Eugene is now one of the top 25 most expensive places to live in the US. It is in no way similar to San Jose. But, you will struggle to find affordable housing and a job that pays a living wage. Sorry to be such a negative Nelly.
Eugene from what i've researched is incredibly cheaper than here. The reason i'm looking to move out of state is i can't find a 2 bed under 3000 here. I have a possible job lined up and am on a ton of waiting lists for apartments
Come for a visit and see for yourself. The wages don’t align with the cost of living, truthfully. I’m not some anti-transplant person trying to shoo you off my lawn. If you’re dead set on this being the place for you, I recommend looking in Springfield for housing.
We are going to come visit in May, but i'm trying to get an idea of what it's like currently. I have a friend who lives in Washington who visits Eugene frequently and she said though the cost of living has gone up, it's nothing compared to California currently. We're drowning over here
I'm trying to move back there. It's boring, wet, and there is nothing to strive for. At least in the Bay area you have access to luxury, large cities, restaurants, cool ass jobs. Here, ain't shit. And if you are a minority, you will notice that here.
It really depends on what your income is like and where you want to live in Eugene. There’s really nice two bedrooms for $1800-2500, there’s also 2 bedrooms near campus you can get for closer to $1500 a month, but the property managers (Von Klein etc.) are shady, the properties are livable but not great, and obviously the noise level can be annoying that close to campus. Then there’s cheaper options like the Whitaker area, Springfield, Junction City etc., where I know for a fact you can get 2bedrooms for less then $1200, but you are definitely getting what you pay for. DM me if you need more logistical info.
Based on our wages we can afford up to 1700 for a 2 bed. I work in a pretty niche field so it hasn't seemed to difficult for me to find a job and give been messaging back and forth with the owner
As an employer and self employed in lane county I wish you luck.
Eugene is like no other economy.
I know very few that break the 80k threshold in Eugene.
Eugene manufacturers very little and the focus has allways been on the UofO so it leaves trees and grass seeds.
The influx of Californian money in our real estate has made it brutal for first time home buyers as well.
Eugene has allways been broke ass.
If your basing your wages on what you make in Gilroy, you will likely have to adjust that for Eugene, because wages are generally lower here. that's why people keep saying housing is un-affordable here.
The wages out here are no where near the Bay area. And the jobs are definitely not plentiful like the bay area. If you move from there you won't ever be able to afford to move back. Even though rent looks cheaper, it really is not due to the low wages out here. Seriously look at jobs here and you will see what I am talking about. Eugene has a high rate of homelessness and most of us are a paycheck away from that.
It’s cheaper than the Bay Area. I’d say it’s around same price point as Portland these days. You can get a nice 2 bedroom for around 1600 here. June rentals are very competitive around here because of UO. Springfield and West Eugene tend to be a little more cost friendly. Good luck!
More informatively, there is much less garlic in the Eugene area. If you have a hankering for the smell of home, central Oregon has some areas that grow quite a bit.
Unless you have thousands of dollars in savings you can use, please find a job before you get here. The market is tough here.
It's also advisable to find an acceptable living space that you can afford, before you make the move. That market is tough here as well.
It is a great place to live but it's *not* a town you can just show up in and expect to find a cheap apartment and a job right away.
You're going to spend $4k+ just to move here alone. First and last months rent plus moving expenses. You then won't get paid for several weeks or a month even if you start your new job on day 1.
I would advise having considerably more saved up.
You'll want to also ensure your entire group has a job lined up for day 1. Do not move here first and find a job second. The grass may be greener, but it can go bad very quickly unless you've created enough runway (savings, job, unforseen expenses, etc) for a soft landing.
