Let's be honest. The West Coast is the best coast. West Coast living is far superior to East Coast living, especially during the winter time. I've lived on both coasts for over a decade and am giving you guys the honest truth.
Despite an honest attempt to search for more great things about the East Coast in a dedicated post, several readers actually proceeded to bash the West Coast instead! What's up with that?
Some curiously mentioned that the East Coast is fantastic because the horrendous weather for half the year makes the other six months so wonderful.
Ummm, that's like saying you appreciate your right hand more because you chopped off your left hand! Wouldn't you rather have both hands?
The only positive takeaway from the comments I agree with is the cluster of historically significant cities within a several hours drive. Other than that, nobody came up with any stand out reasons other than the six I provided as to why East Coast living is great.
Given that the West Coast was attacked, I feel it's important to stand up and defend our honor!
Why The West Coast Is Better Than The East Coast
* Beautiful Weather. With blue skies and sunshine, we have wonderful beaches, healthier, and happier people. There's a reason why movie stars and other celebrities work and live on the West Coast. Why do you think there are so many songs about “California Dreaming”?
* Entrepreneurial Opportunities. Google, YouTube, Yahoo, eBay, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Amazon and many more innovative, life changing companies are all based on the West Coast. How many self-made 35-year old or younger mega-millionaires or billionaires can you name from the East Coast? Not many.
* Access To Asia. Asia is where the growth is and not Europe. Travel to Asia is quicker, and doing business with Asia is therefore easier. When it's 8am in China, it's still only 5pm here on the West Coast. Communicating at 8pm EST is no fun, and therefore doesn't happen as often.
* Vacation Paradise. Hawaii is just a quick and direct 4.75 hour flight away! Hawaii is seriously one of the top 5 greatest places on Earth to live, and anybody who tells you otherwise has never experienced the island. Besides Hawaii, there is Tahiti, Bora Bora, Samoa, and of course many wonderful vacation spots in Asia.
* World Class Winter Sports. Lake Tahoe and Whistler have 11,000 feet high mountain resorts whereas the East Coast has icy Killington in Vermont and the Catskills in New York. I've been to all four places, and I can tell you there really is NO comparison between West Coast and East Coast skiing/snowboarding. Can you imagine getting dumped on with no mountains to ski down? That's like living on top of a hill with no view! There is no point.
More Reasons Why The West Coast Is Great
* More Peaceful People. A large reason why many people are on the East Coast is because of a job opportunity or family. As a result, resentment builds for the region because they wouldn't be there otherwise. This is a recipe for some very grumpy people. Meanwhile, a large reason why many people live out West is for a better lifestyle as well as job opportunities and family. Because people are living a better lifestyle, you have a much more pleasant social environment.
* Fewer Crooks. Do you think it's a coincidence that some of the biggest crooks in America such as Bernie Madoff, Elliott Spitzer, Dennis Kozlowski (Tyco), and countless dirty politicians are all based on the East Coast? Of course not. I'll leave it up to you to figure out why.
* Healthier People. Because the lifestyle is much better on the West Coast, there are much happier and healthier people in places like California. The healthier you are, the less you have to pay for health insurance and crucial life insurance if you have dependents.
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* More Diversity And Inclusion. With a less homogenous population on the southern portion of the east coast, it's natural to have more racism. But at least for me, racism helped give me the drive and strength to achieve financial freedom by 34. Although, the Northeast is definitely pretty diverse nowadays.
Even More Reasons Why The West Coast Is #1
* Lower Home Maintenance Costs. There's no such thing as freezing pipes bursting on the West Coast. There isn't snow, hail, and rain storms crushing the integrity of your house. As a result, maintenance and home insurance costs are much lower. Make sure you re-shop your homeowner's insurance every 1-2 years as well. With the cost of building materials going up and home prices going up, you need the right amount of coverage.
* Lower Power Bills. There's never a need to use air conditioning to cool or heat yourself in many places on the West Coast given the moderate temperatures. Opening a window is all you need during the summer to get that draft going. Adjusting thermostats is a foreign concept! There is much less to spend on home maintenance as well.
* Fewer Auto Accidents. With better weather comes less accidents. Less accidents mean lower auto insurance prices. And the more you can save on expenses, the faster your wealth can grow. Shop around and compare quotes every year or two to save money on car insurance as well.
* Environmental Movement. People love the Earth out here. California was the first to ban smoking in public places, and the state is a pioneer in recycling and emissions standards. We are the home of organic cuisine (Chez Panesse Alice Waters), Tesla Motors (electric car company), as well as thousands of tree huggers! If you love the environment and want to help save the world, you'll love the West Coast.
* Great Athletics. The Golden State Warriors won the 2015 NBA Championship, almost won the 2016 NBA Championship, won again in 2017, again in 2018, and then again in 2022, baby! Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants won three world series in five years. The LA Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship. And the LA Dodgers won the 2020 World Series. During the winter, I can play golf on Saturday in 70 degree weather, and drive 2.5-3 hours on Sunday to go snowboarding in 2 feet of powder. We're truly blessed with amazing athletics.
* Watching The Sunset Into The Ocean. If you live on the East Coast, you'll never see the beautiful sunset into the ocean.
* Pride. If you live on the West Coast you won't have to make sensationalist statements such as “Florida will be torn apart in the next Tornado”, “It's so humid in Washington DC you can go swimming in your own sweat“, “You'll die early because you'll never want to go outside,” “Be careful about the next enemy siege,” and other ridiculous statements to make yourself feel better about yourself. You don't have to disparage like some on the East Coast will do about West Coasters because you're already living the dream.
Related: Migrating To California For A Better Life
The West Coast Is The Best Coast
I know I don't have to give any reasons why the West Coast is a much better place to live because it's pretty obvious. It's like wondering whether Bill Gates is rich, duh.
