jenev

We are toying with these two areas. We have lived in San Diego for a year, 8 years ago but never been to Australia. We have two boys. What would give us the better standard of living and lifestyle?

Joanne

Ozzidoc

I have lived in both places.

Personally, I prefer San Diego. The weather is more predictable. However, the housing in SD is still outrageously expensive. (4th most expensive in all of the USA.)

San Diego has changed a lot since you were last there...LOADS more new hosuing estates, more freeways etc.

Where in SD were you? What did you enjoy about being there?

steve99

I havent lived in either, but have visited both a number of times, id come to Perth
Perth's a lot more like San Diego than Melbourne (smaller scale though) similar climate, excellent beaches, the overall lifestyle etc.

Amazulu

San Diego. Much nicer than Melbourne.

The Crow

Melbourne is a fabulous city. But I haven't lived in San Diego, or lived in the USA. Have travelled widely in the US and have to say that the US v Australian culture is quite different - I think you'd have to weigh up which would suit you best. I think you should visit. I personally, would find it very difficult to live with Americans - generalising greatly, but I find them much more annoying than Australians

Ozzidoc

As an Australian, I find that I feel much more at home in San Diego than I do in the UK, even though I've spent the best part of 10 years in the UK.

One thing that I didn't mention earlier is the fact that kids go to school a lot earlier in the day than in Oz. Classes start by 8am at some places....and even 7.20 at one school near me. Makes for an early start to the day for the whole family!

The Crow

I shouldn't really generalise about the US - just my observations and how I gel with Americans. I also worked for a company that was acquired by a large Silicon Valley co. and maybe my dealing with them has aided my negative experiences! I have to say the Americans I have met have been extremely pleasant, I'm just not on their wavelength....

jenev

When we lived in San Diego I found everyone very pleasant and friendly but maybe it was because we had a child. I also felt a lot safer walking about in San Diego than at home. Terrible thing to say but true. Are most places in Austalia very laid back? What time do the schools start in Australia?

BadgeIsBack

I'm in CA now.

I've never been to San Diego, but I sort of assumed that it would be a nicer version of LA (which I have been to) but a bit sidelined and not as interesting as San Francisco - which I consider to be the US's Melbourne.

Bunna_Wabbit

It would definitely be San Diego for me between the two.....

JAJ

Before you even think of that, have a think about visas and the pathway to permanent residence and citizenship in both places.

Ginger3710

Generally, primary school hours are around 9am - 3pm/3.15pm. Secondary schools will start anywhere from 8.20am through to around 3.15pm. My son's high school in Sydney is 8.45am-3.15pm. If the high school starts early, they may finish early, say 2.45pm. Every school is different but this is just a guideline.

What do you mean by laid back? Australia is known for its "laidback" lifestyle generally, and from what I read on the Aussie forum here, it appears many Brits think they're immigrating to Oz for a "holiday" ie work less hours, more time at the beach, and they seem to be genuinely disappointed when they get here to find that this isn't the case. In fact, many Aussies work long hours, depending on the line of work.

jenev

Not always the case less hours. When we lived in san Diego my hubby was up at 4.15am depending where we living at the time and not getting home to 5.30pm, working sat am. If you want the good lifestyle I think you have to work long and hard to get it.
Laid back to me is people not rushing about. Constant worrying etc. If was down to me I would def go back to San Diego. We are both in good positions that we have good careers which should not be a problem and we know that a job is sitting there in San Diego for my hubby.

MARIE WATSON

Well, we have spent a lot of time in California and found San Diego to be a very nice city to live, I agree probably a bit more similar to say Perth, where it has nice beaches and much more reliable weather. But thats about it. It does say that San Diego has the best all year round climate in the United States. But having lived in Melbourne for the last 2 years I would defo go for Melbourne as we much prefered San Francisco and to me I think Melbourne and San Fran are very similar citities( Not in Appearence I may Ad), but in the culture the people, Unpredicatable weather, what goes on, the neighbourhoods and the Coolness! and the Trams LOL. It is also on the same latitude! I felt that Southern California felt a lot more conservative and more American where as San Francisco did not feel like a typical Amercian city, and thats what I feel about Melbourne, its has a lot more diversity than other oz cities. So thats why we choose Melbourne I guess!
Plus the myth about Melbournes weather being poor as complete and other rubbish. The thing is why do People from the Uk move to OZ and say OOO I cannot move to Melbourne because of the weather. They say the only people who moan about the weather in Victoria is non victorians. Granted it can be a bit unpredictable and has colder winters thatn most Oz cities, but so what!you would be a very shallow pesron if the weather was the decider for moving somehere! and also a couple of points
1. If you did imove to Melbourne it the weather would be 100 percent better than any where you have come from in the UK, so thats a vast improvement!
2. Check the climatology for Melbourne, it gets an average of 30 days a year over 30 degrees and 10 over 35, and also 3 over 40! Thats a lot more than Sydney and Brisbane and has less rainfall as well. Sydney this summer had 1 day over 30 degrees (Between Dec and Feb), melbourne had around 25 days.
Most European cities dont get that!

MartinLuther

Not been to San Diego but I did work and live near San Francisco for nearly a year. Out of those two I would go for Melbourne. Both great cities but I find the residents of Melbourne to be a bit more worldly-wise (generally speaking of course).

Melbourne weather is almost perfect. The seasons are the about the right length and just about the time you get bored with the weather, it changes.

I would guess that the cost of living is lower in SD and the wages are probably higher. I guess you need to choose which one fits your priorities.