Living in California: 13 Things To Know About Life in The Golden State

Running an impressive 840 miles up the U.S. West Coast, California is full of superlatives, from longest continental coastline to largest population (over 39 million, in case you were wondering). This long and somewhat skinny state is also home to swaths of gorgeous scenery, iconic sports teams, and breathtaking sunsets. And if you hadn’t noticed, most of the people living in California are pretty proud of their home state, even if they’re not originally from there. After all, the West Coast is the best coast (wink wink)! 

Planning a move to California? Start by getting a free quote from PODS for California moving and storage.

But what is the downside of living in California — the catch? Be prepared to pay for the privilege. California ranks as one of the most expensive states in the country, with one city even making the list of 2025’s top 10 most expensive cities to live in — in the world. What’s to blame? California has notoriously high tax rates across the board (up to 12.3 percent!), and its desirable locations and lifestyle have given the state a bit of a housing crisis. 

So is it worth living in California? Only you can decide what’s best for you. We’re just here to provide a little insight to help you make the decision. We’ve got a rundown of the pros, cons, and truths about what it’s like living in California, along with some zeroed-in stats on a few of its most popular cities. 

 

Q: What salary do you need to live comfortably in California? A: In order to live comfortably, SmartAsset recommends that 50 percent of your budget be allocated to cover basic needs, 30 percent to entertainment and fun, and 20 percent to pay down debt, invest, and save. By applying that 50/30/20 budget to MIT’s living wage estimate for California overall, a single adult with no children would need to make $120,000. Of course, living expenses vary from city to city. It’ll take closer to $130,000 a year to live comfortably in San Francisco, but just $114,000 in Sacramento.

1. The Average Cost of Living in California Is Steep

We might as well get this out of the way right out of the gate: California ain’t cheap. The glow of the Golden State may tarnish once the topic turns to cost of living. California is home to some of the most expensive housing markets, rental markets, and overall costs of living in the country. In fact, California is the third most expensive state in the U.S., after Massachusetts, and Hawaii, according to 2025 data.  

Of course, health, food, transportation, and utility costs vary depending on exactly where you live in any given state. That said, Statista calculated that residents living in California spent an average of $64,835 on personal expenditures in 2023. We suggest using this number as a baseline figure while considering your move, adjusting it as needed depending on the exact city you’re eyeing.

When comparing California’s big-city contenders like the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County’s San Diego, and capital city Sacramento, know that they're all big spenders. 

Looking at the Bay Area? This Northern California (NorCal) region — which includes San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley — takes the cake as the most expensive spot in the state, immediately followed by sunny SoCal spots San Diego and Los Angeles. However, there is some good news, according to RentCafe. For folks interested in a Central California hub city, the cost of living in Sacramento is 14 percent below the state average.

Is living in California worth it? Certainly, but it’s not without its price tag — the average value of a home in sunny San Francisco, for instance, is $1.3 million. 

2. Housing Is a Huge Expense

A lot of the expense of living in California comes from housing costs. So how much does it cost to buy a house in California? A lot. According to RentCafe, the California housing market is a whopping 116 percent higher than the national average! And as of May 2025, Zillow reports the average home price in California has reached a hefty $787,500 — over twice as much as the national average of $368,000. The popular real estate website has also reported that 44 percent of homes in California sold over listing price in the past year. (Ouch.)

Home values in pricey San Francisco ring in at a cool $1.3 million, on average. Down in SoCal, you’ll find an average home value of $1 million in San Diego and $971,000 in Los Angeles. But of all the bigger cities on our list, Sacramento average home values are the most affordable, coming in at $488,500.

However, don’t be discouraged — around 41 percent of listed houses in California sold for under list price in 2025 as of April. Translation: Don’t be afraid to put in that counteroffer, at least for now. 

Moving to L.A.? Take a look at our guide to the cheapest places to live in Los Angeles (along with our tips for living in Los Angeles on a budget).

3. Rent Isn’t Cheap

Looking to rent? RentCafe reports that the average national rent is just over $1,750 a month for a one-bedroom apartment (around 900 square feet). Comparatively, it lists the average rent in California at $2,625 for around 850 square feet, or $3 per square foot. If you’re looking to rent in San Diego, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, be prepared to pay more money for less space. 

Again, it depends on exactly where you’re living in these cities, but expect to pay approximately $3.40 per square foot in San Diego, $3.43 per square foot in Los Angeles, and $4.72 per square foot in San Francisco. The only city where you’ll possibly get a break is with apartments in Sacramento, where RentCafe reports the average rental goes for around $2.29 per square foot. 

If living in California to you means going to the beach every day and embracing a boho sensibility, check out Venice Beach, an iconic Los Angeles neighborhood.

Q: Is California a good place to live in? A: California is a great place to live, from the variety of opportunities for outdoor activities, delicious food scene, four-season climate, passionate sports fan base, and one of the world’s largest economies, the Golden State has so much to offer.