From a financial standpoint, you need to make more money to afford a home if you live in cities like San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. However, you can also make a lot more money in these cities as well. Income and investment potential are unlimited, whereas you can only save so much.
As you can see from the list, the highest income requirements are largely from cities on the west coast. The reasons are because of better lifestyle, better weather, better food, better entertainment, and better income and investment opportunities. The artificial intelligence boom is making plenty of people living in San Francisco and San Jose extremely wealthy.
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It's Easy To Bash The West Coast
I give reasons anyway to highlight to those who bash the West Coast incessantly what they're missing. It's easy to look down upon those out West if you've never experienced living out here.
But as someone who has lived on both coasts for over 10 years, the choice is obvious. Perhaps this post will make things even more obvious!
If you are miserable out East, do more than just make fun of the West Coast. Do something to change your life by moving! The settlers did so hundreds of years ago, and so can you in much quicker a time.
Have no fear in seeking a better life. You deserve it!
Related: The Worst States To Live In For Work And Life
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West Coast Living Is Better is a Financial Samurai original post. I've lived in San Francisco, California since 2001 and it is simply one of the best cities in America and the world to live and make money.
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I live in Buffalo, NY, but I grow very tired of the negative, crappy attitude you encounter here. I think it is a common complaint of the northeast in general. Spent time in Denver years agp, 1,000% friendlier there, should have stayed there.
Growing up in the burbs of Los Angeles, California, I have to say it is a difficult place to leave. I travel frequently to Asia & Europe and our Japan Airlines pilot flew us to Los Angeles from Tokyo in 8 hours and 25 minutes. Traveling to Europe from Los Angeles is approximately 10 hours. I truly think Los Angeles and San Francisco are indeed positioned in perfect regions of the world. Traveling to Tahiti and Australia is also 8 and 10 hours approximately. Thus, I agree with Sam. Of course, Hawaii is our little neighbor not too far away.
I will say Los Angeles is not the best place to visit as a tourist. It is much too large to truly get a true sense. The Combined Statistical Area (CSA) according to the US Bureau is 34,000 sq. miles. Making it the largest CSA in the US at least. A lot of LA receives bad publicity in the news, but I have to admit, I am not for homelessness, but in LA, the homeless have multiple areas to station themselves and live. That is a rarity in other cities. Plus, they can survive in LA with our weather.
We also have a forest called the Angeles National Forest; it is approximately 700,000 acres. It is larger than many US cities alone. Majority of Los Angeles is nature, such as mountains, beaches, desert, and multiple vast valleys that are uninhabited. I highly doubt most Americans and even Californians know these areas. I am also speaking more of the county, but even the exurbs of the county.
Also, there is not another international city near Los Angeles. Vegas is 4 hours away by car, San Francisco is 7-8 hours away by car and San Diego is really just an extension of us. Also, I would argue that our economic power even lands us into the Baja California area. That is another 700 miles of land. Whereas, NYC has New Haven, Jersey, Pittsburgh, and many other cities that are clustered near it. Making it a better place to visit short-term, but not living for long-term. A lot of the economic power is collective in nature. LA is truly on her own.
We also have the largest ports in the US by tonnage. I am barely surfacing the natural resources we have. Yes, NYC is a place of capital. Yet, if there is an apocalypse, LA is a better place to be with the natural resources, such as farms, vast land, etc.
Okay, I think I made my point. lol.
I’ve been back and forth 3 times coast to coast and understand the differences very well. I moved to LA from NY in the very best days of LA and my father was a Dodgers executive. Couldn’t have been better. But, serious business opportunities were scarce there when I finished college, and I went straight to NY, which set me up well for the rest of my life. Then, San Francisco, a fabulous city with year-round air conditioning outdoors. Anyone will tell you it has deteriorated so markedly that between unpunished crime, homelessness and a 2-bedroom house for $2 million, life can be complicated an unrewarding.
I went back to NY again for yet more powerful career advancement. I have 2 acres and 8 bedrooms in Connecticut in a town with no crime, beaches and the top schools anywhere, which would cost $10 million around San Francisco(or, to be nice, only $6 million if you looked hard). Do I really care about being 25-30 degrees in the winter? I can go anywhere I want for those months, but home is fine, it’s really nothing.
I expected to want to return to San Francisco after a few years, but it’s been 30 years of productive business dealings in the greatest business marketplace in the world, NYC. Silicon Valley flattened a long time ago, you can still do well there but you have to look hard and get lucky with your choice. Many more companies have gone down than moved upward, you can name dozens of them.
Have you ever lived in San Francisco? If so, when and for how long?
The amount of wealth creation has been enormous. And now with AI, the capital wave continues again. The media and the far right love to hate on San Francisco, especially near elections years. But the best places to live and worst are often the most hate because they are expensive and hard to afford for many people.
Nobody hates on Connecticut for a reason. And a lot of folks want to be able to enjoy the great outdoors all year, not just 8 months a year.
Agree that we all appreciate different lifestyles, and, personally, we definitely enjoy certain parts of the East Coast, among other places in our beautiful country, but, as a large family of native Californians who have lived all over the world, we’ve always kept our homes in Malibu and elsewhere, and plan to continue to enjoy all of the best CA has to offer.
LA is probably the most talentless city in America. It’s all about who you know and certain industries have no skills. LA’s job ranking is 45th while San Jose is second. NYC’s is around 20th. Also SF ranks 4th and San Jose ranks 2nd behind only Ann Arbor as Americas most educated cities.
There is no venture capital in the world like that of Silicon Valley and Nyc ‘s silicon alley is mostly bays area companies. Nowhere in the world has more startups to this day than the Internet entire Bay Area. NYC has the most segregated schools in America and some of the lost segregated neighborhoods in America.
