Moving to California in 2023? Complete Moving Guide

The cost of living is one of the key things to look at if you’re moving to California:

Housing market in California

How Does California Rent Compare To The Rest Of The Country?

If renting a home is a part of your housing option if you’re moving to California, here’s how the state’s rent compare to other states in the country:

Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in California, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

Home to the Silicon Valley, thousands of startups, and tech companies, California’s job market is always booming.

Unemployment Rate

California’s unemployment rate is 4.40%. The national average is 3.70%. Here’s a breakdown of the state’s job market since you’re considering moving to California:

Top Industries in California

California’s massive and thriving economy is powered by several key industries. The Garden state is a powerhouse of several economic activities.

• Government
• Healthcare and Social Assistance
• International trade and tourism
• Agriculture
• Energy
• Real estate
• Technology
• Education
• Forestry
• Construction
• Hospitality

Depending on where you’re moving from, moving to California will most likely mean paying a certain amount in taxes. Here’s a breakdown of taxes in California:

• California’s income tax is 1% - 13.3%
• Sales tax in California is 7.25% -10.50%
• Property tax in California is 0.73% average effective rate
• California gas tax is 50.50 cents per gallon of regular gasoline
• Gas tax per gallon of regular diesel is 38.50 cents

• Hollywood

  Once a neighborhood in Los Angeles, Hollywood is now the world capital of cinema and home to some of the largest movie studios, including Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros, and Disney. Some of the big landmarks of cinema fall into the list of most visited places in the country. Apart from providing unlimited jobs to locals, Hollywood also brings big revenues to the national coffers.

• Breathtaking Beaches

  No state in the US captures the essence of a carefree, sun-kissed lifestyle like California and the 800-mile coastline plays a major role in that. With about 100 beaches and more, it is almost possible to pick the best beach to surf, dive, swim, or soak in the sun.

• National Parks

  California has 9 national parks, the most by any state. And each one with its unique appeal waits to embrace visitors year around. Here’s the list of national parks in California.

  • Yosemite National Park
  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • Death Valley National Park
  • Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
  • Pinnacles National Park
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park
  • Channel Islands National Park
  • Redwood National Park
  • Point Reyes National Seashore

• Alcatraz

  Situated 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, Alcatraz Island has an abandoned federal prison, the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, and natural features such as rock pools and a seabird colony. Now abandoned, Alcatraz Jail was infamous for its notorious inmates, including Al “Scarface” Capone and the “Birdman” Robert Stroud.

• San Francisco

  The fourth-largest city in California is the cultural, financial, and commercial center in northern California. Silicon Valley is in San Francisco that is home to some of the largest technology companies, including Adobe Inc, Jupiter Networks, Netflix, Nvidia, and PayPal.

• Wine

  Almost 90% of the wine in the US is produced in California, which is 30% more than the wine produced in Australia. The climate, ranging from abundant sunshine to cool coastal air, plus a variety of soils and terrain gives a personal touch to every wine produced in different parts of California. The different red wines from the state include outstanding ones like Pinot Noir and Zinfandel and even lesser-known varieties like Valdiguié.

• Theme Parks/Disneyland

  From the wild water thrills of Splash Mountain in Disneyland to nostalgic big dippers and the Halloween-themed Knott’s Scary Farm, there’s never a dull moment at the finest theme parks in California.

  Here’s a list of top-rated theme parks in California

  • Disneyland
  • Universal Studios Hollywood
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
  • Legoland California Theme Park
  • Knott’s Berry Farm
  • Six Flags Magic Fountain
  • Pacific park
  • Belmont Park

• Surfing

  Surfing is big in California. It is so big that for many, surfing is a way of life while for many, it is a spectator sport. Some of the best surfing beaches in California are:

  • Windansea Beach, San Diego County
  • Oceanside, San Diego County
  • San Onofre State Beach, San Diego County
  • Palos Verdes' The Cove, Los Angeles County
  • Redondo Breakwater, Los Angeles County
  • Malibu, Los Angeles County
  • Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz County

• Giant Redwood Trees

  Standing up to 378-feet tall, Redwood trees are the tallest, the biggest, and the oldest trees in the world and California is the only place where you can see them. They define the landscapes with mesmerizing heights and give a distinctive appearance.

• Death Valley

  A desert valley in Eastern California is one of the hottest places on the earth. It is notoriously hot in summer and got its name for its extreme climate that makes it difficult for normal living creatures to survive.

• Fort Bragg

  Fort Bragg is a picaresque city along the Pacific Coast and was once an exclusive army base but now turned into a tourist destination with many outdoor activities.

• Craft Beer

  Californians are crazy about craft beer and the state has 968 craft beer breweries, the maximum in any US state. Some of the top craft beer brands in California to relish are:

  • Anchor Liberty Ale
  • Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
  • Lagunitas IPA
  • Deschutes Black Butte Porter
  • Bear Republic Racer 5

• Mammoth Lakes Hot Springs

  Mammoth Lakes in Mono County has an amazing range of hot springs, all tucked inside serene surroundings. Naturally protected, these springs are hot destinations for those who aspire for solitude in the company of wilderness.

  Some of the best hot springs to explore is:

  • Rock Tub hot spring
  • Crab Cooker hot spring
  • Shepherd hot spring
  • Wild Willy’s hot springs
  • Hilltop hot spring

• California Cool Decor

  California Casual or California Cool or just California Style is a decorating style that majors on neutral, soft colors on furniture and walls, furnishings that are inviting and comfortable, a relaxed boho feel enhanced by natural materials and fabrics, such as leather, wood, wool, cotton, and stone.

• Music Festivals

  Hollywood, theme parks, sunshine, artisanal toasts – the specialties of California do not end here. Music festivals are another rage in California which hosts never-ending music nights year around.

  Some of the best music fests to attend in California include:

  • Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
  • Stagecoach
  • Lightning in a Bottle
  • BottleRock Napa Valley
  • HARD Summer Music Festival
  • Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival
  • CRSSD Festival
  • Rolling Loud California
  • Desert Daze

• Mouthwatering Cuisine

  Just as the state, the cuisine in California is also diverse. It’s a mix of fresh ingredients, vegetables, fresh cheeses, grilled meat, fish and seafood, nuts, an assortment of cross-cultural dishes influenced by other international cuisines: Mexican, Chinese & European.

  Here are 7 dishes to relish in California

  • Uramaki
  • California-style pizza
  • Mission burrito
  • Cobb salad
  • French dip sandwich
  • Fortune cookie
  • Ranch dressing

Violent crimes in California

This stat shows the violent crime rate in California:

Property crimes in California

Here’s a simple stat of California property crime rate: