Cost of Living in Cali

[NewcadetJJJ]

I'M from KY and about to gradute from college and become an officer or trooper. I'm open to moving anywhere in the nation and Cali appeals to me. Specifically the CHP or SD. I'm just unsure about the Cost of living out there. I need to know that the salary I make will be enough to live decently on while in California. Not including the overtime because thats never promised. Most officers around here start at around $35K a year and I guess that ok for Kentucky. Also, does CHP have a weekend testing or expedited testing? Thanks for answering?

[serenade84]

The cost of living fluctuates greatly depending on which city you want to live. CHP pays 65k a year (http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/osalary.html) so that's about double what you would make in KY. Now if you live in the heart of LA, 65k is nothing, but live 30 minutes away in Palmdale or Lancaster(40 minutes away) well, 65k would do you just fine. There are examples like that for any city you live in.

[NewcadetJJJ]

65K seems like a decent salary for anywhere to me. The houses out there are way more but that seems to be the only difference from KY. Of course the taxes are different from KY. I'm sure I will not want to live in the heart of LA, maybe in the suburbs. I may not even be near LA at all.

[pappabacon]

The overall cost of living is higher. According to Salary.com "The cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 54.2% higher than in Louisville, KY. Therefore, you would have to earn a salary of $53,976 to maintain your current standard of living (@$35,000)." So by this, yes you could do ok out here. Another thing to consider is our high income/sales tax. In most parts of LA County on July 1st, the sales tax will be 9.75%. Just some things to think about.

[serenade84]

You could always move to Bakersfield. :) Myself and my wife made about 58k last year, and we did just fine. A brand new house built from the ground up costs about 200k right now. An 80's house is averaging about 135k. But no one wants to live here. hehe.

[NewcadetJJJ]

The tax is 6.5% here i'm thinking. That does make a difference for big purchases. The CHP website suggest that you will make more than $65K with different pays and a degree and average 10k in overtime money. Thats a lot of OT! I'm going to move somewhere nice. I recently was married and have a baby boy. I have to think about schools for him also.

[pappabacon]

I read on another post:
You may wish to inform her that you get all benefits and a decent salary from DAY 1 - when you start out as a cadet. At the end of six months, a pay raise, at the end of one year a raise and it continues that way until you reach your fifth year. Additionally, the overtime is good. An officer in the Bay area reportedly earned, with overtime, better than $200,000.00 last year. Of course, he had no free time but that is just a single officer. Most earn between $100,000.00 and $175,000.00. Not too bad for LEOs. That along with good medical, vision, dental, disability and retirement plans. Excellent promotional opportunities and great career diversification.

Everything I have read about CHP is that they run a tight ship at the academy, think of basic training. But if you can get through that 6 months of training, you will have a great career opportunity, with no shortage of things to do. If I could only convince my wife to agree to a 6 month live in academy ;). Good luck.

Also, as far as the testing goes, you can check out their website, http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/docs/cadet_testing_schedule.pdf. When you apply, you are automatically scheduled for specific dates, depending on which Division you apply for.

[NewcadetJJJ]

My wife is fine with it, so she says. One concern that we have is the cost of living and moving across the nation but the other main problem is getting out there to do the testing. I would spend probably $1000.00 on plane tickets to test. But it may be all worth it to work with the CHP.

[EricDel]

You might want to test with a few different agencies while you are out there if expenses are a problem, just a thought. I know CHP, SDPD, LA County, LAPD, are all hiring and possibly SDSO as well.

[NewcadetJJJ]

These are all things to think about before a move. But anywhere I move I would be doing the same. I just don't want to move anywhere and be over my head because I got a lot riding on this one. I would like to be in the city but I also don't wanna be broke.

[pulicords]

While it's very expensive to live in CA, if you work for a good agency until retirement, the amount of retirement pay you receive each month (under the current "defined benefit" plan) allows you to live pretty well. If you decide to relocate to another state (with lower costs of living and stable housing prices), your "CA level" retirement checks will be a huge benefit.

Although for the time being I don't plan on moving, I'm glad I've at least got the option, something I wouldn't have had if I'd spent my career working for a rural jurisdiction. It seems that far too many officers spend their careers working their "tails off" for poorly paying agencies, only to face continuing economic distress when they retire. 30 years (to max out) in California might seem like a long time to be away from your home environment, but if you put in the time here you can afford to go back and live a very comfortable life.