Alibaba has the largest b2b marketplace in the world and that’s why China is passing USA in everything imaginable. Nyc subway is billons in debt the USA’s infrastructure was downgraded to a C- in which nyc’s infrastructure is a D. I understand the bay area has a homeless problem but not in San Jose. Nyc has a growing homeless problem as well. Only 3 places in the world that you can surf and ski in one day in two different climates and one of those places is the Bay Area nowhere else.
The PH levels of the east coast also make it that all vegetables and fruits are tainted. That’s a whole other topic. There’s lost more we can go over when you respond.
This article is like everything on the west coast, all superficial with no real substance. Ive lives on the west coast for over 10 years now and I’m a very active person. Next week I’m moving back East.
The west coast is killing off the middle class, you’re either living in an overpriced home drinking margaritas for breakfast and driving away in you’re 50k Tesla or you’re homeless with a full time job riding a used bike you got on craigslist.
Entrepreneurship is basically dead because the taxes are so high you can barely break even while giant corporations are catered to causing the huge wealth gap with people who are completely dependent on their employer. On the east coast operating costs are much cheaper and in my experience the people are more honest. I run a business on the west coast and I spend a lot more time dealing with people not paying their bills or ghosting me on a deal. Culturally, people on the east coast are more reliable and have more integrity, maybe thats just my perception but it’s pretty eye opening in contrast.
Sure, I love the quick access to nature and the amazing mountains but all the trails are packed all the time. On the east coast trails might be another 20 mins further away but there are definitely lots of great hikes and better hunting and fishing and it’s much more secluded.You see a lot more wildlife and fewer people clogging up the trails.
And the biggest difference is the people. The west coast claims to be diverse but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The population on the east coast is far more diverse and more importantly it’s more diverse in thought. People aren’t afraid to speak their mind on the east coast where as people on the west coast seem to have constant pressure to adhere to what others deem exceptable. The west coast is full of people “trying to make it” where the east coast is full of people who are just happy living a modest lifestyle rather than trying to make it big. But even a modest lifestyle on the east coast can get you a nice house and a vacation home in the mountains or down by the shore.
Sure the weather changes, there are four complete seasons on the east coast and for a lot of people that beats the long crappy winters in the northwest or the singular season in the southwest. Plus who doesn’t like a good rain storm or big snow every now and then, the weather is seriously one of the things I miss most about the East Coast.
The east coast is also riddled with farmers markets and outdoor activities. Growing up on the east coast I never ate store bought meat or produce untill I was 20 years old because my parents only bought food from the market or sourced it directly from the farmer. On the west coast everything is a about marketing and everyone is just trying to build some sort of health brand so they can afford their crappy apartment. They gotta buy the new Lululemon leggings for their upcoming hike so they can look good for their Instagram post and be an influencer but on the East Coast people eat healthy because they can and are cool with just wearing a pair of blue jeans and are cool just turning off their phone while they enjoy their day off from work since they don’t gotta work 7 days a week to pay the mortgage on their 1700 square foot house on a 1/3rd acre lot, because you can actually afford to live that way unless you live in NYC or something.
In any case I’m sure plenty of people love the west coast but honestly after living out here for so long it’s just abundantly clear that the east coast has so much more to offer and you don’t gotta be wealthy to really enjoy it.
I grew up in Midwest and lived in CA 20 years, and for 30 years served clients on Wall Street, so plenty of time spent working on the East Coast. Had to return to Midwest to help aging parent and while I agree that Cal has many man-made (ei, politician-created) problems, for me, the weather on the West Coast makes up for EVERYTHING. In addition to the huge increase in heating and cooling costs in Midwest and East coast, all it takes is ONE unfortunate episode on the ice, either on foot or in a vehicle, and your life and health could change in an instant for the worst! As an athletic adult, I had two serious falls on the ice the first two years back here, and fortunately there were no other vehicles nearby when my car slid into a 180. As for the people, no one friendlier than midwesterners, but finding people who actually have interests beyond their local area is rare.
Just an aside…. “Don’t gotta”? Is that from your east coast education?
The entire west coast is turning into a gigantic homeless encampment. I grew up on the East Coast, moved to LA and then San Francisco, and moved back a few months ago. East Coast towns don’t tolerate parks filled with tents, needles and garbage. They don’t tolerate gangs of kids shoplifting to the point where a big chain like Walgreens is closing more than a dozen stores. They don’t ignore fentanyl dealers freely plying their wares on the street. People aren’t attacked by drug addled lunatics. This stuff is happening even in the wealthiest parts of California. The weather is better in California but the quality of life is long gone here but can still be found in small East Coast towns amd suburbs (and you’ll pay way less for it, and have lower taxes).
Their Was a time when Cali was the BEST. Massive change over the last 40 Years! Traveling through for only 6 Hours I was hassled by Beggars on the subway.. The bus I was riding was taken over yes taken Over! Saw needles on the ground homeless everywhere filth and garbage. I cannot believe such decay. Long time Ago a chef delivered an exceptional meal… Now? Crap on paper plate if you can find a place..Really in the dumps.. Horrific SAD! The writer says West coast the best.. Then why is more people moving OUT of Cali than in? Wealth is Leaving. Billions being moved to places like Jackson Hole..
Based in my own experience as someone who lived for 3 years in the west coast and now living for almost 5 years in the east coast, i can give a short, simple and unbiased comment here. Both coasts has their own charm and beauty and I love living in both coasts. It just really depends on each individuals preferences. And besides both coasts are part of the United States of America which makes it the American Dream. So for me, there is no reason for a debate as to which coast is better than the other. Remember, we have all different needs and wants, different interests and likes.
@FS – lots of great ideas and thanks for sharing!
