‘Welcome to the Hotel California, such a lovely place, such a lovely face …’ If this song makes you dream and you are thinking about moving to the United States, and more specifically to California, you probably have many questions in mind.
What are the pros and cons of living in California? What about administrative procedures? Which city should you settle in? How much should you budget for, and what is everyday life like there?
In this guide, we have chosen to offer you a comprehensive and detailed overview of moving to California. You will find everything you need to know about visas, housing, healthcare, work and more. Let’s go!
Living in California: pros and cons
Pros
- A lush region with contrasting landscapes, from sunny beaches to wooded mountains
- A fairly mild climate throughout the year
- Plenty of job opportunities
- California’s major cities are very cosmopolitan, with expat communities and a vibrant cultural mix
- There are lots (and we mean lots) of things to do, whether in the city, on the coast or further afield in nature reserves such as Sequoia National Park.
Cons
- Watch out for traffic jams!
- One of the highest costs of living in the US, especially in San Francisco and Los Angeles
- California is the US state most prone to wildfires
Administrative procedures for living in California
Obtaining the right visa
The first step in moving to California is, of course, obtaining a visa for the United States.
The country offers many types of visas depending on your profile (worker, student, investor, athlete, etc.), divided into two main categories: non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas.
Among the most common are:
- B1 and H-1B visas for employees
- E-1, E-2 and EB-5 visas for investors
- O-1 visa for artists
- L visa for managers of an international company
- F-1 visa for students
As you can see, there are many options available. Feel free to consult the different types of visas on the official US government website to choose the one that best suits your needs: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html
If you are moving to California for a job opportunity, your employer will usually take care of these procedures.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact the U.S. Embassy in your country of residence. If you are a UK citizen, visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in UK. Here is the section dedicated to visas: https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/
Try to obtain a Green Card
You can also try to obtain the famous Green Card, which is the American permanent resident card. There are several options for obtaining it:
- Marry an American citizen
- Be sponsored by a family member who holds the card (parents, spouse, etc.)
- Be hired by an American company that will take care of the necessary procedures
- Invest a significant amount of money in the United States, generally more than 500,000 US dollars (approximately 425,000 euros), in specific areas
- And… try your luck in the lottery! The country grants approximately 50,000 people a residence permit in this way each year.
Finding accommodation in California
The best cities to live in
California is a state with a population of over 39 million. The main cities in the region are generally the most popular with expatriates due to their dynamism:
Los Angeles: many people dream of living in L.A. It is the second largest city in the country, the most populous in California, and best known as the capital of the film industry. The climate is pleasant all year round (around 24°C in summer and 10°C in winter), the lifestyle is relaxed and fairly laid-back, and the job market is thriving.
San Diego: the city rivals Los Angeles in terms of size and relaxed lifestyle. San Diego is known for its dynamic business sectors, which attract many young professionals every year. The median age of residents is one of the lowest in the country, at around 35.
San José: this city is unique in that it is considered the capital of Silicon Valley, a hub for technology companies. It has a rich cultural heritage with historic neighbourhoods that contrast with the modern buildings in other parts of the city.
San Francisco: if you work in IT or new technologies, you will probably be attracted to San Francisco. A cradle of technological innovation, it is home to major companies such as Google, Apple, Tesla and, more recently, OpenAI. But beyond this ‘connected’ aspect, the city offers an ultra-dynamic lifestyle, with lots to do and several residential neighbourhoods such as the chic Nob Hill and the more relaxed Outer Sunset. It is one of the most expensive cities in the United States, just behind New York.
Santa Cruz: known as ‘the city of surfing’, Santa Cruz is less populated than the cities mentioned above. It offers a pleasant living environment, ideal for families. The city’s added bonus is its ‘cyclist-friendly’ nature, with numerous cycle lanes.
Average housing prices
In California, coastal cities have the most expensive housing, particularly Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.
Housing prices vary depending on where you choose to live. To give you an idea of prices, here is a comparison table (in euros):
| Type of housing | Los Angeles | San Diego | San Francisco | Santa Cruz |
| One-bedroom studio in the city centre | €2,500 | €2,500 | €2,800 | €2,200 |
| Three-bedroom apartment in the city centre | €4,700 | €4,300 | €4,600 | €3,900 |
| Purchase price per square metre | €6,200 to €15,000 | €5,200 to €11,000 | €6,000 to €16,000 | €4,600 to €8,700 |
The cost of living in California
In general, it is said that the cost of living in California is nearly 50% higher than the national average.
