Longtime lurker here, Just moved here 14 months ago and Household incomes average around $109,739 in Santa Monica. Rent is about $2,338/month for a decent place. It's a a smaller city city with about 91,535 people. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Is this normal for Santa Monica? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
8 upvotes
9 Replies
mesadude2024
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
39 upvotes
Emmett Murphy
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
38 upvotes
Piper King
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Lakewood area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Colton C.
underrated comment
28 upvotes
Roman Foster
honestly same experience here
26 upvotes
raised_gabriel44
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
21 upvotes
Alice Martinez
Bought a house here in 2022 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
19 upvotes
true_brielle73
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 3 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
7 upvotes
Ethan King
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in consulting. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like seafood.
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