[NewcadetJJJ]

It looks like the CHP pays for medical benefits too. To me that would be a big perk. I do plan on renting at first, besides what if i have to relocate to another post during my first couple of years. What about electric bills and water, are they resonable?

[NewcadetJJJ]

Buying a house is important but if I moved out there I wouldn't buy a house right off. I've never owned one and coming right out of college I would need to work a little while to prepare my finances. I would probably wait no longer than two years. I have looked at some apartments and houses out there online today. I guess a third of my income with the CHP would mean a mortgage somewhere between $1500-$2000 right? Thats a $500k house. Not to bad?

[LA DEP]

You can get LOTS of houses, townhomes ect in the 350-600K range in the Santa Clarita area (around 30 miles north/west of LA) right at the moment.....down from 600-900K a couple of years ago....lots of cops and firemen live here.....

google: santa clarita; saugus; valencia; castaic and real estate and you should start getting an idea of what housing goes for....

The major hurdle will be getting approved without a large downpayment.....most places are requiring at least 10% if not 20% down....you might be able to swing financing with less $$$$$ down with a company that deals with alot of LEOs and firemen......

[LA DEP]

Another thing to think about when selecting a location to live is your commute. I'm not sure how traffic is like in your current area, but traffic is very bad in the LA area. It's not great in Orange County or SD either. If you live in a place like Santa Clarita and Valencia and are commuting to downtown Los Angeles, you are going to be spending a lot of time on the road.

About 60-90 minutes....each way.....unless there is a well placed collision in the way......THEN it can be several hours.....I think my record is 4 hours...one way......

Do it 5 times a week.....still better than living in that sewer they call the LA Basin.......

[NewcadetJJJ]

Thats right! What was I thinking. Knowing what I would want, I would somewhere in that $2500 mortgage range. But thats just a guess. Which is more than a 1/3rd of the salary so it kinda puts me back to renting. I would rather rent than buy something thats not really what I want. I really need to come out there and see what its like. I'm sure at some point I would be able to afford what I wanted. But saving up for it is a must.

[NewcadetJJJ]

If I worked with th CHP would I have to worry about that LA traffic?

[LA DEP]

Oh, no argument there :D

No way would I live in LA city proper.

Edited: Don't talk about collisions on the highways...you're gonna give me bad luck :D

heh.....that is along the sames lines as jinxing the entire shift by saying 'gee it is awfully quiet tonight!':D

[LA DEP]

If I worked with th CHP would I have to worry about that LA traffic?

well, YEAH!......you would be the one sitting in it......

How bad the traffic is (usually) depends on the time of day and day of the week......BUT I have also sat in bumper to bumper traffic on the 405 (main N/S freeway on the west end of LA) at 0300.....on a Sunday......

How much traffic effects you will depend on where your duty assigment is, and what shift you are working.....CHP has stations all over the LA area, as well as in Santa Clarita and Lancaster to the north

[ChRdy21799]

NewCadetJJJ -

Try this web site,

http://www.city-data.com/forum/

Go to the California section then check out the respective cities. You can research different areas, ask questions, etc. Lots of housing information on there as well.

:cool:

[pulicords]

Don't let the So. CA traffic woes scare you! All you need to do is stay on Nights and Morning Watch, with Tue/Wed/Thur off (4/10 Plan) to avoid it. No day shifts or weekends at home and you have no problems!!! ;)

[ten08]

The major cost in California is housing and that has changed drastically. Houses that had been $600K+ are going for $200K in some areas like Vallejo, Sacramento etc. If this market ever turns around they could be big gains. I don't understand how you are going without some promise of a job or knowing where you will be working. California is a big place and some of the commutes can be killers.

[LAC_LE]

Spend some time just going through the CA forum as well. You'll likely come across all sorts of threads that will provide you with info on subjects you might not think to ask about otherwise.

[siryessir]

Dont forget about San Bernardino County. I hear Rialto is a beautiful place to live, and its very affordable.

[ten08]

Another thing to think about when selecting a location to live is your commute. I'm not sure how traffic is like in your current area, but traffic is very bad in the LA area. It's not great in Orange County or SD either. If you live in a place like Santa Clarita and Valencia and are commuting to downtown Los Angeles, you are going to be spending a lot of time on the road.

You hit it on the head. When I moved to San Francisco I was faced with either a two hour commute or rents around $2,000 a month close enough to walk to work. I chose the latter. I was able to drop one car and its insurance, which is a killer in CA, and because of my proximity I was able to kill some OT.

Ten years in California allowed me to retire with a higher pension than my salary was on the East Coast. Then I moved to Arizona where I could live comfortably on it.

