Moving to California? Pack Shades, Quake Kit, $5 Gas, 405 Zen
Last Modified: January 1, 2026
Are you tired of reading California moving guides that read less like travel writing and more like census-stuffed geography textbooks with census zero personality? Life in California can't be summed up with average weather charts (insider scoop: microclimates meet marine layer) or simple demographic stats (since they'd obviously miss the nuance of storing earthquake kits next to surfboards). If you love sunrise hikes above the fog, local produce that tastes like sunshine, or road trips that jump from redwoods to desert, the Golden State might just be calling you home. Our playful and witty moving guide will prepare you for the good (like beach mornings in April and peaches in July) and the bad (stop and go traffic that turns your podcast queue into a PhD) so you'll actually know what it's REALLY like to live, work, and play in California.
Snappy Summary: California offers world class jobs, global culture, and outdoor access, but expect very high housing costs, taxes, traffic, wildfire smoke, drought risk, and some earthquake jitters. People still move for the sunshine, diversity, and the chance to build something big. (Apple, Trader Joe’s, and Mattel all started here).
Hey, I'm Jessica
I’m a born-and-raised Angeleno who has spent 30 years bouncing between East LA, the Westside, and the Valley—usually with a trunk full of boxes and a strong opinion about neighborhoods. I moved eight times between 2013 and 2023 and genuinely love it, especially the decluttering part and the chance to reinvent myself with each new move. I'm a former teacher of eight years and I’ve taught everyone from pre-K kids learning their ABCs to high schoolers stressing over college essays. I love California for the beaches, sunshine, hidden lakes, and hikes that feel like they belong in another state entirely. My guilty pleasure is the Custard Front Drive donut from Donut Friend. I road trip whenever possible and I’m slowly working through a bucket list of every national park. I live with two bonded cats, Marty the black cat and Jelly the tabby. At Snappy Scout, I edit California guides with deep local instincts built over decades of real CA living.
Jessica MontesCalifornia Local ExpertThe Inside Scoop on California Cities
Major Cities In A Nutshell
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is perfect for: ambition, sunbathing, reinvention
Best known for: entertainment grind and freeway philosophy
If Los Angeles were a person, it'd be: influencer producer with a yoga mat and Prius
Move here if you want: career moves, mild seasons, gigantic suburbs, pizza at midnight
Locals swear by: league softball and late night taco trucks
Housing vibe: Spanish bungalows, stucco apartments, glassy condos
Be prepared for: driving an hour to get anywhere
Local fashion forecast: athleisure, denim, sneakers, maybe a leather jacket
San Francisco
San Francisco, perfect for: fog lovers with ridiculous rent tolerance
Well known for: tech paychecks and brunch debates
San Francisco in human form is: hoodie billionaires quoting Kerouac
Locals live here because: walkability, career pivots, car free smugness, urban beauty
Locals know best: Muni gossip and corner store burritos
Your housing options here are: Victorian flats, micro apartments, backyard ADUs
Be prepared for: gloomy moods and rent vertigo
What you'll wear most often: Patagonia fleece over a vintage band tee
San Diego
San Diego: chill professionals who surf before standups
Best known for: biotech work and sunlit commutes
City as a personality: retired lifeguard turned engineer
Locals live here because: more space, less chaos, easy parking, ocean access
Locals swear by: fish taco Tuesdays and Padres heartbreak therapy
Your housing options here are: beach cottages, townhomes, suburban sprawl
The downsides are: marine layer, early nights, limited transit
The dress code here is: flip flops and logo hoodies
San Jose
San Jose is perfect for: engineers who secretly love suburban calm
Best known for: stock options and quiet suburbs
If San Jose were a person, it'd be: multitasking parent with a standing desk habit
Weekends look like: farmers markets and Home Depot runs
Move here for: big paychecks, top schools, mellow streets
Nothing's more San Jose than: youth soccer and boba runs
Home sweet home in San Jose is like: ranch houses, townhomes, new ADUs
The downsides are: stupefying prices and 101 traffic