How much should you budget?
Your monthly expenses will depend on where you plan to live.
In Los Angeles, a single person should expect to spend an average of €3,100 per month. A household of four should budget €7,800 per month.
In Oakland, these budgets are €2,800 per month for a single person and €7,500 per month for a family.
These estimates include all major expenses, such as housing, groceries, healthcare, transportation, education and leisure activities.
If you would like to find out more, check out our guide to the cost of living in the United States.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably?
The average salary in California in the private sector is between 62,000 and 68,000 USD gross per year (52,600 and 57,700 euros), or 5,150 to 5,650 USD gross per month (4,370 to 4,800 euros).
Salaries in California’s major cities are generally the highest, particularly in the information, services, finance and healthcare sectors.
These average incomes are enough for an expatriate to live comfortably in California, but of course, it all depends on their spending habits.
Getting around California
By car
The car is often the number one companion for California residents. Distances are often quite long, making travel by car very convenient. But be prepared for a paradox:
Your inter-city journeys will be very pleasant, with wide motorways and little traffic… while your journeys in the city can be stressful, with peak traffic jams in Los Angeles or San Francisco.
In terms of driving licences, in California, some licences are only valid for 3 months, such as French or international driving licences. After this period, you must obtain a US driving licence.
To do so, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which controls Californian driving licences.
By bus
You can opt for bus travel, especially with the famous Greyhound company, the largest in the United States, and Amtrak. Bus routes provide inter-city connections.
By train
Train travel is also possible thanks to Amtrak’s rail network. If you have several long train journeys to make, we recommend purchasing a California Rail Pass, which allows you to travel on trains for 7 days over a 3-week period for an average price of £159 (€135).
By plane
Finally, you can also travel by plane. Domestic flights are common for inter-city travel or between California and other US states.
Moving to California with your family
Moving to the United States with your children is a choice made by many expatriates. California, like most regions of the United States, offers a multicultural atmosphere, economic stability and an ideal living environment for families.
Residential neighbourhoods, such as certain ‘compounds’, are perfect for families, with spacious houses and secure neighbourhoods. It is also possible to choose apartments in the city, depending on your preferences.
Schooling
California is known for having some of the best universities in the world, including Stanford and Berkeley.
But it also has many private and public schools that provide quality education starting in primary school. These include:
- The College Preparatory School
- Harvard-Westlake School
- Curtis School
We recommend choosing a school close to where you plan to live.
In the United States, children often participate in extracurricular activities, usually related to sports (American football, basketball, baseball, etc.) or the arts (theatre, music, etc.).
Family life
It’s hard to get bored in the United States, but even more so in California. In coastal areas, the beach is everywhere. You can go for a walk, have a picnic, go surfing or paddleboarding, try kayaking, and more.
In large cities, there are plenty of museums, playgrounds and amusement parks. Here are some ideas for days or weekends in California (to name just a few!):
- Visit Universal Studios
- Go to Disneyland
- A day at the San Diego Zoo
- A day at Legoland California
- Discover the Golden Gate Bridge
Working in California
Of course, you must have a work visa that allows you to work in the United States. All job offers require fluency in English, and candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree are most in demand.
In California, many sectors are hiring, including the following in major cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, etc.):
- Fintech, IT and web-related professions
- Healthcare
- Engineering
- Tourism
- Hospitality and catering
If you want to move there without a job, you can consult specialised websites or CalJOBS, the California government’s online platform for job seekers.
Getting medical care in California
There are several hospitals that provide high-quality healthcare in California:
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles
- Stanford Hospital
- UCSF Health in San Francisco
The American healthcare system is quite complex, as there is no universal health coverage and private insurance plays a major role.
The cost of healthcare can quickly become very high. This is why all expatriates take out private health insurance.
At Foyer Global Health, we specialise in coverage for expatriates. We offer private international health insurance to protect you wherever you are.
This coverage has several advantages, including:
- It is valid in the United States, in your home country and elsewhere in the world
- With it, you can choose the healthcare facility of your choice for treatment
- In case of an emergency, we cover repatriation costs
To support you in your health from A to Z, you also benefit from wellness services, including mental health coaching and a fitness programme!