Moving to California!

[honkey]

cali huh, hope you like fisting.

[Kruzen]

Question to Socal's, what (without being to private to yourselves) would you guys call a decent wage (per hour) in Usd?
According to what i've been shown so far (early days but looks like it will be the deal)
I'm being placed on a 40hour standard week @ $20 per/hour.($41,600 (wage) annual, before tac) w/ +$14,000 car allowance(unknown details) and private health will be covered too,
I'll be getting a company car (fuel card needs confirmed)

Basically im wondering (with things like people's average rent,food,play. ect) whats the usual reasonable cost of living?
I know this is a wide question, but I just want to know if (on $20hour) if it'll be easy going, or stingy scrounging.
(Rancho Cucomongo is looking like the area or surrounding suburb i'll be staying)

Edit: What the hell is a fish taco!?

It's delicious, just go get one. Fish tacos are amazing.

I can attest that it depends a lot on where you live.

I lived in costa mesa, ca (about an hour from the inland empire / IE / rancho cucomunga / corona / etc) and I was making about $22 an hour at my job, lived 2 miles from work, had medical benefits, etc.

I was supporting myself and one other and barely got by. rent ran me almost $1200 a month for a studio apartment, plus utilities was another $250, then add on car insurance and food, normal surprise expenses, etc.

The $2100 or so takehome that I had while I was there didn't go very far at all, and I never went out. I would say living in california by yourself anywhere near a city or place of business would be hard on $20 an hour if you want to have a nice lifestyle.

I considered moving inland further to rancho or corona to save money, it shaved about $350 a month off of rent and general expenses but I was still going to be ocmmuting so gas was going to become a big issue.

You know what they say though.

Don't move to california to get rich, get rich, then move to california.

[Aus E30]

Ok so after a bit more research and usa Salary calculators I have a rough idea on what i need cash wise to live without being dirt poor.
So the next question id love to throw out there, PARTY TIME! What area's are the go to places? For example If I rent in Rancho Cucomongo (or surrounding is looking likely) would it be far travelling to decent nightlife bars/clubs/whatever? I've heard Rancho is quite out of the way.
Subways/trains to the coast or LA? (or wherever any good or safe?)
I just dont want to end up living in a nice area, but be an hour from any weekend fun making commuting after a drunken night too much of a chore...

I'm so psyched!

[blocke]

Hope you speak Spanish. It's the "unofficial official" language of California.