So, you’re curious about living in California? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of California.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in California matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether California is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in California
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether California is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in California:
- The weather in California is perfect for outdoor activities all year round.
- California has some of the best cities and towns to live in, as well as great beaches that are easy to access from many places.
- There’s plenty of good job opportunities.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in California:
- Living cost varies depending on location, with San Francisco Bay Area prices being prohibitively high for many people while inland areas offer cheaper housing options; however, even inland living can be expensive if you don’t know where to look, and much more expensive than other parts of the country.
- California is often in a state of drought which means water use restrictions and the associated higher prices for goods.
- The West Coast has had an influx of people moving to it, leading to overcrowding in many areas including housing, transportation systems, schools, etc.
Read More: Is California a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in California
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in California? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in California!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in California.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in California:
- Anaheim
- Bakersfield
- Berkeley
- Burbank
- Carlsbad
- Chula Vista
- Costa Mesa
- Fremont
- Fresno
- Glendale
- Huntington Beach
- Irvine
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Oakland
- Oceanside
- Orange
- Palos Verdes Estates
- Pasadena
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Richmond
- Riverside
- Roseville
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Santa Clarita
- Santa Monica
- Santa Rosa
- Simi Valley
- Sunnyvale
- Temecula
- Thousand Oaks
- Torrance
- Ventura
Read More: Best Places to Live in California
Checklist for Moving to California
So now you’re preparing for your big move to California. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to California.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to California:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your California driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to California
- Getting California car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in California and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in California.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for California and your previous home state.
Visit your California Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to California Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about California.
Things to Know About Living in California
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in California, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in California
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
California ranks 48 on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 137.5, meaning it’s a relatively expensive place to live.
Here is how California scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 110.3
- Housing: 192.7
- Utilities: 128.5
- Transportation: 136.1
- Health: 109.5
- Miscellaneous: 111.3
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in California
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to California from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
California’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 7.25%, with an average local rate of 1.43% (the highest local sales tax rate is 2.5%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 8.68%.
Check with the California tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in California
If you own or plan to own real estate in California, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
California ranks 16th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of .76%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the California tax office for the most current tax rates.
California’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to California is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, California ranks 1st for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional and business services
- Manufacturing
- Information
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Wholesale trade
- Finance and insurance
- Retail trade
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Construction
The top employer in California is the University of California.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in California
Our California moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in California is the Golden Gate Bridge.
National Parks that you can visit in California include:
- Channel Islands National Park
- Death Valley National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Redwood National Park
- Sequoia National Park
- Yosemite National Park
National Monuments that you can find in California include:
- Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Cabrillo National Monument
- California Coastal National Monument
- Carrizo Plain National Monument
- Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument
- Castle Mountains National Monument
- César E. Chávez National Monument
- Devils Postpile National Monument
- Fort Ord National Monument
- Giant Sequoia National Monument
- Lava Beds National Monument
- Mojave Trails National Monument
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument
- San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
- Sand to Snow National Monument
- Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
- Tule Lake National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about California
California is the 31st state of the United States that lies in the western region. To its north is Oregon, to its south is Mexico, to its east is Nevada and Arizona, and to its west is the Pacific Ocean.
What is the capital of California?
The capital of California is Sacramento.
Sacramento is located in Sacramento County with a population of 508,529.
What is the population of California?
The population of California based on 2020 US Census data is 39,538,223.
What is the largest city in California?
The largest city in California is Los Angeles.
Los Angeles has a population of 3,997,984, and it is located in Los Angeles County.
What is the size of California?
California is 163,695 square miles, making it the 3rd largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of California?
The state motto of California is: Eureka
What is the state bird of California?
The state bird of California is the California quail.
What is the state flower of California?
The state flower of California is the California poppy.
What is the state tree of California?
The state tree of California is the Coast Redwood.
What is the minimum wage in the state of California?
The minimum wage in California is $13.00 to $14.00 per hour.
What is the median income in California?
The median annual household salary in California is $75,277.