In SoCal you end up paying the "sunshine tax" just for being there. Everything is more expensive. I remember reading that once your income reaches $49K, a 9% state income tax kicks in - and that $49K threshold is far lower than in most states. So, you can kiss a big part of your salary goodbye to pay for union pensions throughout the state. California, New Jersey and New York have terrible state taxes.

I agree with the old saying regarding California, "it's a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." If you do live there, you better have dual incomes if you are married - no way you can survive without decent dual incomes (hope your spouse is a dentist, partner in a law firm or a surgeon brining in the cash).