What you'll wear most often: company hoodie and Allbirds
Sacramento
Sacramento, perfect for: people trading Bay rent for trees
Well known for: state jobs and farm dinners
City as a personality: practical policy wonk with tomato garden
Locals live here because: affordability, space, you can drive to Tahoe on the weekend
Locals know best: riverside bike trails and backyard bocce
Your housing options here are: craftsman bungalows and leafy suburbs
Be prepared for: pollen, relentless summer scorch, and sleepy (almost nonexistent) nightlife
The dress code here is: state badge lanyard and flannels
Berkeley
Berkeley is perfect for: families who discuss compost at dinner
Best known for: activism, academia, and parking drama
Berkeley in human form is: bookish rebel wearing Birkenstocks in rain
Move here if you want: bikeable streets, thoughtful neighbors, quirky yard libraries
Locals swear by: Tuesday farmers market and Cheese Board slices
Home sweet home in Berkeley is like: brown shingled homes and rent controlled secrets
Be prepared for: brutal parking, smug bike bells, aging rentals
Local fashion forecast: Patagonia vest over thrifted graphic tee and a canvas tote
Fresno
Fresno: spacious living and backyard fruit trees
Well known for: agriculture muscle and mountain gateways
If Fresno were a person, it'd be: friendly coach with giant cooler
Move here for: serious affordability, wide open commutes, slower pace
Locals know best: peach stands, Grizzlies games, backyard carne asada
Your housing options here are: ranch homes, new builds, monster yards
Be prepared for: summer heat like dryer exhaust and a car-first layout
What you'll wear most often: work boots, ball caps, cooler by noon
Eat Like a Local
You can start the morning with an iced oat latte, grab an double-double with animal style fries (cheese, onions, and special sauce) from In-and-Out for lunch, and end with street dogs after a show. Also know as danger dogs, these bun-wrapped meals are topped with grilled onions and bell peppers. You can find the vendors outside of clubs/ bars on the weekends or by the dozens in concert parking lots. Why waste time driving when dinner is right in front of you?
Jessica MontesCalifornia Local Expert
Fun Facts
Fun Facts You Might Not Have Known About California
Think you really know California? It's a state with coastal redwoods that could photobomb the moon, In-N-Out burgers that you'll have to devour to appreciate (and wait 45 minutes for), and avocados that are worshiped like green gold. Let's run through the facts, stats, and seismic gossip that showcase what makes California's kale smoothie glazed fever dream irresistible.
- Common nicknames for California: The Golden State; Cali
- Local reality check: Sure, it’s a beach paradise, but there’s also fog, fires, earthquakes, high prices, snow capped Sierras.
- You're most likely moving from: New York, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and abroad.
- Strangely large concentration of: Organic farmers markets, tech unicorns, In-N-Out lines, kombucha breweries.
- Music scene: LA pop studios, Bay Area hip hop, Bakersfield sound, SoCal punk, Coachella.
- You'll have to see it to believe it: Yosemite's Horsetail Fall glowing like fire each February during sunset.
- Unique geography: Pacific Coast, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, Mojave Desert, redwood giants, active faults.
- California is home to: Silicon Valley, Hollywood, Disneyland, Napa vineyards, Yosemite, Stanford and UC campuses.
- Well known for its: Carne asada tacos, tech innovation, national parks, sunshine, film industry, traffic, agricultural powerhouse.
- Fun history fact: Gold discovered at Sutter's Mill in 1848 sparked the Gold Rush.
- Celebrity sightings: Hollywood regulars at Erewhon, Lakers courtside cameos, tech billionaires at Philz in Palo Alto.
- Noteworthy census stat: Most populous state, over 39 million residents (12.5 million just in LA’s metro area).
- Most interesting sub-culture within California: Vanlife on Highway 1, Inland Empire car meets, Bay Area burner artists.
- Population: 1st by population, 3rd by land size
- California is roughly the same geographic size as: Japan
Locals Know Best
Don’t sleep on the park and ride shuttles! They are available for concert venues and theme parks and have flexible schedules. You won’t have to worry about paying for inflated parking or walking half a mile to get to the entrance (and then back to your car at night). They are affordable and so convenient.