@Alma Vida – I think this makes sense – it’s somewhat subjective. For example, a friend of mine didn’t like Santa Barbara b/c it was too dry and bothered his skin (even though you could go swimming in the ocean) and instead preferred the humidity of the DC/Baltimore area.
While this article seems to have been written around 2010, I’d be interested in the an update for 2021 about the West Coast, etc.
Certainly the natural beautiful of the West/Pacific + Mediterranean climate are amazing. I agree, a lot more people on the West Coast seem to be outdoorsy, at least compared to NYC, Philly, etc. In terms of economics, the WC seems to have sparked a lot of tech innovation. But how much was fueled by East Coast transplants, finance, etc?
Also, the 4 seasons of the East Coast are amazing, too – and some people miss the fall and winter, especially if the grew up in the Midwest or East. For example, upstate NY or Western MA in the summer. In the fall, the Appalachians are amazing, too. Upstate NY and WV in the winter are beautiful.
A great option for the East coast (finances, energy & time, willing) would be something like live there for 3 seasons and go to PR or FL, etc for the winter. Then in August maybe go to Canada or Sweden for a few weeks :) Interestingly enough, dual-location living wasn’t that big in 2010, but 10 years later and it’s a lot bigger part of the US culture.
Personally, my ideal would be central/south CA, but with lower taxes and less regulation. Same for Portland or Seattle, but maybe going somewhere with more sun in the winter, too!
For East Coast, maybe DMV, then go south in the winter, plus a few weeks in August somewhere cooler! For the Midwest, same as East Coast, but without the need to leave in the summer!
Anyways all the best to everyone!
The post is updated for 2021 and beyond! It gets updated every year like all of my classic posts.
I’ve actually seen an UPTICK in online search interest regarding migrating to California for a better life. With such a big dichotomy in vaccination rates between states like California, Washington, and Oregon (high vax rats) vs. Southern states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas (low vax rates), more people want to move to the West Coast and feel safe.
Related post: The Delta Variant Investment Thesis
No thanks, I’ll take the southern east coast anyday. I’m from Wilmington, N.C. and currently live in Portsmouth, VA. My family is from the rural areas of N.C. I’ll take the laid back, life style where no one gets in your business and tries to tell you how to live the life you want to live. The cities you mentioned; DC, Williamsburg, NYC are all very ideaologically liberal cities. I prefer small towns of 5,000 people or less who aren’t all about trying to get more and more money. They actually care about people. I’ve spent some time in San Diego and L.A. Only the rich people have that kind of life that you mentioned. The majority of normal, working, middle to lower middle class people are the exact same as everywhere else. Since you used to work in Finance and have an MBA from Berkeley I can’t image you know what its like to work as a secretary in a hospital or a mechanic at coal power plant, or as an admissions counselor at a university. They don’t have the lush, luxurious life of which you speak of. Southern weather has humidity. San Diego doesn’t. However, I love green. We have more woods, trees and fields than you can possibly imagine. The atlantic ocean is warmer but I never go to the beach, even though I live 25 minutes away. I’m just not a beach person. But give me the southern eastern states any day. I’ve also lived in Japan, the middle East and even the Caribbean. There’s no other place I’d rather live and raise my family then the S.E. United States.
You hit on the nail. All this west coast is better stuff with no solid reasons, just superficial, oh the weather, or the food is healthier and fresher. Get real. You can get healthy food anywhere if you can afford it. And the west coast prices out probably guessing, 80 percent of the people who would even consider living their. These reasons don’t hold air. In the long run they become financially hard to sustain as people retire or if they just graduate from one of the universities there or anywhere. And I love the beach but like to also get in the water. Not happening in CA. And Asia, moving because of that quicker access??? That is totally a weak argument unless you work with that part of the world or love it. Or have family there. The East Coast has quicker access to Europe. I’ll take that over Asia any day. Better food, cleaner, more polite and organized. And like you, I have been to most states, half of Europe, and all over the world, including most of California. There are different kinds of beautiful. Just overpaying for everything on the west coast is enough to turn me off, unless, like you correctly mentioned, I become rich. I would tell anyone, if they can afford it, to go back and forth from the east coast to the west before devoting a life to being there. And regarding racism, what???? I’m black and CA has it despite being so liberal and open. A lot of it. And not the diversity it touts. It is divided mainly by thirds between whites, Asians, and Hispanics. Doesn’t sound diverse to me by my Washington DC and Northern VA standards.
I have lived in Hawaii over a decade, I grew up in Midwest, I have lived in east coast 4 years. So I think your opinion of the island is way off, but again you have to live here.
Hawaii is a beautiful place, but crowded. Oahu has over 1.4-1.5 million people, and most of the jobs are on Oahu. If people could they’d go to Maui or Kauai. Couple Facts.
1. Most people here visit the beach only on weekends. I lived in Southern Cal two years, it’s basically the same. The traffic here is horrendous it can take you over a hour to go 5-10 miles. The traffic is regularly rated as the second worst in US right after LA, yes we beat NY with traffic problems.
2. Island living is a sacrifice, anyone here long term will tell you that. So don’t come here with ideas of overseas properties and foreign investments. If you come to Hawaii, you come to be in Hawaii. Even if you manage to juggle it, you will be judged for not committing to the island.
3. Air is clean, but you won’t notice it. Our air is often ranked high, but there are several factories and some of that air gets caught up in the forests.
4. About 20% of our population is retired, about 10-15% is military, 30% in government, homeless around 9%. Short term employment is about 2% So you are at between 71-78%. So even if you are outside those circles, realize 80% of the island is those circles, and interacts among those circles.
5. We have about 22% less doctors than we need, it’s a reason more people retire to Florida. Health Care is not great here.
6. School system here always ranks in the bottom of most states, people with children often move or leave the island.
Now, so I won’t be all doom and gloom.
