You don;t say what type of professional you are - but I would definitely look at licensure laws (and reciprocal interstate agreements) as well as the overall job market.

Some places may seem very expensive - but have much higher salaries - some places may seem more economical but a job with any kind of salary is very difficult to find.

The Bay Area, from Santa Cruz to the Wine Country, is a lovely place to live.

Denver-cold, but over 300 days of sunshine. Snow rarely hangs around to get grimy (like the northeaset). Just a thought.
Hiring in Charlotte now.

Sounds a bit like a post someone might have made in the late nineties when jobs were plentiful and people had choices.

Cross Santa Barbara off your list....or waste some time reading about the housing crisis there, the homeless problems, the first-responder crisis and the flooding, fire and earthquakes that loom constantly.

Except that it has hot, humid high summers, I would suggest Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington is no longer a backwater and it even has a movie industry due to low costs and non-union labor. Wilmington is relatively inexpensive but has some chic areas, especially near the Cape Fear River. Pleasant breezes usually help during the humid times and very nice weather can be had for much of the year. Wilmington is not the conservative city it was 25 years ago and even has elected North Carolina's only openly homosexual state senator, a lesbian who is retiring this year.

I love Seattle dearly, but Portland OR is considerably cheaper and a GREAT city too. I've had two friends relocate their recently because they feel they get more for their money. Finding apartments in Portland in the ~$500/mo range that would be $850-1000 here in Seattle.

The weather either place is similar... mild, when you consider the entire year. It gets gloomy, dark, raining in the winter but rarely snow or dramatic temperatures. Also it doesn't last long. It's been spring for quite awhile now, for example, everything green, lush, blooming right now. Summer and fall can be spectacular. Seattle's very beautiful, over looking the Puget Sound with snowcapped mountain range on either side (Cascades, Olympics).

Basically the cost of living IS high in California period (you said it "seems" high, I'm saying it is -lol!). But that's because it's a REALLY nice place to live. Gorgeous weather and scenery.

I like the state very much (as a Los Angeles native). If you can find a job, sure I'd consider San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, all in a heartbeat!!

I don't like Orange County myself. Can't really say why it's just all suburban and not very interesting imo.

Portland is great, but our job market is one of the worst in the country and no real signs of a comeback anytime soon. I know quite a few people that have been out of work for a long time, and these are highly educated people with lots of experience. No way would I move here now unless I had something already lined up and also had a large amount in savings.

I would suggest http://nabewise.com/sf/polk-gulch. Polk Gulch, SF is close to everything and has a little bit of everything, and the rent is not ridiculous.

Except for the lousy job market in San Francisco (and California in general), I think San Francisco might fit the bill - urban, urbane, cultured, quirky, beautiful, on the water, tons of outdoor stuff, tons of indoor stuff, etc. Polk Gulch is the new "hotspot" for people your age (when I first moved here, that area was San Francisco's gay mecca, before the Castro District, then it became a little seedy -- tons of teenage cruisers etc. -- now it's back and trendy. I wouldn't say rent is "affordable", but it's less than NYC!

Let me suggest Austin. While it does get hot here, it rarely is hot and humid at the same time. The winters are usually mild, with freezing weather rare (except this past winter). While the Gulf is 4 hours away, there are so many lakes around here that are beautiful places to enjoy water sports, sunbathe, etc... There are plenty of outdoor activities to do here, and the cost of living is relatively low.

Right now, people from all over are moving here. When I first moved here, all you saw were Californians moving here to cash in on their high home values out West, purchasing mansions here. Now, however, we see a lot of people from MI, MA, IL, NY, etc... It's making it quite diverse. Job market is picking up as well... I'd almost venture to say that Northeastern transplants may be approaching levels of Californian transplants, and it is solely because of the economy.

Also, everyone that moves here loves it instantly.

I should have suggested Austin as well - I lived there for several years and enjoyed it. I do have several friends there, however, who worked in the tech industry and have been out of work for quite some time (well over a year in a few cases).

I am not as familiar with San Antonio, but you might consider it as well (I have friends there, too, and they love it).

I have a friend who retired to Austin...she complains bitterly about the summer weather! More hot and humid than she expected. But housing prices are a fraction of those in California.

If humidity is not a deal breaker, but you still want to be near a beach, consider Charleston, Savannah, and Norfolk/Virginia Beach. They aren't as hip and happening as San Diego, but they are a lot cheaper. And still warm, without the harsh winters.

I like Austin a lot too, and it's got a lot going on. My nephew lives there and tells me it's getting more expensive all the time, though.

Basically the thing you have to realize is that nicer (more popular) places cost more to live. No surprise about that.

mlgb, there's really only 3 months of hot weather, but like I said, it's rarely hot and humid at the same time. Also, because there are so many water activities, most people look forward to being able to cool off in the many springs, go tubing, boating, skiing, etc... Summer here is fun, just like the rest of the year.

Also, the weather really is good here. For instance, although it is almost May, I have yet to use my A/C at all this year. I haven't used the heat since mid March and only because we got a freak cold front. Temp in my house is a comfortable 71 degrees. I've been opening the windows at night and enjoying the fresh air.

For most of the year, the weather here is comparable to California, but it is much cheaper here. Austin really is a great place.

I'd go to Durango, CO - if I didn't need a job. A friend in the area is shoveling snow today.

In the south, I'd choose Asheville, NC - virtually no humidity. The rest of the South (and I live here) can be miserably hot and humid in the summers. I still love it and tell myself it's just great for my complexion.

I love visiting the Pacific NW but know I'd be miserable there full time - at least on the coast. I've worked with several people that are much happier (literally) since they moved away. I know that it doesn't really RAIN every day - "it's just a mist" - but I know my mood would match the weather too much.

A good friend moved to Southern California and loves the weather. I think I'd be bored by the same gorgeous weather all the time. I do like seasons.

San Fran would be a blast if I could afford it.

The job market may be a lot better in Austin and it IS a great place to live. I lived in Dallas for a while and wouldn't live anywhere in Texas but Austin and the Hill Country.

From your list, I'd pick Denver and would add Asheville and Austin.

agree, find a job first.Weve lived in 10 diffrenet cities during my career, and are native NYC folks.Putting aside costs, our fav was Palo Alto area--much warmer than SF, but the area is incredible--but housing costs are very high.My 2nd fav is where we are now--Atlanta--weather is great, cools off every nite in summer ( we are at 1000 ft above sea level,2nd highest major city in US), no hurricanes, 4 seasons, good airport conections, lots of outdoor stuff to do in Ga mountains, big lakes, and cost of ousing is very reasonable--we luv it--have a house on the river so go trout fishing alot

It may help to know what you actually do for a living. Although CLT is a huge banking center, there are no worthwhile jobs to be had here, & haven't been in nearly 3 years in that particular sector. I am sure other places have similar issues.

IF you look at actual statistics, not rumors or "reputation", Seattle in fact does not stastically have a high annual rainfall. Nor is it always gray or a mist. My mood DOES match the weather here in Seattle, often glorious, never extreme. Starrs, have you ever lived in the PNW to know how you'd like it?