Jessica MontesCalifornia Local ExpertMost Likely Personalities to Love (or Hate) California
Is California right for me? If you're a surfer dude, tech bro, or foodie, you'll surf the Pacific, ship apps, crush tacos from LA to SF. If you're a cowboy, Wall Street exec, or homesteader, you'll miss ranch gates between Silicon Valley Teslas and trail closures.
Personality Fit Guide
| Personality | % | Recommended Cities | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfer Dude | 98% | Huntington Beach, Santa Cruz, Malibu | Huntington Pier mornings, Malibu points, Santa Cruz Boardwalk vibes |
| Tech Bro | 96% | San Jose, Palo Alto, San Francisco | Stanford spillover, SoMa meetups, Apple Park glow |
| Foodie | 95% | Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland | Ferry Building bites, Kogi truck nostalgia, Bestia reservations |
| Adventure Junkie | 94% | Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Joshua Tree | Half Dome dreams, Tahoe powder, Joshua Tree bouldering |
| Craft Beer Fan | 92% | San Diego, Santa Rosa, Chico | Stone pours, Pliny hype, Sierra Nevada tours |
| Hipster | 91% | Silver Lake, Echo Park, Oakland Temescal | The Broad selfies, Amoeba vinyl, Temescal alley toasts |
| Yoga Instructor | 90% | Venice, Encinitas, Santa Monica | YogaWorks roots, Self Realization gardens, beach sun salutations |
| Beach Bum | 89% | Santa Monica, Laguna Beach, Santa Barbara | Santa Monica Pier sunsets, PCH cruising, sleepy Santa Barbara shoreline hideaways |
| Coffee Snob | 88% | San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara | Blue Bottle rituals, Verve roasts, Go Get Em Tiger |
| Farmer's Market Regular | 87% | Santa Monica, Berkeley, Davis | Ferry Plaza envy, Santa Monica stalls, UC Davis peaches |
| College Student | 86% | Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego | Cal rallies, Bruin spirit week, Triton beaches |
| Vintage Thrifter | 84% | Melrose, Haight-Ashbury, Long Beach Retro Row | Rose Bowl Flea scoops, Crossroads hunts, Wasteland gold |
| Dog Momma | 83% | San Diego, Oakland, Sacramento | Fort Funston fetches, Balboa Park strolls, pet-friendly patios everywhere |
| CrossFit Regular | 81% | San Diego, Irvine, Sacramento | Games regionals, Miramar boxes, OC Throwdown vibes |
| Binge Shopper | 79% | South Coast Plaza, Rodeo Drive, Valley Fair | Rodeo struts, South Coast Plaza splurges, Valley Fair’s quiet luxury |
| DIYer | 77% | Sacramento, Riverside, Fresno | Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea finds fuel artsy weekend projects |
| PTA President | 75% | Irvine, Palo Alto, Danville | Stanford fields games, Irvine test scores, Danville bake sales |
| Retired Snowbird | 73% | Palm Springs, La Quinta, San Diego | Palm Springs pools, Torrey Pines walks, SoCal’s gentle winters |
| Hardcore Gamer | 71% | Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego | Blizzard HQ, E3 legacy, Comic Con marathons |
| Cozy Minimalist | 69% | San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose | Tiny SF studios, Muji runs, Apple Store aesthetics |
| Retired Military | 63% | San Diego, Oceanside, Lemoore | Naval Base San Diego support, Camp Pendleton community |
| Garden Club Lifetime Member | 59% | Pasadena, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Santa Rosa | Huntington Library blooms, Filoli tours, Luther Burbank roses |
| Stay at Home Mom | 56% | Folsom, Irvine, Carlsbad | Great Park playgrounds, Legoland weekends, suburban swim meets |
| Wall Street Exec | 38% | San Francisco | SF finance exists, but no Midtown power lunches or NYSE buzz |
| Cowboy | 35% | Bakersfield, Salinas | Rodeo at Salinas works, but Hollywood loves sneakers more |
| Homesteader | 33% | Redding, Yreka | NorCal acreage exists, but regulations and wildfire season complicate plans. |
What Makes California Feel Like Home
I adore the smell of pine when I’m camping away from the city. It’s a reminder that even with all the traffic, commotion, overcrowding, pollution, and noise, there are places for stillness and quiet reflection. Before I unload the car and set up at the campsite, I take a few minutes to fill my lungs with the fresh air.