1. We have the best beaches, hands down. Been to Brazil, Australia, east Coast, the sand and surf here is the best.
2. Seafood is great, it’s a local taste, but it is great.
3. Island living is very laid back, and I love it. If you just want to lounge at the beach all day, most people view that as a reasonable thing to do.
If your dream is Hawaii, go for it, but having 20 dreams sounds nice but is not very realistic. Focus on one dream, achieve it, move on to the next. If your dream is Hawaii, then come on down. If your dream is being rich, and having investments, and visiting Asia. Then I will see you far later down the road. Either way, Aloha.
Thanks. What do you do in Oahu?
BTW, the population of Oahu is closer to 953,000. 1.4-1.5M is for all the islands.
My dad is from Hawaii and we own property there for the past 60+ years.
This is a great response, realistic and tasteful. I think a lot of what the author wrote is pretty ignorant and disrespectful. I grew up on the East coast but live in San Diego now. I can say that there are things I like better about both coasts. One is not far greater than the other.
No no. I live on the north east coast right now and it truly is miserable. Especially the people.. especially when you grew up in the peaceful midwest. And I’ve lived out west too. The north east coast is pretty terrible. These two lists are almost 100% accurate.
Pro tip: No one move to the north east.
Lake Geneva cost in Switzerland between Montreux/Vevey/Geneva is my preferred coast. Charlie Chaplin knew when he quit the West Coast:-)
Switzerland to me is the most beautiful and sane place in the world. If I could afford it and dual citizenship I would try to be there. What it lacks in a beach makes up for it in every other area hands down.
This is the most childish post I’ve ever read. I hope you’re older than 21 years old because you sound like 16 years old.
First thing: East Coast is much more than New York City. There are clean cities on the East Coast (e.g., Boston), at least as clean as cities on the West, from my experience. The public transportation is MUCH better here in the East if you’re living in a big city. On the West Coast, not so much. Even SF doesn’t make it close to the East Coast. And I’d *hate* to have summer all around. I thoroughly enjoy New England fall and I actually do like it when the sun sets really early in the winter in the East. I love people being more serious and professional with their attitudes. And people on the West care about the environment and the East doesn’t? Have you ever visited Vermont? Have you ever watched a sun setting over a huge pond and the forest in upstate New York?
I do like the West Coast because they have their own charm. I did like the West Coast when I visited, but I found the East Coast more personally suiting. (And mind you, I have lived in the States for a long while, but I’m not originally from the United States, so I’m saying this from the third person point of view.) East Coast has history and huge business, legal, and government industries/sectors. West Coast is has huge tech and movie industries, so something more creative and less formal than the East. California has beautiful nature but so does New Engalnd. So why not just appreciate both instead of saying this place is better than that place, blah blah blah. That’s exactly what 16 years old do.
Seriously, it is almost always people in California who post these types of posts. It’s not even worded as “from my experience.” They’re always screaming how “relaxed” they are by trying to show how they’re different from the East Coast–all the while people on the East Coast don’t even talk about the West Coast because they’re going about their lives. It just makes you think why people like you are so desperate to berate other parts of the country. Maybe from self-insecurity…?
This post is based on experience. I lived in the Washington DC area, Williamsburg, Virginia for college, New York City for a couple years for a total of 10 years. New York City is the best city on the East Coast.
I’ve been in San Francisco since 2001. And I have explored all along the West Coast. The West Coast is clearly how much better life style.
How about you? So far you haven’t shared anything about your experiences are yourself. And the only reason why he landed on this post is because you’re curious about West Coast living and leaving the East Coast.
This post was in response to an original post on East Coast living.
you dont have kids. west coast is pretty much anti-middle class and anti-family. its hard and everyone with kids is forced dual income. cost of living/hosing and moronic zoning with glacial development and bad public transportation and horrific traffic make it suck hard.
Didn’t know that.
See: https://www.financialsamurai.com/day-life-work-home-stay-home-parent-who-also-work/
Dear “hahaha”, if this author is a 16 year old, then I guess that makes you a 5 year old due to your lack of experience (apparently) and childish response. Which I would expect no different from an northeasterner, because you all are that way.
Whenever I lay out why the north east sucks everyone gets SUPER offended (even though I provide statistics) and then respond “What if I said why Illinois sucks?” (childhood home). I respond that I would provide them with even more reasons! Because I’m not ignorant to the issues.
I’ve lived in 5 states within the midwest, west, and currently reside in the northeast. The northeast is undoubtedly the worst. Mostly because the people are so absolutely miserable.
Additionally, in regards to Mick Russom – everything you said is the exact same problem in the northeast.. My wife and I make approx. 140k or so and have one child and still are struggling to be financially strong.
But I love that both of your arguments include public transit…. if it wasnt such a clusterf* of people, perhaps it wouldnt be entirely necessary..
Completely in agreement with HAHAHA’s comment. As expats living in the States, we often look at things without any pre-existing bias or personal penchant. West Coast is pretty and a good place to visit, but arts and culture, and style are amiss. People have no sense of formality, decorum or institution; no reverence for what carried them along to this day. United States began on the East Coast, which has a great deal to be admired and desired. A good reason why they started in the Northeast, not even Florida. Not because of the distance, as Europeans sailed all the way to South America. People on the East Coast are not superior, but many who journeyed west is exactly because they got shuffled out, and couldn’t make it there. So have gun, will travel, and west they go. If sunshine is your ultimate life pursuit, then perhaps it is time you re-evaluate yourself and your focus.
Amiss? The museums on the East coast (Met, AMNH) are poorly curated piles of mediocre art and history compared to their west coast counterparts. The Getty is a much better Art museum than any in NYC. I’ll give you that the National gallery is probably the best gallery museum in the US, that’s in DC.
