IS CALIFORNIA REALLY! that expensive and how so?

Answer 1

Yes, yes and yes.

The price of housing is very high, the price of fuel is one of the highest in the nation (I think we are next to NY).

Cost of living is high. The job market is very competitive and therefor doesn't pay much better than other locations. So you have...

Check out the websites below to calculate the cost of living in the area you want to move to.

Answer 2

The desirable areas in Cal. are indeed "that expensive." For example, the national median price for a home is a bit over $200 K. In and around the San Francisco Bay, it's over $600 K. Currenly only about 19% of Californians can qualify to buy an averaged price home in California.

Also, Californians pay about 40 cents per gallon of gas more than the national average. Rentals are also above national average...some going for more than $3 K per month. There are cheaper places (e.g., $100/mo for a room with bath), but they are slum lord places located in high crime areas.

Inland and on the flatlands in California, prices are still higher than comparable places in the mid-west and south. But they are not as high as the more desirable coastline and mountain areas. For example, you can buy are reasonable (2000 sq. ft.) home for about $500K around Sacramento or Stockton. By comparison, a similar home in Ohio would cost around $300K. [See source.]

And the high costs don't end there. Food is also expensive in the more desirable parts of California. For a restaurant meal that might cost about $20 in Atlanta, for example, it would cost about $30 in San Francisco or Oakland. That results from the higher costs of doing business in California.

Entertainment costs are also higher than most places. A family of four can expect to pay over $400 to go to an Oakland A's baseball game, for example. That price includes tix, food, and drinks for everyone. (Prices in NYC are higher though.)

Although incomes are higher in California than most other parts of the nation, they are not so much higher that they offset the higher costs of living there. This becomes a problem when trying to hire the best and brightest...they just can't afford to move and live here; so California companies are struggling to get good people.

Answer 3

Only a few parts of Cali are cheap. Where do you live now? Yes, California is expensive! I live in Los Angeles. An average two bedroom home is $500,000. A one bedroom apartment is $950/mth. A two bedroom apartment is $1200/mth.

Answer 4

california is way expensive! lets just say most people who are in their mid 20's live with thier parents still. im 19 and still live with my mom. rent for a one- two bedroom apartment is over 1,200 bucks a month (and thats not including utilities!) thats the average. (I looked at moving out with my bf and his friend a while ago)i live in the bay area. the averge home here costs over $700,000 to $800,000. for only a 3 bedroom or 4 bedroom home. =( the prices of everything keeps going up biut the wages arent =( so i am not moving out anytime soon. im lucky my mom doesnt charge me for rent though!

its hard to move out over here, have to pay the phone bills, car insurance, pay off cars, ect, and on top of that pay for schooling and text books. its practically impossible for a college student not to be out on their own now a days. =\ i wish the prices of homes would be liek in south carolina or something. my half brother bought a 5 bedroom, 3 story home on 1 acre of land for only 125,000 dollars! lol

Answer 5

depends on if you are talking about rent or in general.

In general everything is about the same.

Housing and ins. is quite a bit higher in the popular towns. there are areas where you can find 150,000 houses still in california...

Craig
http://www.shaklee.net/wealth-via-health/distFastStart

Answer 6

if your moving out there it is the rent is very expensive so you better have a hefty wallet! but it depends on where you live now! gas is very expensive too

Answer 7

Cost of living there is crazy high. Gas, homes, etc...