Moving to San Diego

The birthplace of California, San Diego is a city where history meets progress. Passing through Native American, Spanish and Mexican hands before becoming part of the United States, the city’s pioneer spirit can be felt blowing through the palm trees that line its streets and sun-baked beaches. New arrivals moving to San Diego will enjoy its pleasant climate, seemingly endless miles of sandy coastline and small-town atmosphere. 

Living in San Diego as an expat

The city is the economic centre of San Diego County, as well as the border-defying San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area. There are many strong industries that newcomers might find work in, including international trade, IT, tourism, military-related activities and manufacturing. The city has also gained a reputation for its world-class healthcare facilities and cutting-edge biotechnology industry.

With a comprehensive public transport system consisting of buses, trains and trolleys, as well as well-designed highways, new arrivals will have no problem getting around in San Diego. Thanks to its unique geography, spreading from inland valleys to the coast, San Diego offers a wide range of accommodation available to suit just about every taste and budget. This ranges from beachfront mansions and rural estates to first-time-buyer condominiums and bachelor apartments.

Cost of living in San Diego

The cost of living in San Diego may be well below that of its Southern California neighbour, Los Angeles, but it’s still pretty high. It’s above both the California state average and the national average. Fortunately, depending on which industry newcomers work in, salaries are generally high and most San Diegans live comfortably. Housing in outlying suburbs beyond the city limits is affordable for both renters and buyers. As long as residents don’t splurge too much on imported products, eating out and frequenting bars, they should be able to easily navigate the relatively high cost of living.

Families and children in San Diego

San Diego is a great city for children, with many options for public and private schooling, as well as a range of activities and attractions to keep the whole family entertained. This includes famous destinations such as the San Diego Zoo, Legoland California and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. There are also countless hiking trails in the hills around the city and plenty of weekend camping spots. San Diego is also the home of exciting annual events such as the world-famous San Diego Comic-Con International.

Climate in San Diego

Some see San Diego’s climate as one of the best in the world, with nearly year-round summer. Perfect for a city on the coast, it has a semi-arid climate with only slight variation in temperature between the seasons. Occasional heat waves are caused by the hot Santa Ana winds blowing in from the desert, making it significantly hotter, but the temperatures in peak summer, between June and August.

Locals and expats like moving to San Diego are afforded a high quality of life in a family-friendly setting, plus many job opportunities in multiple industries, making it one of the best cities in the USA to call home.