Broadway shows all start out elsewhere and eventually, with enough corporate sanitation and unification, end up on Broadway. It’s not like there’s really anything original there versus what you might find in the better theaters in Seattle and LA.
And, when it comes to food… forget it. Portland’s the best city for food in the US these days, original and exciting. NYC food is dreadful, a relic mostly of the 1950’s where it had no competition. There’s better cuisine in Florida, Seattle, and Texas than NYC.
People migrated because places like NYC (whose population has remained remarkably stable over the decades because so many that arrive leave) are overpriced, undervalued s**tholes. Nowadays with the insane rentals, crowding and pollution it’s akin to living in a large, CCTV controlled prison. Let alone the rickety ‘mass transit’ infrastructure, the only one in the US using pathetic metrocards rather than RFID systems like those used in real major cities around the US and the World.
Full disclosure: NYC born and raised, spent 45 of my 60+ years in it or nearby in NJ. Lived in Seattle/Portland area for 10 years, now an expat in Europe.
There’s better cuisine in Florida, Seattle, and Texas than NYC.
Had to hold my hand in my mouth to withstand the laughter to this stupid comment.
I love both the West and the East Coast.
I was born and raised in San Francisco. Lived in Outer Sunset for 18yrs.
I’ve been calling New Jersey home for the last 12yrs however.
My goal is to have rental properties on both sides of this country.
Being financially free to me means that I get to enjoy the fruits of both coast. Let’s all get there!
OK, you will not agree with me but: WC- too hot, too much sun, too dry, and though we have a few 10 lane roads, you have bigger crazier freeways. To be fair, the “WC” is a long coast and northern CA, WA, etc. is wetter and more lush, but a lot of CA is more like a desert (remember the drought- before the floods?). Some of us are a little reptilian and need to live in dark moist places.
The thing that most adult east coasters will never admit is that, as children, we all dreamed of summer and warmth and sunshine and so, of course, CA. East Coast kids, teens and young adults are obsessed with thoughts of the Golden State. Ir represents adventure and the good life. Families I grew up around would sometimes forbid their kids to consider college here because, the truth is, once you come our west you are unlikely to ever go back. That says it all. I’m an east coast transplant who absolutely loves NYC but would never consider living there again after living in Los Angeles/Pasadena for 18 years. I worked in NYC for an extended time this past summer and, again, loved it but also loved coming home to LA even more. It is jus so incredibly beautiful here – the oceans, the mountains, the palm trees, the light. And, FYI, we definitely have 4 seasons. The changes in light in particular designates the season shifts. So our seasons are just far more subtle and allow to be outdoors for extended periods for the entire year. Heaven. Worth every penny!
Thank you, Lenore. Looking to transplant myself from 38 yrs of E.Coast living out to West Coast. There’s a big wide world. I don’t need the support of family or friends – although it helps – I just need to DO IT, and adjust as I go.
Grew up in Northern California (Palo Alto) and lived in Manhattan Beach, Half Moon Bay up north and SF. Calif is silly crowded, hyper expensive and transitory. Many home areas are homogenized sub divisions. It can be dirty and unkept in some areas. Amazing coastline, weather and food. I live in Northeast. Farr better quality of life. Miss the sunny days but like the diversity of the weather, and a 1 acre lot 5 miles from the beaches.
You’ve obviously never traveled to California. Northern California. Central California and Southern California all have different terrains. California climates reach from dry to humid. Look it up Sf has some of the most humidity in America. It’s not there thick hot humidity you’re thinking of. The east coast will never have Mediterranean climates, in which the Napa Valley does. A drought doesn’t make a state a desert.
If you look at a map of the ph levels in USA you’ll see that the northeast has the highest toxicity in the country and therefore it’s the reason why produce is not so good on the east coast.
California is eay more diverse nature wise we have mountains not mini moles, the tallest trees on the world, springs, deserts,forests,beaches,Mediterranean climate and lovely climate year round. As for fun we have more variety with all the celeb catering we getvtk enjoy too luke amuaement parks, shopping, conventions, museums etc. East coast sucks in every aspect and loses. I’ve lived in California, Texas,NYC,upstate ny,new jersey & pennsylvania.
That is the biggest load of nonsense I’ve ever read. Apart from all the spelling errors and words that literally don’t make sense, it’s just a sad argument for west coast over east coast.
I mean who really cares about celebrities – is your life that shallow that “celebrities” is one of the things that puts the west coast over the east coast? The tallest trees…really? The best conventions? Oh, come on! Who really gives a rats about conventions, especially when the top conventions rotate around the country each year and are therefore not unique to the west coast.
We live in San Diego and the things we enjoy are the reasons we moved out here from the east coast: namely, the ocean, the gorgeous weather and the incredible craft beer scene.
That said, San Diego is so far south, it’s pretty isolated and isn’t much more than a sleepy beach town. After living here for close to 2-years, we’ve realized that there’s more to life than living in a “surfer dude” culture. There’s way more culture back east; everyone here appears so oblivious to the rest of the known world. And forget any “sense of urgency”…everything is done in slow motion in SoCal. Plus, the drivers are the worst on the planet – they’d never make it out east. Every day we hear about cars flipping over, hit & runs and DUIs.
So, I think we’re going to see out another year, than plan our return to the real world. Yes, we’ll give up the Pacific Ocean and the weather, but that’s a small price to pay and really, craft beer is all over the U.S.
It was definitely worth moving out here to live as a resident rather than visit as a tourist, but in the end, this region isn’t all that (and yes, I know I’m judging it from a SoCal perspective).
One thing I can confirm: the east coast certainly doesn’t “suck” in all aspects!
As far as I know, California is the only state in the Union where road signs are protected from theft by being wrapped in barbed wire. Saw on a Los Angeles freeway with my own eyes.
