Here or Exit California - 1/25/2017

The Monterey city area is an excellent place to live and one of the few California locales where it's relatively safe to raise a family. If I could no longer live here I would leave California.

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If you're not a millionaire good luck living here - 12/31/2013

I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and had to leave to climb out of poverty. The median income is $35,000 and outside of the military, the jobs are mostly service (hospitality, etc.). The average home price is about $600,000 or higher. Rent for a studio apartment is $1,100 to $1,500, depending on location. The only way to live comfortably in Monterey, Pacific Grove or Carmel is to have bought a house in the 1960s, like my parents did, or bring your money with you, like the millionaires from LA and Silicon Valley. They bought second homes in the area, which sit vacant for most of the year, but it saves the hassle of having to make hotel reservations when you want to take your private jet for a spur-of-the-moment round of golf at Pebble Beach. If you're looking for Exhibit A of the disappearing middle class, it's here.

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How wealthy are we talking about? - 9/13/2012

My husband and I are just crazy about Monterey. I wonder if we take housing expenses (mortgage or rent) out of the picture, is Monterey still a very expensive city to live?

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Not a great place if you're single - 7/15/2012

Most people here seem to be married and wealthy, or here temporarily for the military. I couldn't think of less desirable area to live for a mid 20's single male. Other places I've lived recently are Walnut Creek and San Luis Obispo, both awesome places.

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Monterey Peninsula Area - 1/31/2012

I have lived here for 9 years and love the clean air and beautiful nature but I don't feel deeply connected to people here. It is a retired, family kinda of environment. Also lots of old money and family owned business. Not very stimulating but has it's good points one of them being lots of silence and peace.

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One of the best Cities we have lived in. - 2/3/2011

Monterey is one of the best cities that we lived in. Although expensive. The people are friendly and helpful. Great climate all year around, never too hot, never too cold. This is a very old city with great history.

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WORTH IT? - 5/23/2010

I'VE LIVED IN THE MONTEREY AREA FOR ABOUT 14 YEARS. IT IS UNDENIABLY A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, NOT QUITE AS UNIQUE AS LOCAL BOOSTERS SAY IT IS, BUT IT DOES HAVE AN EXCELLENT VIBE. BUT THE COSTS OF LIVING, IN PARTICULAR HOUSING, MAKE IT A DIFFICULT PLACE TO MOVE TO, OR TO STAY IN BEYOND ONE'S WORKING YEARS. IN FACT, MOST OF OUR PROFESSIONALS NOW SEEK AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUTLYING AREAS, INCLUDING SALINAS, WHICH I WOULD ADD HAS A UNFORTUNATE AND OVERDRAMATIZED POOR REPUTATION (CRIME.) EVEN WITH THE COLLAPSE OF THE HOUSING BUBBLE, REAL ESTATE IS BARELY AFFORDABLE UNLESS ONE CAN COMPETE WITH SYNDICATES AT FORECLOSURE SALES. MONTEREY, WITH ITS FELLOW PENINSULA TOWNS OF PACIFIC GROVE, PEBBLE BEACH AND CARMEL (ALSO SEASIDE - BUT MONTEREY TYPES KIND OF LOOK DOWN ON SEASIDERS) PROVIDE AN EXTREMELY SAFE AND QUIET LIVING STYLE. HOWEVER, IT IS CLOSE ENOUGH (TWO HOUR DRIVE OR 20 MINUTE FLIGHT) TO THE MOST COSMOPOLITAN CITY ON THE WEST COAST, SAN FRANCISCO. SO, LIVING IN MONTEREY ALLOWS ONE TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS - QUIET IN RESIDENCE, EXCITING IN COMMUNITY.

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California Living - 5/20/2010

Central Coast is beautiful with sea meeting mountains, clean air and nature is bountiful. Wonderful place to live if you have an income over $100K

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Great Place to Visit - 2/18/2010

