San Diego, CA Reviews

The Best Unlivable City - 5/11/2021
I'm third generation San Diegan. Luckily my grandparents amassed enough wealth to pass down and keep the family going. Collectively we own 6 houses here. Five of which are over a million dollars. Unless you inherit or somehow have a significant amount of money to put down, the home buying market is really hard to get into. Don't expect to rent here either and save up a down payment. Rent is just as expensive. So... that leaves you an effing poor person with a million dollar house. Like my friend's parents who live next to NFL players etc (or did till team left), they have a mansion, but can't afford any furniture. They live in literally an empty mansion. SO what are we doing here? My parents bought their first house in the 80s for 80k. Their second for 600k in the 00's. Nice houses in nice neighborhoods. When it came my turn to buy, starting a new family three years ago, half a mil. and its in the ghetto. Last night someone left a trail of blood on my stairs in front yard. Gunshots Read More

Good for young, health conscious people - 4/21/2021
San Diego is a great city for some people. It's a great city for young, active people. It's a good city for people who love the ocean. It's a great city for health and fitness fanatics.

There are yoga classes in the park across the street from me every weekend. The farmers market has the most amazing produce. I'm charmed, on a daily basis, by the hummingbirds and pelicans. The trees and flowers which clearly inspired Dr. Suess make me want to be inspired as well (alas, my writing is limited to work emails).

For most people, it's too expensive. I make a good living but I'll never be able to buy afford a house that I would actually want to live in. What most people don't realize is that most of San Diego is desert. Once you're a couple of miles from the coast, it's hot and dry. I've no desire to live in the desert but can't afford coastal...

The art and culture scene is more in line with a city half the size. Same with sports.Read More

A once-fine city, now rapidly declining - 3/27/2021
I've lived in San Diego for the past 8 years and could run my list of pros/cons endlessly. I have just left the city for the east coast (where I was born and lived for a few years as well). Overall, as others have said, it is a great place, but not for everyone (as is, just about anywhere you can think of).

There seems to be two types of people in San Diego. The ones that have been there since the 60s when they bought their homes for dirt cheap, and the out-of-towners (mostly rich internationals) who are moving in and dramatically upping the real estate costs (La Jolla anyone?).

The weather is so amazing you can see why anyone would want to move there and sit, indefinitely, basking in the blue sky and warmth. This is why I never wanted to leave.

The problem more boils down to sheer communal narcissism passed down from SD's bigger sister, LA. While I have tons of incredible friends in San Diego, most of the down-to-earth ones were from other Read More

Good Vacation - 2/26/2021
I have visited San Diego twice and each time was an adventure, there are many tourist attractions, like Sea World. Shopping centres, and ways to get around like their bus and light rail system, the people aren't as friendly but hey, it's Read More

San Diego - Heaven on Earth - 12/19/2020
Ive lived here since 1994 and still think this is the BEST city in the entire Country.
The reviews here seem to be full of bitter ex-residents who cant afford it or dont understand it. These same people know deep inside their hearts that this is America's Finest City for a reason. I live in Escondido and recently purchased a $480,000 house with no college degree and my wife only working part-time. Every day I take my kids to a different park around the city. Every weekend we explore the coast or up in the mountains. I feel like I am living in heaven on earth - dont listen to these armchair crusaders who don't understand why we pay a "weather Read More

San Diego is a great city if you can afford it! - 10/15/2020
I have lived in San Diego for 10 years now. Something I have noticed on this site is the majority of city reviews are very negative, across the board. So here is my personal view and experience with San Diego, good and bad.

Pros-
The beaches here are beautiful. And there are many to choose from. The water is cold and blue and lovely.

If you like surfing or paddle boarding or water sports in general, its a paradise.

You can rent sail boats here, and for much less money than you would think. Groupon often has deals that include sailing lessons along with the rental.

You can ride horses on the beach here.

You can take a hot air balloon ride over wine country at sunrise just 45 minutes south of here.

There are vineyards and breweries and places to have a proper English tea if you want it.

There are many parks, some with playgrounds, others with small lakes or paths to explore.
Read More

San Diego - Yuck - 10/9/2020
Not what you think. I moved to San Diego in 2019 and left in 2020. Housing is horrible, meaning high priced and lack of. Lots of homelessness but I never left unsafe downtown where I lived. Not any nice housing areas in the area you have to go further north. High taxes and low wages. Dry as can be but the sun is nice and climate is mild. Terrible traffic from border. Wasn’t for me so I cut my losses and left quick. Not the best place to reside in CA. Also job market is weak. Read More

Conservative paradise and nothing more - 8/17/2020
San Diego is a conservative version of San Francisco. There is very little cultural influences at all. No real good food, mostly chain restaurants. Shallow people and phony people everywhere. Most of them too shallow to realize when they were being racist. Then you're left with overtly sensitive types of people if you stand up for someone. There were some genuine friendly people there, but were like me, transplants from the east coast or from Seattle. The natives were an mixed bag of passive aggressive or rude.

Meth addicts and homeless people were everywhere in all areas of the city. Terrible job market made up of mostly retail and restaurant jobs. The housed population were arrogant and aggressive towards the homeless population for no real reason whatsoever. The beaches were cold and required an wetsuit. In fact, it was better not to get in the water if you aren't a good swimmer. The rip tides claim the lives of three people in one summer in the short time that I lived Read More

Before 30 - great ! After that - leave - 1/12/2020
I am a 5th generation Californian . Raised 3 kids here . My combined income about $250k. Reason why I am telling you this is to explain just how prohibitively expensive California has become . San Diego is honestly THE BEST PLACE to be under 30 and just live paycheck to paycheck (making $75k or working 3 jobs ) and doing fun out door things . Great weather . The beach is great . Mission Bay is great . Good cheap food of all ethnicities (Indian , Vietnamese, Mexican , you name it we have it !). But , you will not acquire net worth . You will spend it on rent , going out , and fun . Great do it !!!! Then leave . The politics and taxes of this state are terrible ! It is great to be young and in crowds . It is another to raise kids , both parents work to afford a house , day car, the right school district because San Diego sucks for that except some are good (like Poway for example ) . Got my kids educated in that school district . One is at UCLA law , one is graphics at SDSU , one just Read More

Give your hard earned income to the entitled - 1/11/2020
Lived here on and off since joining the Navy in 1984. Was once the hidden jewel for weather and cost of living and overall quality of life. Weather stayed, Cost of living moved and quaility of life was robbed by the State govt. and overpopulation. Hearing words like "Best non judgementalplace " is a catch word for steal and take from you and give to those who will not work or do not want to work. ANd do not speak up about it or your will be vilified. The State or local govt. will just plain steal it. more and more Taxes, Meth, fentynal and over the border drug trade, accepted crime, outrageous real estate increases, and out of control liberalism has turned this once awesome S.W. enclave into another one of the worst places to live in California!
I retired from the Mil. here and will retire form a fed. govt job here in 2 years and will promptly leave this BROKEN state and sadly, Broken City. Example. Two stolen cars, one home burglary, children assaulted by a homeless all while  Read More