4. What’s It Like Living in California?

California’s bigger cities are big draws, but with a state this big — 155,858 square miles — it’s impossible to use a catch-all when explaining what it’s like to live there. To make it a bit easier, we’ll spill the tea on what living in California is like when it comes to the vibe in some of the most popular cities.

Living in San Francisco

San Fran is one of California’s iconic cities — the Golden Gate Bridge, streetcar trolleys, Alcatraz, and the Wharf are all incredibly popular places. Life here is a bit more bustling with a dash of East Coast city vibes, thanks to the dense layout of the city. Folks here appreciate sunny days in the park and a work-hard-play-hard lifestyle. Public transportation is fantastic, so you likely won’t need a car — just be ready to work your calves around the city’s steep streets. Come here hungry for culture, food, and work.

 

Living in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a sprawl of a city comprising several areas, each with their own distinctive characteristics. As a hub of entertainment, it’s not uncommon to overhear people discussing script ideas or dropping names. It’s a car-heavy city, so make sure to choose where you live wisely, as many people stick to their side of town because of traffic. We love the fact that this city seems to have it all — beautiful beaches, creative culture, mountains, museums, and a good level of kitsch. It’s easy to feel at home here, since you’ve likely seen much of the city’s streets and scenery in movies. Like a lot of Californians, Angelenos are big on outdoor activities and healthy eating.

Moving to California? Don’t forget to read our blog on the 14 Things to Know Before Moving to California.

Living in San Diego

Located in Orange County, about two hours south of L.A., San Diego has its own SoCal vibe. The beaches here are beautiful and frequented by locals who have a down-to-earth, go-with-the-flow attitude. We love the city’s historic architecture, beautiful outdoor spaces, and LGBTQ friendliness. San Diego is a military, college, beach, and border town, giving it a unique personality and some great neighborhood pockets. 

Living in Sacramento

While those in NorCal and SoCal battle it out for which region is best, the Central Coast’s city of Sacramento is where you’ll find people laid back and just enjoying life. Here, it’s not a competition. SacTown may not have the cache of L.A. or San Fran (yet), but the people here know they’ve got it good. Easy access to beautiful scenery, slopes, an array of delicious eats, and a great economy keep people relaxed and unpretentious. Plus, the cost of living is lower compared to the other cities on our list. It’s also got a decent transportation system — ideal for nights spent out on the town or possibly even tasting trips to the city’s different breweries. 

California is home to not one, but two of the top 10 universities in the U.S., as ranked by U.S. News and World Report: Stanford and CalTech.
(Source: Stanford University via Facebook)

5. Higher Education Is Top Notch

California shines when it comes to higher education, giving residents a healthy dose of top-notch university options across the state. The prestigious law school Stanford University is ranked fourth in the 2025 U.S. News World and Report’s list of the top 10 national universities, but it’s not the only California university to make the top 10. Pasadena’s California Institute of Technology, also referred to as CalTech, is ranked sixth on the list.

The University of California at Berkeley is tied for 20th with the University of California Los Angeles, and just a few spots down is UCLA rival University of Southern California (also in Los Angeles), which holds position as the 25th best university in the country. Several other California state universities made the top 100 list, too. 

6. It Has One of The World’s Largest Economies

The gold rush era has come and gone, but the Golden State is still lucrative. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, California passed Japan to become the fourth-largest economy in the world. Yes, the world. 

Searching in San Francisco? We’ve got a rundown on the Best Neighborhoods in San Fran, to make sure you’ve got the skinny on where to live in the city.

7. The Job Market Is Ripe With Opportunity 

The Golden State shines in several different industries, including technology, renewable energy, and agriculture — all growing industries — which may be part of California’s secret sauce when it comes to its superb job market. More than 16 percent of new jobs in the U.S. in May 2024 were created in California. 

If you’re wondering who’s hiring, the state’s fastest-growing jobs include positions in healthcare, data science, software, and research, while the state also had large numbers of job openings in the retail and hospitality industries. 

Why would someone want to live in California if they aren’t a sports fan? Jokes aside, you don’t need to love sports, but you should know that Californians don’t play about their sports teams. So if you’re thinking about living in California, you may find yourself starting to care. 
(Source: San Francisco 49ers via Facebook)

8. There Are Top-Ranked Sports Teams

Californians may find fame on the streets of Hollywood, but the state’s sports teams also bring a lot of notoriety to the table — both at the college and professional levels. San Francisco 49’ers, San Francisco Giants, L.A. Lakers, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Rams, and L.A. Dodgers are some of the most recognizable names in pro sports, while UCLA’s Bruins and USC’s Trojans are top college football teams. Just be prepared to go hard or not at all when it comes to sports in California. Californians take their sports seriously, and fans have been known to get a little bent out of shape against rival teams. 

9. It’s a Four-Season State

California may conjure up visions of year-round sunshine, but the truth is that this is a four-season state. Depending where you relocate in the state, you can experience stunning fall colors, snowy winters, and super-bloom springs. While weather in SoCal is usually sunny and warm, Central California has more of a Mediterranean climate, and Northern California is often foggy and gray. 

