10 Do's and Don'ts of San Diego!
Hello, this is Yuki from the SoCalization marketing department. I'm a third year student at San Diego State University! In my first year, I was taking classes online from Japan due to the coronavirus, so I've been living in San Diego since my sophomore year. It's been a year since I started living in San Diego, and I'd like to introduce you to the good and bad points of San Diego little by little!
table of contents:
Let's start with three of the best things to do in San Diego!
culture
San Diego is home to Balboa Park, America's largest urban cultural park.
The park is home to 15 museums, numerous art galleries, beautiful gardens, the Tony Award-winning Globe Theatre, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
From art galleries to symphonies, live theater to opera, San Diego has a lot to offer. Plus, San Diego has an exploding food scene with over 7,000 restaurants.
Lifestyle
I personally like this one the most! San Diego's coastline stretches over 110 kilometers.
There are many types of beaches on this coast, from family beaches, party beaches, scenic beaches, surf beaches, resort beaches, snorkeling beaches, dog beaches and even nudist beaches.
So your favorite type of beach should be found here.
San Diego also has a very laid back, "no worries" lifestyle.
People show up to business meetings in shorts and boast that they can wear flip flops almost all year round. Thanks to the climate, people seem more relaxed and friendly than in other cities around the world.
People in San Diego are surprisingly healthy. Restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King are everywhere, but there are also plenty of healthy restaurants that most San Diego residents love to eat.
SoCal also has a cheap, healthy and popular In N Out that originated in SoCal. Unlike general burger chains, each store processes and cooks food, so it is much healthier than other chains. Also, there is a secret menu called protein style, and you can change the burger buns to lettuce. Now you can eat a burger without feeling guilty! smile
climate
San Diego is a must-see, especially for those who love the outdoors. Commuting to work and walking in the evenings are nowhere near as inviting. Even long-time residents will never tire of watching the sunset from one of the area's many gorgeous beaches.
San Diego is known for its short, warm summers and long, mild winters. It is neither too hot nor too cold, and temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Even on the hottest days, the thermometer rarely goes above 30 degrees. For those who have migrated from cold climates, this year-round sunny environment should be a wonderful change of pace.
We've covered the culture, lifestyle and climate, but there's so much to do in San Diego.
I personally like going to Belmont Park, Pacific Beach, Coronado Island and Convoy. I've only introduced three good things about San Diego, but unfortunately San Diego isn't all about good things. Living in San Diego, I would like to introduce three inconvenient things and things I don't really like about San Diego.
Cost of living
Probably the biggest downside to making San Diego home is the cost of living. Simply put, it's not cheap. Everything is expensive in San Diego, whether it's eating out, renting a house, or buying.
Average rent:
The average monthly rent in San Diego is said to cost more than $2,000 (approximately ¥290,000 at today's exchange rate).
Average Housing Costs San Diego home prices are on the rise as the number of migrant workers increases, with the median home price of over $600,000 as of 2022.
Gas Prices Gas prices in San Diego are $1 to $1.75 higher than the national average. It's common to pay an average of $4.19 per gallon to fill up with gas.
Now it's even more expensive, averaging about $5.40 per gallon. (1 liter 178 yen)
public transport
With the city's fast and efficient public transportation system, do you think you can manage without a car?
Unfortunately, San Diego's metropolitan transit system may disappoint if you expect major Japanese city standards. . Public transportation, including buses and trolleys, serves only about 570 square miles of the city's more than 4,000 square miles. So only 14% of San Diego has public transportation. To make it easier to understand, 14% is about the size of the six central wards of Tokyo.
If you use public transport, you will have to walk long distances and expect an even longer commute.
Congestion, lack of parking
I introduced that it is very inconvenient without a car in San Diego. Most people own at least one car. Finding a place to park is often a problem in San Diego.
Especially if you live in an apartment or downtown. Parking may not seem like a big deal because it doesn't affect your life or your daily routine, but here are some things to keep in mind:
Time: It takes a long time to find a parking lot, and you have to move around the block many times.
High Fines: High fines for illegally parked cars if you can't find a spot. Parking fines can be as high as $450.
Miscellaneous: Without a garage or dedicated parking space, your vehicle is more susceptible to damage from weather, other vehicles, and vandalism.
Also, traffic congestion is a big problem. It's not as congested as Los Angeles, but I wouldn't recommend driving during rush hour. Sometimes it doesn't move at all when it's congested. Even in places that can be done in 15 minutes, there are times when it takes more than double the time.
These are the pros and cons of San Diego. I think it's only natural that bad things happen everywhere. With that in mind, I fell in love with San Diego. I love San Diego! If you have a chance, please come and visit us.