[hbliam]

Dont forget about San Bernardino County. I hear Rialto is a beautiful place to live, and its very affordable.

You hear it is? Your info says you live there.

I lived there for 2 years in the 80's. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Copp'rPenny]

Actually, it's quite nice in Big Bear! ;)

[pappabacon]

I think there are pockets of nicer areas in San Bernardino County, i.e. Rancho Cucamonga, North Fontana, and a few others here and there. But there are many bad areas i.e. San Bernardino City.

[SHU]

Don't forget about Las Vegas either. Las Vegas metro PD pays very well for the cost of living and free medical for you and the family. Very good retirement as well. Nowadays you can get a very nice home there for 300k and as a Metro cop you could afford it. Lots and lots of OT in vegas. And no state income tax in Nevada.

[08duramax]

Loma Linda is a nice city in San bernardino county. I just bought a brand new house that wasn't built yet for under 400k. And it's 2700 sq ft. It has bad areas but it also has good areas.

[LAschoolCop]

Another thing to think about when selecting a location to live is your commute. I'm not sure how traffic is like in your current area, but traffic is very bad in the LA area. It's not great in Orange County or SD either. If you live in a place like Santa Clarita and Valencia and are commuting to downtown Los Angeles, you are going to be spending a lot of time on the road.

Also depending on what time you go to work...I used to commute downtown and I left at 830 pm and made it in 25-30 mins!! :D

[ten08]

Best deal going is still U.S Park Police on the Presidio of San Francisco. They can live in the park for about half of the normal rent looking out at the Goldn Gate Bridge.

[ExSDSO]

If you wanted to get a rough idea on how much it is to rent a place in California, try searching craigslist.com

[NewcadetJJJ]

Thanks for all of the input everyone? I've never been to Cali so all info is news to me. I've read some of the other post. The commute to downtown LA is mindblowing. I can't believe a two hour commute to work everyday. I used to live in Chicago and it wasn't that bad. But I guess when u start out with the CHP they will probably send you to southern Cal somewhere. But all in all I think I'll be fine with finances. Here I have a 1600sqft, two bed, two bath townhome for $700/month. Something like that is going for around $2k/month in the LA area. But if my salary is doubled and tripled then my rent can double. I'm also looking at other agencies and areas. It might be time consuming but I need to find the right fit. I like the idea of 4 ten hour days though.

[siryessir]

You hear it is? Your info says you live there.

I lived there for 2 years in the 80's. I wouldn't recommend it.

I was being sarcastic:confused:

[QRF]

You hear it is? Your info says you live there.

I lived there for 2 years in the 80's. I wouldn't recommend it.

Heck, I lived and WORKED there for five years in the 80's. I wouldn't recommend it.

[NewcadetJJJ]

Assuming that I am going to live in LA. What area should I be looking to live in? I'm going to be renting.

[LA Copper]

Assuming that I am going to live in LA. What area should I be looking to live in? I'm going to be renting.

I think pretty much everyone here would recommend not living in LA. Is there some reason you "have" to do so? There are plenty of other local cities that are nearby that are much better to live in.

[NewcadetJJJ]

What about someplace that won't have me on the road two hours a day to get to work if I work in LA? I know LA has plenty of bordering cities, should I avoid those too?

[Code Seven]

http://www.officer.com/images/officer.com.jpg

[Code Seven]

http://www.officer.com/images/officer.com.jpg

[NewcadetJJJ]

An hour to work is something that I really don't want to do. But I do see the trade off.

[Code Seven]

http://www.officer.com/images/officer.com.jpg

[LA DEP]

An hour to work is something that I really don't want to do. But I do see the trade off.

An hour to work is an AVERAGE commute in the LA area......it might take you a hour to go 15-20 miles, depending on the time of day/day of week......

I have never had LESS than a hour commute since I started with LASD in 1988......

[LA Copper]

An hour to work is something that I really don't want to do. But I do see the trade off.

Nobody really wants to do an hour to work every day but you gotta figure there's over 9000 people on both LASD and LAPD. The vast majority of people on both departments don't live in the City of LA, which means we all live someplace else. That means we all put up with the drive so we don't have to live in the city. That should tell you there's got to be reasons for it.

It all depends on where you're assigned and what watch you work. You don't have to live on the highways all the time. Don't make that big a deal out of it. There are usually ways around traffic once you know your way around. Plus after a while you get used to it... We all did!

