I live in California. It’s a statement that, depending on who you’re talking to, either elicits a jealous sigh about year-round citrus trees or a sympathetic "I'm sorry" regarding the tax bracket. Honestly, being a Californian right now feels like being in a long-term, high-stakes relationship where the partner is brilliant but incredibly high-maintenance. You love the views, but the utility bills are starting to feel like a personal insult.
The "California Exodus" has been a favorite headline for years. We’ve seen the U.S. Census Bureau data showing hundreds of thousands of people packing U-Hauls for Texas or Idaho. But here’s the thing: most of us are still here. In 2026, the vibe is shifting from panicked fleeing to a weird, calculated endurance.
Why I Live in California Despite the Headlines
People ask me why I stay. It's usually the first question at any out-of-state wedding. Look, the "sunshine tax" is real. It’s not just a cute phrase; it’s the $6 gas and the insurance premiums that make you want to weep. But have you ever driven through Big Sur on a Tuesday? Or grabbed a pupusa in the Mission District? The sheer density of culture and geography here is hard to replicate.
California remains the fifth-largest economy in the world. Even with the tech layoffs of the mid-2020s and the shift toward remote work, the gravity of Silicon Valley and the entertainment industry in Los Angeles is hard to escape. People come here because this is where the "big swings" happen. If you want to build a rocket or a new AI LLM, you don't go to a quiet suburb in the Midwest. You come here.
The Real Cost of Living Breakdown
Let's get into the weeds because that's where the pain is. If I live in California, I’m likely spending upwards of 35% to 50% of my income on housing alone. According to the California Association of Realtors, the median home price in many coastal counties still hovers around $800,000, even with higher interest rates. It’s brutal.
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- Taxes: Our progressive income tax is one of the highest in the country. If you're a high earner, the state takes a massive bite.
- Electricity: Rates from PG&E or Southern California Edison have skyrocketed. We’re talking about 40-cent-per-kilowatt-hour spikes that make running the AC in July feel like a luxury.
- Gasoline: We have our own special blend of fuel to meet environmental standards. It’s better for the air, sure, but it means we pay a premium every time we hit the pump.
The Cultural Bubble and the Micro-Climates
One thing outsiders don’t get is that "California" isn't one place. Living in Eureka is basically living in the Pacific Northwest—it’s damp, quiet, and filled with massive redwoods. Living in Bakersfield is more like living in the South or the Great Plains, with oil derricks and country music.
I live in California, and that might mean I’m surfing at 7:00 AM in Huntington Beach or skiing in Mammoth by noon. That variety is the hook that keeps people stuck. You get used to the diversity. Not just the people—though the fact that 27% of us are foreign-born is a massive part of the state’s DNA—but the diversity of thought. You can find a commune in the desert and a hyper-capitalist tech hub within a three-hour drive of each other.
The Climate Reality Check
We have to talk about the fires. And the droughts. And the atmospheric rivers. Living here in 2026 means having the "Watch Duty" app on your phone and a "go-bag" by the door if you live anywhere near a canyon. The insurance crisis is arguably the biggest threat to the California dream right now. Major carriers like State Farm and Allstate have paused or limited new policies because the wildfire risk is just too high.
It’s a weird way to live. You spend half the year praying for rain and the other half praying it doesn't all come at once and wash your driveway away. Yet, after a storm, when the hills turn that neon green that only lasts for three weeks, you remember why you haven't sold your house and moved to Scottsdale.
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Navigating the Career Landscape
If you live in California, your career is probably your identity more than it would be elsewhere. The competition is fierce. Whether you're a nurse in Sacramento or a screenwriter in Burbank, you're competing with the best in the world.
The state has made some interesting moves lately to keep people. The expansion of paid family leave and the $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers (which took effect in 2024) are attempts to make the state livable for the working class. Whether it's working is a matter of heated debate at every dinner table. Small business owners are struggling with the overhead, while workers are finally seeing a paycheck that almost covers their rent.
Misconceptions About the "Failing State"
You’ll hear people on the news say California is a "failed state." It’s a popular narrative. They point to the homelessness crisis in San Francisco or the retail theft in Los Angeles. These are real, visceral problems. You can walk down Market Street and see the struggle right in front of you.
But calling it a failed state ignores the $3 trillion GDP. It ignores the fact that California grows a huge chunk of the nation's fruits and nuts. The Central Valley is the unsung hero of the American dinner table. If California failed, the rest of the country would be hungry and out of iPhones pretty quickly.
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Strategies for Thriving Here
You don't just "live" in California; you manage it. It requires a strategy.
- Arbitrage your location: If you can work remotely, living in a "second-tier" city like Fresno or Temecula while earning a coastal salary is the only way some people are making the math work.
- Solar is a must: With the utility prices where they are, installing solar panels (even with the controversial NEM 3.0 billing changes) is often the only way to avoid $600 monthly electric bills.
- Embrace the "Third Space": Since your apartment might be the size of a shoebox, the public parks, beaches, and hiking trails become your living room. Californians live outdoors because we have to.
The truth about the phrase "I live in California" is that it’s a choice we make every single day. Every time a tax bill comes or a fire starts, we re-evaluate. And yet, for millions of us, the trade-off still leans toward staying. The innovation, the food, the weirdness, and the sheer beauty of the Pacific coastline are hard to trade for a bigger house in a place where it snows in April.
Actionable Steps for the California Resident (or Future Resident)
- Check Your Insurance: If you're buying or renewing, use the California Department of Insurance website to find FAIR Plan options if private carriers won't cover you.
- Audit Your Energy: Switch to Time-of-Use (TOU) plans and run your heavy appliances after 9:00 PM. It sounds annoying, but it saves hundreds of dollars over a year.
- Explore Beyond the Coast: Visit the High Sierra or the Coachella Valley in the off-season. The state is massive, and much of it is significantly more affordable than the 405-corridor.
- Engage Locally: California’s biggest issues—housing and transit—are often decided at the city council level. If you're staying, showing up to YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) meetings is how the housing inventory actually gets built.
Staying here requires a certain level of grit disguised by a pair of sunglasses. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But for those of us who remain, the complexity is part of the appeal. We’re all just trying to find a way to afford the view.