It’s also worth mentioning that life in California is characterized by a few unofficial seasons: Wildfire season, rainy season, and earthquake season (also called earthquake weather). There’s a rainy season in SoCal that usually shows up in January and February, and, while an earthquake can technically strike at any time (truly), locals often refer to extremely stagnant and hot days as “earthquake weather.” 

10. Wildfire Risk Is Part of Life in California

If you’ve seen any headlines over the past year, you know that the potential for wildfires in California is not something to glaze over — and when it comes to living in California (pros and cons), it’s an important factor to consider. Especially in the summers and early fall, the state battles devastating wildfires, particularly along Interstate 5, so keep this in mind when renting or buying a home. 

A major recent example are the January 2025 wildfires that began in the Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, which took more than three weeks to contain and resulted in more than 20,000 acres burned, including 2,869 “structures” from homes to other kinds of infrastructure, per California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Significant relief efforts have been made to help rebuild the community, including a $2.5 billion wildlife aid package that was recently signed into law. Still, if you’re looking into living in California, it’s important to know that depending on where you move, your home insurance costs may be much higher than in other parts of the country, owing to the risk of wildfires. 

11. Crime Rates Are Variable in This Huge State

California is a massive state — the largest by land mass, in fact, claiming 163,696 square miles — so it’s only natural that it has pockets of crime as well as safer areas. Like many parts of the country, the state experienced more crime during the pandemic, and though most of those rates of decreased since, they haven’t all returned to their pre-pandemic levels. For instance, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, “California’s homicide rate jumped by 42.5 percent between 2019 and 2021; it is down 18.9 percent since 2021, but still higher than in 2019 by 15.5 percent,” California has pockets of crime, but is overall a safe place.

When thinking about living in California, know that crime rates vary by city, neighborhood, and even blocks, so it’s best to do some digging on specific areas. 

What is it like living in California? Well, for one, you’ll have easy access to mouthwatering street tacos and delicious cuisine of all kinds.
(Source: Jarritos Mexican Soda via Unsplash)

12. Mexi-Cali Cuisine Reigns Supreme (But It’s Not the Only Star of the Show) 

Speaking of crime, it’s practically punishable to live in Southern California and not love Mexican food. We don’t have an official count, but we reckon there are more Mexican restaurants and taco stands in Southern California than any other type of food. Texas may have Tex-Mex, but California has Mexi-Cali. Get ready for fresh ingredients, lots of lime and avocado, and a particularly good take on fish tacos. 

If tacos aren’t your thing, California also has a host of international cuisine — notably great Asian food, thanks to the state’s large Asian population — and has even earned accolades for the best pizza and bagels, much to the chagrin of New Yorkers. 

Along with silver-screen celebrities, California also boasts around 650 Michelin-starred restaurants, including six 3-star restaurants: Addison in San Diego, The French Laundry in Yountville, SingleThread in Healdsburg, and San Francisco’s Quince, Atelier Crenn, and Benu. 

13. There’s Plenty to Do in California

A few things that we love and highly recommend doing in California (whether you live there or not!):

• Summers and ski vacations in Lake Tahoe
• Hikes through Yosemite National Park
• Foraging in San Luis Obispo
• Kayaking in Morro Bay
• Museums in Los Angeles: the Broad, LACMA, MOCA, The Getty Center, and Academy Museum
• Drive up the Pacific Coast Highway
• Sunsets in San Diego
• Riding waves in San Diego
• Escaping the city in the city at Mission Dolores Park in San Francisco
• Eating your way through The Mission in San Fran

When you think of living in California, you might think of a place like Malibu, with its surf-ready waves and gorgeous homes — but that’s just one of the hundreds of beautiful places to call home in The Golden State.
(Source: Joel Mott via Unsplash)

Is it Worth Living in California? A Quick Look at The Pros and Cons

So, is moving to California a good idea? Here’s a short recap on a few of the pros and cons of living in California to help you decide. 

Pros of Living in California:

Making the Move to California 

Making the decision to move to The Golden State is the easy part. Getting there is the trick. You can simplify your move to California by using PODS. Rent a container and have it delivered to your driveway, ready for you to load at your own pace. Need help with the heavy lifting? PODS can even connect you with local packing and loading assistance. When you’re ready, your container will be picked up and delivered right to your new California home, or you can keep it in a PODS Storage Center until you’re ready for it. We’ll have you saying “best coast” before you know it!

You can visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call (855) 706-4758 to speak to a pro about renting a PODS container for moving or storage.

Alex Keight is a writer who has lived — and moved — all over the country and the world. She is an expert at packing, whether it’s for a long-distance move or short weekend trip. When she’s not writing or on the move, Alex spends her time giving her cat booty pats, cooking up dishes in the kitchen, and buying way more books than she knows she’ll ever actually get to reading.

Editor’s note: For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100.