Reviews & Comments
San Diego, CA
Choosing a Neighborhood in San Diego -
4/13/2011Cost of living in San Diego, as throughout California, is markedly higher than much of the nation. It is important to note the impact neighborhood has on cost. For instance, in a recent move from Mira Mesa to Carmel Valley, we expected the increased real estate costs, but continue to be amazed at the difference in prices for food, dry cleaning, gasoline, eating out, parking, childcare, and pretty much everything else we tend to buy locally. These increases really add up. We factored in the real estate, but not all the other costs.
A further differentiator has been availability of many items and services. Probably because the real estate costs are higher, fewer consumer businesses such as restaurants and major retail chains open in Carmel Valley. Thus, in addition to paying more, we have fewer choices. This results in us either paying too much for something we don't really even want or spending the time and money to drive to either Solana Beach, Encinitas, La Jolla, or back to Mira Mesa.
We know "the schools are good", but after comparing the rankings in Mira Mesa (9s and 10s in most cases for elementary), we are wondering if the schools really are appreciably better....we could afford a lot of tutors for what we pay to live here.