Moving from NY to California...

skip the car & get a motorcycle. you'll save a lot of time, whipping in & out of traffic, which is horrendous.

Quote from financechick : skip the car & get a motorcycle. you'll save a lot of time, whipping in & out of traffic, which is horrendous.

Motorcycle isn't really practical for me (or my circumstances), but I'd definitely do it if things were different!

Quote from financechick : skip the car & get a motorcycle. you'll save a lot of time, whipping in & out of traffic, which is horrendous.

Which is more than lost when you're laid up in a hospital bed because we CA drivers don't admittedly look out for them

I once had a guy on a bike fly across the hood of my car. Funny thing though was that I was turning right and in the right hand lane for atleast 15-20 seconds (not moving because of traffic) before he hit me. Thankfully his tire hit my wheel and not the car and there wasn't any damage. But if ya didn't see how the whole thing went down you would have thought I took the guy out!

I'd suggest the OP provides the area in which he's going to move as CA is kind of a large state. Rents in Compton are for example far less than San Francisco...

Quote from LivninSC : I'd suggest the OP provides the area in which he's going to move as CA is kind of a large state.

Good point -- sorry I omitted that before!

Would be moving to LA. I assume live in Glendale, Echo Park, Silverlake...something along those lines.

Quote from impact1400 : Good point -- sorry I omitted that before! Would be moving to LA. I assume live in Glendale, Echo Park, Silverlake...something along those lines.

You will want a car if you are in SoCal. If you don't have one you're going to have a real hard time getting around.

If you get a motorcycle. Enjoy dying in about 2 months. I have seen so many close calls as those assholes whip through rush hour traffic like crazy. Like they will just get so close to knicking people's windows.

Not that I'm saying Cali bikers are bad or anything but you have to be ballsy to drive one here.

You will want a car. Practically mandatory. You will see how much our public transport system sucks very quickly.

Sales tax are going to be around 8-9%. Depending on county. As high as 10.25% in one county.

Gas prices are the highest here. We require cars, but also California institutes some sort of clean emissions chemical and tax into our gasoline to have cleaner air, which also makes our gas the most expensive in the country. However, you should have seen LA before this was done. You could cut a hole through the haze. It was pretty terrible. Not like China terrible where you can't even see the sun, but it was pretty noticeable once you left the city seeing how much of your view was clouded. It is so much better now.

You're from New York so you shouldn't have a problem with diversity. But you'll see more Spanish around than usual. Not just in the people, but on billboards and phone menus etc. Depends on your area quite honestly. It's more apparent in some than others.

Also since you're in the LA general area also a lot more Asians. Again, depends on the area but if it's a more upper class area, you'll see more Asian people, middle and lower class areas you'll see more Hispanics. This isn't a science, but a generalization and in no way depicts any sort of racism, but you'll notice it when you roam around. Most are very friendly and you'll probably make some good friends with the locals.

Again since you're from New York, the higher cost of living here should not be any surprise for you. It will either be around the same or slightly less or a little higher. I'm not sure about the Glendale area but I'm going to say it''s probably a little more expensive.

Can't think of much else. Because you are from New York I don't expect any prices to be much of any shock except maybe gas.

Be clean here. Recycle when you can. Don't pollute our oceans. The beaches are for everyone so don't go dumping trash everywhere. Go to Texas if you want to do that.

We're also more laid back here. You'll find out why if you stay here long enough and know the right people. But overall we're welcoming.