[SHU]

Everybody I know in California has an hour commute to work. I've got a 20 minute commute but I'm suffering for by living in a crappy town in the middle of nowhere. Soon I'll have a one hour commute as well but it is not bad at all living in this state. An hour and 30 minutes + is getting kind of bad but 1 hour is nothing for California. And don't forget we have the most expensive gas in the lower 48. Try joining a van pool if you can. A lot of people out here do it to save on gas and get a little sleep while going to work.

[pappabacon]

My drive to my office is only about 20 minutes, its the traveling from my office to my clients that eats up hours. Fortunately I can time the drive to meet the least amount of traffic, not something that I could do if I had to commute into LA by 8 or something.

[417Lt]

One of my biggest job perks would have to be the commute. It consists of putting my slippers on and walking from one side of the house to the other. :D
Well, it's not always that simple. Last night the State phone in my house rang and I had to drive across the LA basin to roust a bear out of someone's yard. Being a furlough-day week I can't get OT compensation, but my work-week will end a couple hours earlier.
I guess the grass always looks greener on the other side. I actually get jealous reading about you guys that get to separate your private and professional lives with a good drive.

[Code Seven]

http://www.officer.com/images/officer.com.jpg

[exComptonCop]

One of my biggest job perks would have to be the commute. It consists of putting my slippers on and walking from one side of the house to the other. :D


:eek: I hate you! ;) Mine isn't too bad either...four minutes round trip.

[NewcadetJJJ]

I guess the hour to work is kinda normal for big city life. I had just gotten used to the streets of KY. The worst part is the amount of gas that u have to buy. Guess I better keep my Civic afterall.

[GrndPnd0311]

I guess the hour to work is kinda normal for big city life. I had just gotten used to the streets of KY. The worst part is the amount of gas that u have to buy. Guess I better keep my Civic afterall.

Anyone ever try driving on the Beltway in DC to work? TONS O' FUN! http://www.websmileys.com/sm/crazy/1087.gif

[NewcadetJJJ]

How is living in the Rancho Cucomonga area? I know nothing about LA or the area. What are the different areas like? I have a family so I have to take account for them too. A wife and son who is 2 years old.

[Leghorn]

When I am wondering about areas to live and prices... I click on Realtor.com.. it's great because you don't have to register with the realtor on his own web site. It gives you a general idea about quality of an area.

[Copp'rPenny]

When I am wondering about areas to live and prices... I click on Realtor.com.. it's great because you don't have to register with the realtor on his own web site. It gives you a general idea about quality of an area.

You're already in a great spot if you're in Ventura County. Stay there and commute! (I'm not kidding.)

If you guys want to know where to live, you'll have to tell us where work is and how much you can afford. You work backward from there. In general, places along the coast are nicer and subsequently more expensive. Inland is cheaper, but not nearly as nice. Rancho is OK, but it's not my cup of tea. The only Inland Empire areas I like are Temecula-Murietta and Big Bear. I think Chino (or is it Chino Hills) and Redlands are supposed to be pretty good, too.

There are also some places are real pits, but you're going to have to narrow down some of the parameters first.

[Retired96]

Upland and Rancho Cucamonga are nice areas to live, very little crime and both are upper income communities. I have lived in Upland for 34 years and have never had a crime on my street.

[Leghorn]

Coppr Penny: Yes, it's Eden out here. But the drive is 64 miles to downtown. I am going through the testing process, and whew, you just keep driving and driving and changing radio stations for ever until you reach your destination.

I am trying to balance quality of life with paying for that quality, Vs the drive to get there, Vs just finding a closer place to live to enable me to commute easily, but losing the country feeling. Oh well, it will all come out in the wash.

[ThomasMagnum]

Hypothetically, if a guy worked for the LAPD or LASD, where should he live for the best possible combination of the following factors?

1) shortest commute
2) lowest cost of living
3) safe place to raise a family

Is there a area/suburb where LEO gravitate? i.e. certain neighborhoods or suburbs where many law enforcement officers live?

Thanks,
Mike

[Showboat]

Yeah...the Santa Clarita or Simi Valleys.

[LA DEP]

Hypothetically, if a guy worked for the LAPD or LASD, where should he live for the best possible combination of the following factors?

1) shortest commute
2) lowest cost of living
3) safe place to raise a family

Is there a area/suburb where LEO gravitate? i.e. certain neighborhoods or suburbs where many law enforcement officers live?