Monterey's main source of income is derived from the local tourist industry seconded by the military bases, and the fishing industry. Schools here are a couple of years behind most and budget cuts in the district county and state over the last ten years are sending public education south. Outside of the military population, the majority of residents here are over the age of 70. Housing prices are some of the highest in the nation and SLOWLY decreasing. Most people here are retired, in the military, or supporting the retired population who live here or are visiting. Because Monterey is just a few minutes drive to Salinas, the Salad Bowl to the World, food prices here are some of the most affordable in the nation (and the freshest). There is a farmer's market within 15 miles any day of the week. Public transportation is easy to navigate and free a good part of the year. Monterey Bay, Big Sur, and the Pacific Ocean makes this one of the most scenic areas in the world. Year-round temps between 40 and 70 and reasonable humidity also make this a wonderful place for folks who like great weather everyday. Shopping is best done in San Jose or San Francisco - you come here for the view and weather. Hiking, boating, sailing, and biking are the big entertainment activities. Bring your wet-suit, the water is between 55 and 56 degrees. The annual Big Sur Marathon brings in 60,000 plus runners each April and is rated as one of the top three marathons in the world. An aging population means sidewalks roll up shortly after 6 PM and politics and city life run slower than a turtle's pace. If you're looking for the quiet life and have PLENTY of money, this is the perfect place. Our family will be retiring from the military shortly and it is difficult for us to find employment that will cover the cost of housing. That coupled with the deteriorating public school system and the outrageous cost of private education, we will be seeking a life in a city that welcomes families with children. I have found this to be true of most tourist spots - Asheville(NC), Pensacola(FL), Carmel(CA), Southampton(NY), Cape Cod(MA), Newport(RI)...Monterey is no exception. Great place to vosot but I can't raise my family here

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Monterey - 1/16/2010

It's the greatest!

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stay away until september - 7/24/2009

The fog ...overcast and gloomy temps in the upper 50's from May until late August. Monterey Peninsula/Carmel/Pebble Beach are are consistently gloomy most of the summer. Statewide saletite maps show we get some of the most dense fog in the state. Even those from the sweltering central valley cant take too much of this sunless icebox. Come september thru November for some decent weather. Carmel Valley is the only sunny zone that has the scenic enviorment the peninsula is known for

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Great Place To Play - 5/13/2009

Weather is wonderful, people are friendly, housing is too costly, but who cares you can live out of a box and be happy. Throw seeds down plants will grow.

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Quality of life - 12/26/2008

The quality of life in Monterey is all right if you like golf, wine tasting parties, and expensive restaurants. However, for educational and intellectual activities don't come here. You will be bored to death.

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Wonderful place to live. - 9/18/2008

If you can afford a home here, everyday is a vacation in Monterey. Not as warm as Santa Cruz (our neighbor across the bay), but always pleasant, and the views are wonderful. Perhaps getting to the point that there are too many houses, but that is a problem with all of California's coastal cities.

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cost of living - 9/9/2008

Waytoo expensive. But it is beautiful!

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Cost of Living - 7/13/2008

Overall, food and housing are very expensive relative to other northern California areas in which I've lived. I will never be able to retire here and instead am looking to move back east.

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Monterey, Salinas, Carmel - 6/2/2008

There are an estimated 100,000+ undocumented, illegal immigrants living in the Monterey area. Unfortunately, these numbers are never reflected in the true population statistics. But have a phenomenal impact on the every day life including traffic, rental availability, crowding, crime and jobs. Most jobs in the area are service oriented and require you to be bilingual Spanish/English speaking.

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Small town and great food and entertainment - 5/20/2008

Monterey is a small town, but a great destination for vacationers. Which makes a great place to live and enjoy all of the attractions that brings the visitors. The weather is mild and people are friendly

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Wonderful to look at but.... - 8/30/2006

Monterey is one of the most beautiful places I know of. It has tons of recreation opportunities along with the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium but....Monterey is also one of the most expensive places around to live in and the salaries for most jobs don't come close to measuring up to the cost of living. It is not for lower income or even middle income households. If you are considering relocating to Monterey, be careful.

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The Secret Life of the Central Coast... - 6/15/2006

... happens in September-November and March-June. That's when the sun shines (I never understood the line in "Lady Is a Tramp" -- "Hate California, it's cold and it's damp" -- until I experienced June gloom on this coast). The tourists have mostly gone home, except the savvy ones, and the locals come out with theater, concerts, dining discounts on Fisherman's Wharf and laid-back cultural events like Christmas in the Adobes and the First Night Monterey. If you want to come join in the year-round fun (including fog on your 4th of July bbq), consider living in Seaside, Marina or certain parts of Salinas. East Salinas is pretty rough, very gang-oriented, but Oldtown is being spruced up daily. Seaside ditto. Marina was once part and parcel of Fort Ord, and does have lots of decent apartments, passable if pricey housing, and some new development. Expect to drop $400K+ for a decent house in any of those towns, and over $500K in Monterey or Pacific Grove. Still, the coastal recreation and scenery is brilliant, the dining excellent and not wildly overpriced, and there's plenty of cultural goings on. The Naval PostGraduate School and Defense Languages Institute keep lots of young/intellectual life in the place. Mostly I liked it; if my spouse hadn't lost his job and our mortgage killed us, we'd still be there.

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