Jessica MontesCalifornia Local Expert
Things To Do
Fun Things to Do Around California
Curious about what you'll do when you live in California? If you like the idea of surfing along iconic breaks, spending time hiking among ancient redwoods, and checking out murals in arts districts, California is calling your name! This list of fun things to do will take you from Pacific sunsets to Sierra summits and everything in between! It’ll give you a vivid sampling of California's landscapes, culture, and innovation.
- This is the iconic road trip to take: Drive Big Sur's Highway 1 from Monterey to San Simeon
- This is the scenic ride for you: San Francisco, cycle Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, ferry back
- Go outside & hike: Hike Yosemite's Mist Trail past Vernal and Nevada Falls
- Spend time on the water cooling off: Kayak Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay from South Lake Tahoe marinas
- This is what locals do on the weekends: Los Angeles is bento boxes at Grand Central Market, golden hour selfies at Griffith
- For the Sports Fans: Catch a Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium in Echo Park
- When you're tired of crowds and need to get away: Escape to Channel Islands National Park from Ventura Harbor for solitude and backcountry camping
- Stargaze in desolate dark nights: Where to stargaze? Death Valley's Mesquite Flat Dunes in eastern California
- Underground adventure: Crawl lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument near Tulelake
- Just when you think you've seen it all, this roadside oddity will leave you in awe and confusion: Pose with Cabazon Dinosaurs off I-10 near Palm Springs
Hidden Gem Spotlight
The South Coast Botanic Garden is gorgeous, albeit a bit of a drive from LA. They have dog walking hours, a butterfly pavilion, and after-hours immersive experiences like Astra Lumina. If you can snag them, SCBG offers free admission tickets every third Tuesday of the month. These go live on the first of each month, so keep your alarms ready.
Jessica MontesCalifornia Local ExpertTaxes, Politics & People
The Essential California Trifecta
State Income Tax: Progressive 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% mental health surcharge over $1M
Property Taxes: Prop 13 around 1% base, bigger add ons in LA and SF, lower inland
California politics are: Solidly blue statewide, coastal cities are progressive, inland valleys and Sierras lean conservative
Californians are: Laid back yet hustling, diverse, outdoorsy, friendly, occasionally impatient behind the wheel
The religious breakdown is: No majority, many unaffiliated, big Catholic share, notable Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh
Weather
California Weather: All the Facts, None of the Stats
Is it going to fog, flood, or maybe something worse? The summers are blistering inland with highs reaching over 100, expect hoodie weather by beaches, and pack a jacket for the winter rain trains and Sierra powder. Here's what else is going on around California that will impact the time you spend outside.
- Summer temps be like: microclimate roulette wheel (June gloom hugs the coast, blast furnace rules the Central Valley)
- Winter lows are: dress in layers, call it winter (Bay gets nippy, Sierras turns icebox, desert nights bite)
- The humidity makes me: argue with the marine layer
- Unique weather patterns: Santa Ana winds, atmospheric rivers, Tule fog in the Valley, El Nino mood swings, wildfire season, a city block can change seasons
- Local weather fashion tip: puffer vest over board shorts and sandals
- Bugs be like: Sierra mosquitoes with PhDs, wine country yellowjackets, Central Valley gnats that draft behind your sunglasses, kitchen invader sugar ants
- You're stuck indoors again today because: atmospheric river turned your street into a creek
- Green thumb enthusiasts love: backyard citrus, smug succulents, tomatoes that taste like victory, native poppies after real rain, raised beds to outsmart gophers
- Your friend with allergies is always saying: the super bloom is my super doom
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in California
I love apple picking in Fall in Oakglen. Most farms make it a whole, family-friendly event where you can poke through corn mazes, ride tractors, and make your own cider. You’ll try apple varieties you’ve never heard of that have the perfect crunch.
Jessica MontesCalifornia Local Expert