Thanks,
Mike

In the LA area, you only get to choose 2 of those options......:D

[Code Seven]

http://www.officer.com/images/officer.com.jpg

[NewcadetJJJ]

So I guess that brings us back to the original question? Where would I be able to afford to live assuming that I work for CHP? Their salary seem very high compared to what we have here. But I also know the cost of living is doubled.

[jgorto]

realtor.com is your best bet, if I could live anywhere it would be southwest la county or orange county. realtor.com has a lot of houses listed right now and rentals also. good luck i tested w/ chp and LAPD in 1996 but took a job in north carolina instead i'm still upset about it but at least i convinced my wife to retire to cali. 10 yrs and counting.

[Southflaguy]

In the LA area, you only get to choose 2 of those options......:D


I would guess that would also apply to Nor Cal, San Francisco area....:confused::D

I would like a safe area, and short commute...:D

[417Lt]

In the LA area, you only get to choose 2 of those options......:D
Not if you can think outside the box. I believe "Resident Post" is the name of one idea.

[LA DEP]

Not if you can think outside the box. I believe "Resident Post" is the name of one idea.

We only have 4 'resident deputy' spots that I can think of offhand (excluding the Catalina Island spots).....and a couple of those resident spots are not in good areas.....Dep. Sorenson was the resident for Lake LA..(aka the armpit of AV)......and was murdered out there......

Resident Deputy comes with more than a few problems.....not the least of which is the locals banging on your door at all hours.....no thanks.....

[417Lt]

There's no doubt that a resident position is not for everybody. Living on Catalina would be an example of a spot that would be hell for some and heaven for others. I've known most of LASD's Residents for many years and I've watched them come and go with various results. One of them told me it was one of the best kept secrets in the department. But among his fellow deps he was always badmouthing and complaining about the downsides of being a resident. Another one sued the department because his wife answered the phone at the house and wanted to be paid. It can be a great gig for the right officer and I was just throwing the idea out there for the OP.
I think John G. lived in Pine Mountain Club before going to Air 5.

[Code Seven]

http://www.officer.com/images/officer.com.jpg

[pulicords]

For a couple of years, I lived in the "upscale" city (of about ten square miles) where I worked. I hated it. I never felt truly off-duty, as I was always seeing people, places and things associated with my job. While I generally liked my co-workers (and some were very close friends), seeing them 24/7 never let me feel like I'd left work. Seeing people I knew conducting traffic stops, field interviews, driving "Code 3" to calls (and wondering if they were alright, where they were going, etc..) was bad enough, when I saw "customers" I dealt with....:rolleyes:

Moving 20-30 miles from my place of business, allowed me to decompress before I arrived home. I enjoyed listening to the radio or (while stuck in traffic) using the cellular phone to call friends and family.

Just remember: If you work for one of the larger agencies (LAPD, LASD or CHP), chances are good that no matter where you live in the Los Angeles area, assignments and promotions will probably require you to drive some distance from your home at some point(s) in your career. If a good career opportunity presents itself, is it easier to drive that distance or pull up stakes and move?

[dh91040]

NewcadetJJJ, like you, I moved to California "sight unseen." I made the decision to move here for career reasons but had never actually been in the state before I arrived with all my worldly goods.

Six months after I got here, where I first thought I wanted to live in LA was not what I really liked. I had to learn more about the city to see where I wanted to live for more than a few months.

I live in a section called "The Foothills." It's still within LA city with affordable housing (for CA) and a low crime rate. I'm right next to a 5,000-acre nature preserve, a golf course, and Angeles National Forest. It's equestrian zoned and quite rustic. There are quite a few LAPD, LASD, Glendale PD, Burbank PD etc. who live in my neighborhood and at least six on my street of 38 homes.

Many 310/323 natives have no idea my part of LA exists. You have to "be here" to find places like this, which I did after a fair amount of research and legwork.

FWIW, prices in my part of LA now are starting about $225K for a decent townhouse, $300K for a decent three-bedroom. (Zipcodes 91040 and 91042.) This house (http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/10348-La-Canada-Way_Shadow-Hills_CA_91040_1106168435), for example, is a great place in a rustic little canyon in the equestrian zoned area.

If you can, take some time to check out LA before you decide exactly where to put down roots.

[NewcadetJJJ]

Yea, I figure that I will take more than a year to truely learn the LA area. Coming from kentucky, i'm sure that it will be a new world. If I come out there for testing, I'm trying to stay for a few days and check out as much of the city as I can. Its hard to find places to stay online without being able to see and at least ride through the neighborhood. Also I plan on renting first until I decide exactly where I want to live.