone to enjoy cutting loose and having fun. Of course, San Diego has its own collection of clubs and bars, but it can’t compare to the kinds of bar crawls and massive parties you can find in LA every weekend. This city is a party capital that knows how to have fun.
Hard to Pick From!
Whether you’re moving to California from out of state or you’re moving just a couple of cities away, it’s important to consider your options carefully! San Diego and Los Angeles are incredibly different cities. Pick based on your needs.