A 2018 review from a family of three
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9/13/2018
My husband and I have lived in Monterey for 7 years. We are self employed business owners. We started the business because wages were too low to sustain us here and we could make more if self employed. We have one daughter age 2.
Housing:
We just recently rented a home in Seaside due to cost in next door Monterey being too high. We pay $2,850 for a 3BR 2BA home with a 2 car garage and washer dryer hookups. Our neighbors have the same setup and pay $3450. In 2016 we left a 2BR 2BA apartment with coin op laundry in Monterey for $2400. It was on the 3rd floor and car parking was far away. A friend recently (2 mos ago) rented a 1BR 1BA cottage with no stove in the kitchen, just a hot plate, tiny fridge, no laundry on site, and street parking for $1600 near downtown Monterey.
Food:
Lots of cheap fresh produce because of location to the farms that feed our whole country! It’s not uncommon to pay $1 for an avocado, $2 for a cantaloupe, and $3 for a pint strawberries when in season. A variety of Mexican markets in neighboring towns where the meat is low priced and you can get tacos for $1.50.
Jobs and pay:
Pretty low for non professionals. Expect $13-$16 per hour for most work. Living on less than $100k/yr is tough unless you houseshare.
Health:
Doctors and specialists are scarce. The local hospital is very very expensive. Example: I had an CT scan there July 2018 and they charged me $10,000. If you qualify for Medi-cal expect to visit the ER for any issue as doctors don’t accept it.
Crime:
Almost non existent. Mostly petty left. Lots of crime among the homeless population but if you’re not hanging out with them you shouldn’t get stabbed.
It’s a beautiful place to live with lots of free activities if you look around. Beaches, hikes, parks, and even free entry to biggest events if you volunteer. A great place to live if you’re active and like it on the chilly side as it hardly gets above 70º here.
Crystalena | Seaside, CA