Moving to San Diego: How to Enjoy Your New Town and Get There Stress Free

Check out some of San Diego’s top attractions while learning about the costs of living and unique spots to live.

Moving to San Diego

This article is written by a San Diego lover. Get your taco recommendations while learning about the best spots for everything locally. Read on to learn a little more about the costs of moving to San Diego and the best spots around to enjoy your time.


Moving to San Diego is Fun in the Sun

Moving to San Diego is a thrilling opportunity! It is one of the best places in the USA (okay maybe we are a tad biased…) It is known for its beautiful beaches, diverse culture made up of people from around the world, and year-round perfect not too hot yet not too cold weather.

San Diego offers a laid back lifestyle and is perfect for students or retirees alike. Here's a fun guide to help you settle into your new city:


Can You Afford Moving to San Diego

As always it is important to assess your real financial situation when planning to move to a new city with new costs and expenses. San Diego offers a very high quality of life, but it comes with a higher cost of living built in.

Housing is the largest expense, followed by transportation and groceries. However, the city's beautiful beaches, outdoor lifestyle, and vibrant cultural scene with restaurants galore make it a perfect place to live.

  • Sales Tax is 7.75% here.
  • Income tax works on a progressive scale here.
  • Budget $300-500 per person for local groceries (excluding all the speciality organic and vegan stores)
  • 1-Bedroom Apartment costs about $2,200 to $3,000 per month in rent in central areas like the Downtown or La Jolla.
  • 2-Bedroom Apartment costs $3,000 to $4,500 per month in rent, depending on location and styles
  • Buying a small home in San Diego will start at around one million dollars.

Unique Neighborhoods to Move To

Anywhere you move in San Diego will be great, but if you want to consider moving to the trendy neighborhoods in San Diego then read on:

  • North Park: Known for its hipster vibe, craft breweries, and trendy boutiques. For the post-college age group, this is a hot spot to settle down.
  • Little Italy: Offers a mix of Italian restaurants, gelato shops, and lively piazzas. This area sees many tourists, but locals rave about the community feel.
  • Coronado: A perfect little island community with beautiful beaches and historic hotels. This is great for those who work in the tourist industry.

Now Let's Talk Fun

1. Beaches Galore

The Best and Most Iconic Beaches:

  • La Jolla Cove: Famous for its sea caves and friendly seals. Perfect for kayaking or snorkeling or just a day out with the kids chasing seals on the sand.
  • Mission Beach: Offers a classic Southern California vibe with a perfect boardwalk, amusement park, and volleyball courts. Lots of great restaurants on the beach can be found here. 
  • Pacific Beach: Popular with UCSD college students and young professionals. Except many surf shops, casual dining, and beach bonfires. This is a great beach to hit the waves with your longboard.

2. Foodie Adventures

Must-Try Eats:

  • Tacos: San Diego is known for its fantastic taco scene due to its proximity to Mexico. Check out Lucha Libre Taco Shop for unique taco options. This is a spot that cannot be missed.
  • Seafood: Try the Point Loma Seafoods for fresh catches of the day or Café 21 for creative seafood on the more expensive side.
  • Craft Beer: San Diego is a craft beer lover’s dream. Visit Stone Brewing for some local brews. Try their lager- trust me!
  • Food Festivals: Look out for food festivals like San Diego Restaurant Week and the Gaslamp Taste and Tacos Festival for culinary fun. San Diego has a mix of restaurants from all over the world thanks to the diverse population but the Latino culture shines through especially strong.

3. Outdoor Adventures

Hiking:

  • Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: Offers stunning ocean views and unique desert landscapes mixed together with simple trails at a level fit for the whole family.
  • Cowles Mountain: A challenging hike with a panoramic view of the city at the summit. Make sure you are in share enough before attempting this one.

Parks:

  • Balboa Park: Explore the many gardens, flower areas, museums, and the famous San Diego Zoo. Balboa is a huge park that has multiple attractions inside.
  • Sunset Cliffs Natural Park: Ideal for that picture-perfect San Diego sunset and coastal views with a craft beer in hand.

4. Cultural Experiences

  • San Diego Zoo: One of the best zoos in the world, home to pandas, koalas, and a wide range of animals. They treat their animals with respect and intake mistreated animals from around the world. This is a must with young children.
  • USS Midway Museum: Tour the historic aircraft carrier and learn about the naval history of the USA.
  • Museum of Contemporary Art: Located in La Jolla, it offers exhibits that swap out monthly and beautiful ocean views. Fun for the whole family.
  • Comic-Con International: A nerds delight of comics comes to life.
  • San Diego Pride: A special experience for the gay community as well as the greater San Diego population that shows support.
  • San Diego International Film Festival: A must see for the latest films and soon to be Hollywood stars.

5. Hidden Gems

Fun Local Spots:

  • The Cave Store: Located in La Jolla, this spot offers tours through a hidden sea cave. Take a tour with a local guide to learn fun facts about the natural phenomenon.
  • The Magic Carpet Ride: A unique attraction at Balboa Park, offering a ride through a historical area with a lesson built in.
  • Black’s Beach: Known for its seclusion and natural beauty. The name gives it away. 
  • Secret Swings: Located in the La Jolla Hills area, they offer a hidden spot for a fun swing with a view. Get your Instagram ready for the perfect photo.

6. Relaxation

Post move your body will need a little extra TLC. Read on to find out where to head:

  • The Spa at Torrey Pines: Enjoy luxury spa treatments with a view of the golf course and ocean. This is one of the top rated spas so book ahead for your moving day.
  • Serenity Spa: Located in the heart of the city, offering a range of relaxing treatments. Another fan favorite.

Yoga Studios: To get your body back in shape after eating out all week long.

  • CorePower Yoga: Offers a variety of classes from hot yoga to sculpting. Get ready to shape that booty.
  • Yoga Six: Provides a range of yoga styles to suit different levels. Known for it’s great teachers.

7. Getting Around

  • Public Transit: Utilize the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System for buses and trolley services. The Coaster commuter train connects to North County. San Diego has good public transit but you will likely still need a car.
  • Bike: San Diego is bike-friendly, with dedicated lanes and paths. Rent a bike or simply pick one up at Walmart and hit the roads.
  • Car: Traffic can be heavy in certain areas. Consider using carpool lanes and check parking options in advance, especially downtown. A car is needed when living outside Downtown.

San Diego Sunny Vibes

San Diego offers a whole incredible range of activities and experiences for everyone at every age. Whether you’re loving the outdoors, heading in for a surf, indulging in delicious food or hitting up the taco stand for the seventh time, or exploring cultural attractions, there’s always something fun to do. Welcome to San Diego! iMoving would be proud to get you there stress free so you can get off and on your way to your pre-booked massage.


Frequently Asked Questions in San Diego

Every time you finish packing up another box or room, take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments. Acknowledging the small milestones helps you reach the bigger ones.

This will keep you motivated and boost family morale. Finishing up packing a room and cleaning it out is a bigger task than usual. Reward yourself.

When you plan your move date, book assistance from your friends, family, and the younger generation ahead of time, you are preparing for success.

I highly recommend knowing a list of dates that works best for your close family members who have agreed to help with the move so that you can find a mover that can work around these time and date limitations.

Ask them what they really need. It could be a few hours where you take the kids off their hands so they can pack up the house in peace or even go out for a date night, or it could be a helping hand at home with the actual packing that they need. Ask them directly and don’t take no for an answer.

Moving really does tend to require lots of tape, cartons, and bubble wrap, but this doesn’t have to be an environmental nightmare. Where you can, replace bubble wrap with towels and sheets.

Replace tape with ties (but not too much), and see how you can repurpose all these items later on. If you wrap things in your mom’s towels, that's one less towel you will have to buy for your new place! 

Just as stated in our red flags, the worst thing would be your mover bailing on you the morning of your move. It happens all the time in the industry. Booking a scammer is the worst thing that can happen.

They can take a huge deposit up front and then just never show up or give a lame excuse and not answer your calls. This can be avoided by only booking a tried and trusted moving vendor from our marketplace and ignoring all the scammers online. 


Rachel Kaplan

Rachel has spent the last few years writing for moving companies while actually moving across the globe. After many years of moving between many states in the US, she moved abroad to try the remote work life. She’s a pro at moving all her things with her dog and hundreds of plants. Thankfully she’s a minimalist so moves aren’t too much of an issue.

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