Want to live and work in California?

The cost of living in San Francisco is the highest in the state. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center runs around $3,000 per month. In Los Angeles, $2,500 to $3,000. In San Diego, slightly less. Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield fall in the $1,500 to $2,000 range.

Groceries and electricity are also above the national average. A simple meal at a casual restaurant costs $15 to $25. A mid-range lunch at a popular chain (Chipotle, Panera) runs $12 to $18.

Those earning in dollars can live comfortably in California on a household income above $100,000 per year. Single tech workers often earn considerably more. Those arriving without a formal job offer need savings for the initial period, especially for the rental deposit (typically first month plus one or two months' security).

California has the world's largest technology market. Apple, Google, Meta, Nvidia, Salesforce, Cisco, and thousands of startups are based in Silicon Valley. Average software engineering salaries exceed $150,000 per year and can double at large companies.

Los Angeles is the hub of film, television, music, and advertising. Studios like Disney, Warner, Universal, Sony Pictures, and Netflix employ thousands. San Diego is strong in biotechnology, medical devices, and Navy-related companies. Sacramento is the center of state government.

In the interior (Central Valley), agriculture employs many workers, especially Latin American immigrants. California produces grapes, almonds, lettuce, strawberries, and dairy at scale. There is also employment in healthcare (major hospitals), education (UC system), and tourism.

The US does not have a universal public healthcare system. In California, those with formal employment generally receive health insurance from their employer as part of their compensation. Family premiums can exceed $1,500 per month, but the employer covers part of it. For those without employment, Covered California (the state insurance marketplace) offers subsidized plans based on income.

Low-income families are eligible for Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid), which is free or low-cost. Documented immigrants over 50 and children up to age 25 have full access, even without citizenship. Undocumented immigrants have limited access (emergencies and pregnancy).

Hospitals like Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles), Stanford Health Care, UCSF (San Francisco), and Kaiser Permanente are among the best in the country. Those arriving without insurance should avoid private emergency rooms: a basic visit can cost $1,500 to $5,000.

Most people in California rely on a car. Distances between cities are large, and public transit outside major centers is limited. Even in Los Angeles, while a Metro system exists, its network is smaller than in most European capitals.

San Francisco has the most varied system: buses, the historic cable car, Muni, BART (regional train), and ferry service. It is possible to live there without a car, especially in central neighborhoods. In Los Angeles and San Diego, a car is practically necessary for commuting. Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are ubiquitous.

California has some of the world's largest airports: LAX (Los Angeles), SFO (San Francisco), and SAN (San Diego). Highways such as the 101 (running the length of the state north to south) and I-5 are the main routes. Traffic in Los Angeles and the Bay Area can be severe during peak hours.

Hollywood, in Los Angeles, is the global center of film and television. The city breathes the entertainment industry: studios, actors in coffee shops, events like the Oscars. In San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the culture leans toward innovation and entrepreneurship. Nearly every major startup in the world has passed through the area.

Outdoor living is a core part of the Californian identity. Surfing, hiking in national parks (Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Redwood), running on the beach, or cycling are routine for many residents. The climate helps: outdoor activities are possible year-round.

Latin influence is strong. More than a third of the population is Hispanic, meaning Mexican restaurants on every corner, events like Cinco de Mayo, and Latin pop as part of the everyday cultural landscape.

California is home to roughly 10.6 million residents born outside the United States, close to 27% of the population, the highest share in the country. Mexicans are the largest group and are present across the entire state, with strong concentrations in Los Angeles, the Central Valley (Fresno, Bakersfield), and San Diego. Los Angeles also hosts the largest Filipino community in the United States (Historic Filipinotown, Carson, West Covina) and the Filipino enclave of Daly City in the Bay Area. Chinese immigrants dominate the San Gabriel Valley (Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel), the largest Chinese American region in the country, along with Cupertino and the Richmond District in San Francisco. Indians concentrate in Silicon Valley (Fremont, Sunnyvale, Cupertino), tied to the tech industry. The largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam is in Westminster's Little Saigon in Orange County, extending into San Jose. Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans fill Pico-Union and the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. Koreatown in LA and Garden Grove host the largest Korean diaspora in the Americas. Iranians form Tehrangeles in Westwood, and Armenians concentrate in Glendale and East Hollywood.

The support network is the densest in the country. CHIRLA, CARECEN LA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice LA, the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, Centro Legal de la Raza in Oakland, the Filipino Migrant Center, and the Korean Resource Center provide legal aid, deportation defense, and help with citizenship applications. The Consulate-General of Mexico in Los Angeles is the largest in the world. Consulates-general operate in Los Angeles and San Francisco for India, China, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, France, and Indonesia. Mexico also keeps consulates in San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, and San Bernardino. Almost every public agency offers service in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, and Armenian.