I’m glad that a lot of people love the East/West coast, they can keep their high property taxes, smog, crime, gangs, etc. There is opportunity for everybody, no matter where you live, you just have to be willing to work harder (and smarter) than everyone else, while my many of my friends in college worked at McDonald’s and partied, I started my own custom harvesting business with loan for a 10 year old combine, and an old tandem axle truck. Today I still do some custom farming on the side, but I mostly run my own farm and small feeding operation. I also have some investments outside of farming, mostly real estate, but some stocks and bonds as well.Maybe it’s just because I’m an ignorant South Dakota farm boy who happens to like open spaces and seeing the stars at night. You may say that South Dakota is too cold in the winter, well maybe it is if you aren’t used to it, or don’t know how to properly dress and prepare for it.
People are arguing all they want, but given this is a personal finance website about building wealth so we can all be free, I’m personally investing in Middle America real estate through RealtyShares, one of the leading real estate crowdsourcing platforms today. The coastal cities are way too expensive with cap rates below 4%. With Trump in office, and the theme of buying American and hiring American, I believe Middle America real estate will outperform over the next 4+ years. They are already much cheaper with 10% cap rates (net rental yields).
No way am I going to put down $250,000 to buy a median priced property in SF or NYC after an 8 year bull run, and then BORROW another $1,000,000 mortgage! I’d much rather surgically invest in the heartland through RealtyShares $5,000 – $25,000 per property.
Wow this is one step above I make$85/hour at home through Google… Midwest real estate uh-huh… I’m not going to make them money by clicking on their link, howzabout you post some performance numbers for us, like how have you done in the last year doing this and what’s their 1 yr/3yr/5yr return.
My intuition says, nothing the clown in the Oval Office does will make a hill of beans difference to the folks in the Midwest; when they have no jobs, and lose their affordable healthcare, what’s left their will empty out even more. Remember that the Rust Belt states are ‘net recipients’ on tax revenues vs. Federal assistance, so it’s just an enormous belt of poverty.
Jobs aren’t coming back because automation’s replacing people in Manufacturing. And if they do come back, why should employers pay more in Kansas than they do in Vietnam? If they come back, they’ll earn less, and not be able to afford real estate.
Silly recommendation, data free. Might as well save your money, visit some Rust Belt state with it and go gamble in an Indian casino.
Sure, here’s my initial rational for investing in the Heartland Of America.
I’ll following it up with a more micro screening view later.
If everybody believed, then I wouldn’t be able to make outsized profits! That’s how all entrepreneurs and investors think. Arbitrage baby! Got to practice predicting the future.
Upon my first reading of this I could not find the date in which you wrote this article. As I continued to read all I could think was “is this person nuts”. I then have to question if I was honestly going to read your financial advice. I am quite curious as to whether or not you still feel this way?
I was born in California, most days in elementary school we couldn’t go outside to play due to smog. Earthquakes, drought, etc. Most songs about California were written in the 60’s. I’ve seen more celebrities walking the streets of NYC than I have ever seen in Hollywood, or California. That would lead me to conclude that they work in California and live else where. I have also lived in Oregon and Washington. Oregon is so crazy and crammed packed full of so many people that it takes an hour plus to get anywhere. You hike to a waterfall only to find people living there. The homeless population is a huge issue. The prices of homes and rent have gotten to the point of pure insanity, and I don’t see the jobs, but I hope they are there. Seattle, has always been expensive, but now I think you need to be a foreign investor, or a multi billionaire to live there. If I thought the homeless population is bad in Portland, its heartbreaking in Seattle. I was just there on business a week ago and cried that night it was so bad. They may have beautiful views to look at, but you must look past the homeless population camped along I-5 first. Both areas have vandalism, vandalism,drugs and trash. These are three of the last places I would ever want to live. I have relatives in all three states, don’t know for how much longer because rent and mortgages keep going so high that they too will be pushed out like it or not.
Thanks for your comment. I am nuts for wanting to live the dream life in Hawaii, I must admit. But the people who change the world have to be a little nuts!
See my latest post that may get you more excited: Why I’m Investing In The Heartland Of America
West Coast is the most boring coast. I moved to Southern California last year for work and I cannot wait to go back to NYC in April. I love the weather but everything else sucks. Public transportation does not exist, traffic is a disaster, no one seems to know how to drive, probably because it’s all foreigners and people are so fake to your face but will talk mad shit when you turn your back. No thanks!
Here, here! Couldn’t agree more. We’ve been in San Diego for 16-months and have encountered all of the above. In particular, the drivers are the living worst – tailgating is a SoCal obsession, turn signals are virtually non-existent and every day you hear on the news about hit & run drivers, cars that have turned over and a string of DUI related accidents. It’s like you’re driving on the freeway with a bunch of 5-year olds all around you. And then, of course, there’s the daily traffic jams…
Yes, and Californians are a superficial bunch too. It’s like living in a city that is oblivious to the rest of the planet – we always tell folks back east that San Diego is the “city” (I heard someone refer to SD as “a sleepy beach town”) that time forgot.
It’s bizarre in SoCal!
Go back to the nyc then. The most segregated school district in America. There is a reason why quality of life and agriculture is garbage. I would never live in a city with stop and frisk and segregation. Nyc is a disgusting place.the food in nyc sucks because literally all the agriculture is old. Agriculture makes food what it is and is the reason why Sam Francisco is now the culinary capital of America. Too many obese people in nyc and I left the city because it is literally the number one worse city for people with disabilities in the world. The subway is trash because trains are always late, statins are closed or falling apart and it’s in billions of dollars of debt. Nyc does even have a ring system on its subways (look it up). Nyc is trash. I know you love that segregation. In all honesty San Diego is a dump. It’s like the equivalent of Long Island but it’s not an island.
