Notifications can be turned off at any time in the browser settings. News & World Report analyzed 150 of the country's most populous metropolitan areas to determine the best places to live and retire. San Diego ranked 105th and 138th respectively, below cities such as Reno, Nevada; Boise, Idaho; and Jacksonville, Florida. Skyline of Downtown San Diego in California, USA at Sunset Known for its beautiful beaches, quality cuisine, numerous parks and great weather, the Southern California Hot Spot is a frequently visited destination for travelers from all over the country.
With more than 7,000 restaurants within the city limits, San Diego is guaranteed to please foodies looking to call this city home. One of my favorite things about living in San Diego is that planning for the weather is rarely a consideration because 95% of the time, it will be great outside. A few miles from the Mexican border, it's no surprise that San Diego has one of the BEST Mexican foods outside of Mexico. I live in San Diego, I travel everywhere on public transport, there is rarely a time when I can't get to where I need to go on buses and trolleybus system and San Diego is constantly building more streetcar lines, the newest due to it opening in a couple of years (Covid-19 caused delays).
There are plenty of garbage spots for Mexican food here, no doubt, but having lived in both Los Angeles and SD, if you find the gems (most of them are closer to the border) they can't even compare. But I'll be the first to admit that there are a handful of drawbacks that sometimes make me question my decision to move to San Diego from time to time. After moving to San Diego, you'll quickly learn that there's always something to do on the weekends, whether it's watching the many live bands that dot the city, meeting at sporting events, participating in beach parties, or impromptu visit an outdoor tavern with friends. Relying on public transportation while living in San Diego means you'll add more than 1 hour to your commute to work.
Time and again, San Diego is on the list for having one of the highest homeless populations in the country. We've lived 6 months in Tempe AZ (I wasn't impressed) and more than 30 years in Houston and we're ready for a change since the kids grow up and move. San Diego is consistently ranked as one of the 10 most expensive cities in the country, so you can bet that living in San Diego won't come cheap. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what the right solution is for homelessness, but I want to be transparent about it to anyone considering moving to San Diego.
So if you're looking forward to moving to San Diego to escape dreary winters and single-digit temperatures, the city won't let you down. I've had a handful of friends come up and mention they're considering moving to San Diego and asking what life is really like in San Diego. Today, I'd like to cover the honest pros and cons of living in San Diego for anyone considering living or moving to San Diego.