Same cost of living as PA? Dude, that California Sunshine is giving you heat stroke. I left California a few years ago after living in state 40+ years. Housing costs in Sacramento, Hayward, Fairfield, Vacaville, Livermore are about double the cost of houses in PA. In California, I was paying around 33 cents / KWHour from PGE for electricity .. in PA, it's 7 cents / KWHour. Moving to PA my state income taxes went down by $2000/month -- that's the equivalent of a new Mercedes every 3 years. What are you paying to register your car in CA (we pay $35/year in PA)? What are you paying for gas per gallon? Even the cost of food is higher in CA. Seriously, EVERY aspect of life in California costs significantly more, you just don't realize it till you escape. It's a lovely state, I agree on that, but don't kid yourself into thinking that it's an affordable place to live.