Quote from dzap : If you get a motorcycle. Enjoy dying in about 2 months. I have seen so many close calls as those assholes whip through rush hour traffic like crazy. Like they will just get so close to knicking people's windows. Not that I'm saying Cali bikers are bad or anything but you have to be ballsy to drive one here. You will want a car. Practically mandatory. You will see how much our public transport system sucks very quickly. Sales tax are going to be around 8-9%. Depending on county. As high as 10.25% in one county. Gas prices are the highest here. We require cars, but also California institutes some sort of clean emissions chemical and tax into our gasoline to have cleaner air, which also makes our gas the most expensive in the country. However, you should have seen LA before this was done. You could cut a hole through the haze. It was pretty terrible. Not like China terrible where you can't even see the sun, but it was pretty noticeable once you left the city seeing how much of your view was clouded. It is so much better now. You're from New York so you shouldn't have a problem with diversity. But you'll see more Spanish around than usual. Not just in the people, but on billboards and phone menus etc. Depends on your area quite honestly. It's more apparent in some than others. Also since you're in the LA general area also a lot more Asians. Again, depends on the area but if it's a more upper class area, you'll see more Asian people, middle and lower class areas you'll see more Hispanics. This isn't a science, but a generalization and in no way depicts any sort of racism, but you'll notice it when you roam around. Most are very friendly and you'll probably make some good friends with the locals. Again since you're from New York, the higher cost of living here should not be any surprise for you. It will either be around the same or slightly less or a little higher. I'm not sure about the Glendale area but I'm going to say it''s probably a little more expensive. Can't think of much else. Because you are from New York I don't expect any prices to be much of any shock except maybe gas. Be clean here. Recycle when you can. Don't pollute our oceans. The beaches are for everyone so don't go dumping trash everywhere. Go to Texas if you want to do that. We're also more laid back here. You'll find out why if you stay here long enough and know the right people. But overall we're welcoming.

Thanks for your input.

Just to clarify: a motorcycle has never been and will never be in the equation for me. Obviously a car is a must -- the question is what would the best approach be in terms of efficiency when it comes to gas mileage (diesel vs. gas??), low maintenance costs, safety/reliability, etc. Like I said, this would be my first car before and it will be a huge expense with the gas prices and insurance premiums (24 years old).

Regarding cost of living, I know certain things are more expensive and certain things are cheaper. In terms of rent, you certainly get more bang for your buck in the areas I mentioned vs. most of Manhattan. But, of course, this can be offset by transportation costs. Chipotle seems to be cheaper in California, lol...

Food = Costco and other options like that. (Not something I use in NY)

On another note, what is the latest with CA tax and Amazon purchases? I know there is legislation in the works to ensure that all state taxes are charged accordingly at time of purchase.

I've never been a gym person but just thinking out loud I would probably want to get a membership somewhere. Hopefully at a gym with lots of locations that allows you to visit use the facilities at any one of them.

The list continues to grow...

One of the things at the moment is Amazon isn't charging taxes yet in California so that is great news. Now something to help you which part of CA are you going to be located at? Reason it all depends I live in a small town very calm nice peaceful place nothing compared to Los Angeles or San Diego. Another thing to really keep in mind learn the traffic laws here in CA they are a pain in the ass so many things to obey from the traffic laws.

The traffic sucks and gas is about $4.49!! Nicer weather than NY tho
and like Gpister said "Another thing to really keep in mind learn the traffic laws here in CA they are a pain in the ass so many things to obey from the traffic laws."

Turn and run far far away. I would look at ANY other oportunity rather than moving to Kalifornia. This place is the worst (I can't wait to get out). Traffic sucks, taxes suck, the laws suck, gun laws suck, everything costs too much, etc. Can't wait to get back up north to Idaho where things are normal.

Anyways, make sure you get a california drivers license and register your car within 10 days of moving here. I got pulled over after living here 2 weeks cause I had Idaho plates. It was a nice fat $300 ticket for not being registered in California. That's a nice "welcome to California"...pretty typical of how things are around here...

Do you have a job in NY? Does your SO have something lined up in CA? As you said you didn't have any job prospects, it may be wise for you to stay in NY with your current job (if you have one). Long distance relationships suck, but it's probably much better than you leaving a current job only to find nothing in CA....

Quote from sab7622 : and like Gpister said "Another thing to really keep in mind learn the traffic laws here in CA they are a pain in the ass so many things to obey from the traffic laws."

WTF are you guys talking about? Like stopping at a stop sign, not exceeding the speed limit, going 25 mph in a school zone, breaking when the light is yellow and you're not gonna make it, etc..

It's not all Mad Max on the east coast turnpike ya know...

Quote from LivninSC : WTF are you guys talking about? Like stopping at a stop sign, not exceeding the speed limit, going 25 mph in a school zone, breaking when the light is yellow and you're not gonna make it, etc.. It's not all Mad Max on the east coast turnpike ya know...

I think he's getting at the point that the cops in this state don't hesitate at all to fine you on the spot. There's no such thing as warnings around here. Because this state is so desperate for money...