East Coast versus West Coast? One is only better than the other if it matches the lifestyle you want to live. I was raised in the mid-Atlantic then lived in Philly, DC, NYC, NC and Seattle. Now I’m in CA. I’ve found the lifestyle here fits me. I like it here because I like warm weather outdoor activities and sure, people can be a little more mellow. That doesn’t mean there aren’t things I don’t like but for me the good outweigh the bad.
Cost of living, hurricanes and earthquakes aside, people always find a reason to support why one coast is better than another. That’s a good thing because it means you live somewhere that makes you happy.
Well said Frank!
Or, East coasters who justify living on the East Coast during the winter are just justifying things to make themselves feel better about the frigid weather.
Mahalo from Oahu! I truly believe I am happier and less stressed living in Hawaii right now. I’ve gone swimming, hiking, or played tennis every day for the past 10 days this December for our business offsite. Isn’t quality of life, health, and happiness the most important thing?
I’ve been living in California for the past 6 months (Colorado before that) and I miss the East Coast aggressiveness sometimes! I’m looking for friends who tell me how they really feel versus acquaintances where I can’t tell if they’re just being nice. I guess that comes with time though!
Easy solution! Just go back to the East Coast to see friends and family during the nice months of the year. I love going to expensive NYC during the US Tennis Open!
I happened to notice this article as I was surfing online and wanted to add my opinion. I’m originally from IL and currently reside in the northern plains and haven’t lived on either coast (but I have visited both). I have extended family from the East and where I live there are quite a few expatriates from the western US (mostly from California but people from other western states are here as well); furthermore, many of the jobs I have worked at required me to talk and deal with people from all over the USA so I think I have some experience in dealing with both halves of the union.
I will be honest; both coasts tend to have a lot of weird people living on them but I found the West Coast to be far more superficial and higher-maintenance overall. I used to dread talking to someone out in California given that many people out there seemed to take quite offense to someone just talking to them on the phone. Hello Mr/MS Californian, YOU CALLED US. Yes, you do have to talk to someone you don’t know so that you can just get information on YOUR account. I’m not even trying to sell you anything or bug you for anything and me saying hello or making small talk to you is NOT going to kill you. If you are that offended by talking to the general public then please, do all your business online and hole yourself up in your house.
I also think the people out west (like west of the Mississippi River) overall have a more throwaway mentality towards people. I can see where someone moves from out east (or even some place like Ohio) to Phoenix/Denver/LA/Dallas/any city in the west and has a hard time even making acquaintences. When we lived in IL I had friends as a kid (even as a socially awkward kid) and at least had a fair chance at being a part of the community. Most places out west I found that the locals simply wouldn’t give you a fair chance to, I don’t know, be a part of the community. Even here in the prairie states they have that mentality. You can’t get jobs beyond some throwaway retail/restaurant job without basically becoming a cowboy drone out here and then the western US wonders why they have a brain drain problem. Small towns out here scream that they are dying and have no young people coming in but when someone from the outside moves in or at least attempts to answer their call and fix stuff in town the locals gang up, harass, and drive them out. And you wonder why people make jokes about westerners!?
My theory is that a majority of people moved out west because they either:
A. Couldn’t handle being in a community where people have at least some normal social skills. This isn’t some morality or religious issue, it’s whether you can at least engage with your community properly. If you have a problem with someone, be upfront but civil with it. Stringing someone along is not going to get you far in the outside world and most cultures won’t tolerate it.
B. They were on the run from the law or cheated/lied/screwed over people in their former community. Even here in farm country there are a lot of people who moved here to run away from their crap back east. Some of them made up some real tall tales as to why they moved out here when often times they usually were the culprit or weren’t as innocent as they said they were.
Some other posters on this thread have talked about the discrimination and bad treatment of people out west. I can see why as I found a lot of businesses out here were real shady and I think the idea of the Western US as being some tolerant libertarian utopia is fantasy. I doubt that the western states are anywhere near libertarian as the media depicts them as (opening a business in my state is tougher than it looks) and in fact I found a lot of the politics out here being borderline fascist. It doesn’t matter whether it’s California or Idaho (or any of the others), these states have more than their fair share of laws that make even the old South gasp as far as oppression goes. And good luck on the tolerance aspect; California and the Pacific Coast states might be more tolerant than their neighbors but I found the eastern US overall to be more tolerant as far as LGBT people and other minorities go.
So why does it have the most segregated school district in AMERCA? The west coast is known to be way more tolerant. Nyc has stop and frisk, segregated schools and the worse transportation for people with disabilities in the world. Policies reflect how the citizens are and that’s why nyc is the limousine liberals capital of USA. Even Arizona’s ultra conservative Maricopa county has recreational marijuana. The East coast is filled with conservative Democrats. That’s why the west coast is waaaaay more liberal and SF is the most liberal city in America. No segregation needed.
Interesting and entertaining post. I agree that people in the bay area generally do seem happier than people in NYC and I think it has a lot to do with the weather and people aren’t living on top of each other as much.
The Cavs won the NBA championship in 2016, not the Warriors.
Damnit, why do you have to remind me! lol
But we got KD for 2017, so we should be Championship contenders again! And the Giants are in second place so should go to the playoffs.
San Francisco #1!
See:
The Cheapest International City In The World: San Francisco
The Best Places To Buy Property In San Francisco Today
I can’t relate to this article, which just goes to show how personal these things can be. I’ve lived in LA for the past 6 years, and NYC for 4 years before that. I’ve missed NYC every single damn day since making the bone head decision to move here. LA is a cesspool and I couldn’t care less about the comparatively nice weather. The Westside housing prices are close-ish to what you pay in NYC, and the vapid Kardashian wannabes have got to be the worst. no sense of family values or tradition here- it’s more common to have divorced parents than not. To each their own.