What are the negatives to moving to and living in San Diego?

Question

I already live in a warm, non-snow climate so don't say the lack of snow as a negative.

Answer 1

Expensive place to live, including real estate.
No public transportation so must have a car.
Not much rain, so hot and dry in summer.
I am not sure what the employment scene looks like, but you definitely want to make sure there are enough jobs around before you move.

These are the only ones I can think of right now.

Answer 2

1) The traffic especially in the summer when half of AZ and lots of International people show up can be a major hassle. You need to live close to work or have your home & work along the Coaster or Trolley line.
2) Lack of diversity/culture - compared to the San Francisco Bay Area or other big cities it seems to have less diversity of people, culture, food or you need to look a lot harder. It is a major military and military industrial complex center so I think that contributes somewhat to the "generic" feeling.
3) Lack of greenery/trees - San Diego is a desert (8 inches of rain a year) so compared to many places in the country it is very brown especially in the summer.
4) Lack of fresh/drinking water (all the water comes from N. CA or the Colorado river) - will continue to be an issue going forward although Carlsbad trying to put a desalination plant in place to convert seawater.
5) In the summer we get "May Gray" and "June Gloom" which describes the overcast sky/marine layer that is more prevalent during those months as it heats up inland.
6) Skin cancer - make sure you keep the sunscreen handy.

Answer 3

Only negatives are cost of housing and traffic congestion on freeways. Other respondant overexaggerated difference in housing prices though. A relative in Phoenix just sold her 3 bed 2 bath house for $295,000 that would have sold in a comperable neighborhood in SD for about $550,000-600,000.

Positives:
Besides "no snow" it is moderate temp year round so you don't have dramatic highs and lows. You can do stuff outdoors pretty much all year.

Don't understand why previous respondant said there was a lack of diversity of cultures here. There are strong Mexican, Native American and Asian (Pacific Islander groups especially) influences in town with art and food influences, not to mention Subsaharan African groups...love Ethiopian food! If you tend to feel uncomfortable with other cultures than your own I guess it's a negative but to me it's a positive.

As my neice from New Zealand says "It's green for a reason!" Yes it's true that San Diego is brown in the summer as our rainfall is low but in exchange for low green factor we get more days we can be active outside. All depends on what is most important to you.

I don't really think that I would describe San Diego as more poluted than other urban areas its size; we have very little industrial employment here so I would say it is less.

Oh, another positive...unlike Florida, it's warm without the humidity. Unlike Arizona, it's warm without the extreme heat or summer monsoon season.

Answer 4

I moved here from New York City in 1989. Obviously, it was an upgrade for ME, but I think the biggest problem here is the INSANE cost of living, followed by the overcrowding. Coming from NY, the cost of living didn't even make me blink... but I've learned to HATE crowds, and haven't been to the beach in well over 10 years now.

Answer 5

San Diego is one of the most expensive cities in the USA to live.

Answer 6

I agree with pretty much everything everyone else said, except the statement that there isn't a public transportation system. They have citywide buses that will take you from one end of the city to another. There is also a trolley system which will take you around various places in the city.

Answer 7

Exspensive to live, not so much your needs, like clothes and or food. But like housing. A house in Phoenix area is let's say $300,000.00, that same house in San Diego area, I bet like $800,000.00 to maybe amillion depending on like near moutain or like the ocean

Answer 8

The San Diego Padres, No basketball team, borderline college football teams, (borne again Charges are no longer a negative), non smoking town but only negative if you smoke, high divorce rate, (must be the heat or the scantily clad great looking woman on the beaches). McDonald's!

Answer 9

Expensive real estate. Large non-english speaking population. Pollution. Overcrowded.

Answer 10

many houses cost a lot. but there is beautiful sites to see here.