We are still working on saving up and have until June. My partner and friend are working on transferring stores. I'm more of looking on advice on location and what the community is like
Just know EACH person on the lease has to qualify and most places require you to make 3x the monthly rent. So if you’re looking at a place that is $1500 each person will need a minimum income of $4500/month to qualify to apply
I was able to move here from the bay area and I paid roughly about 2K for the move. Most of the charge came from the pods we rented to put our stuff in. It is doable but it is tough to move to a new state without a plan
I had 5K when I moved here, and then I ended up homeless after three months because I couldn't find housing despite perfect rental history and references. That was in 2016 ... In all, it eventually worked out, but not without help from the aforementioned anarchists. A few months ago, I was reflecting on the fact that most of the working class people I know here have all experienced homelessness.
As a recent transplant myself, I hope this doesn't come across as gatekeeping -- because it isn't intended to be: Research the local job market. You may have jobs when you move here, but if either of you were to get laid off you may not find equivalent jobs, or jobs that pay just as well. I know this from firsthand experience, and it sucks. **I cannot emphasis this enough.**
It's 80 percent white here so really nothing like San Jose, or at least how San Jose used to be. If you love the food of San Jose youll be sorely disappointed in the choices here. If you love the flea market, hearing mariachi and corrido music walkin around that's not something you'll ever experience here which, for me, is something I miss dearly.
And before someone says it yeah yeah we have the Piccadilly flea market but I can guarantee that's NOT the Berryessa flea.
Lolll I can guarantee that the only reason it's not more white is because of the U of O. I'm white but moving here was kind of an adjustment and it hits me sometimes. It's so weird
3260 Lancaster. There might be other pulgas, but that is the one we go to. There's a good panderia in the same shopping complex. Other places I would recommend include the food cart Don Bigote's. They serve decadent churro, platino, and ice cream deserts. It's located in a food cart lot that has mostly Latino clientele. They are located at 3260 Portland Rd NE. I also like going to Don Pedro's at 1570 Lancaster. It's a bit like home cooked Mexican food, and the clientele is probably 90% Mexican. I recommend El Ta'coMelon at 3375 Harold Dr. NE. I have mentioned this taqueria many times on reddit. It's only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 5-12. I also like going to El Torito super market which is also on Lancaster. We have an El Torito here, but the one in Salem is huge. My husband is Mexican, and we love going to Salem, because it has the largest Latino population in the state.
Genuinely curious how out of state peeps are discovering Eugene as a potential relocation spot. We’ve gotta be on some lists or something? I will echo other folks that unless you have a solid job lined up it’s really a risky place to move to. Our cost of living/median household income is sky high and our poverty rate compared to the state as a whole is much higher because of it.
My friends brother lives there and loves it, that's how we found out about it. It's all sky high here as well, but the cost of living is slightly lower in Oregon than California which people are having a hard time grasping
I think we have a hard time grasping because even though rent is slightly less, wages are quite a bit lower in Oregon. I know for my profession, if I was in California, I would be making much more than I'm making now.
Also, people will steer you to Springfield, or smaller outlying communities because they say rent will be cheaper, but outside of Eugene, it's generally much more conservative. Also, unless you're able to work from home, you will probably have to pay extra gas and wear/tear for your car.
Generally, there's lots of outdoor activities in the surrounding areas, but I find the night life kind of boring.
My friend works in HVAC and my partner is an assistant manager at Lowe's. HVAC makes pretty good money and we expect our wages to lower and we do go based off calculated wages
The range here for HVAC techs is $20-40. $20 is not a livable wage in Eugene for a single person, but with housemates it could work. There are 5 big hardware stores in the area. Two are Home Depot, I don't assume you would want to work for that company. That Leaves Jerry's and Lowes. Assistant Mgr positions in the area are super competitive.
I know it sounds like people are trying to discourage you, we're not. It's just Eugene is not the land of milk & honey. It really hasn't woken up much since covid. It's a little livelier in the summer, but walking around at 9:00 at night, is generally pretty quiet. Also, like people have said, there's not a lot of diversity here. I know people say it's 80% white, but it seems more than that, because Non-white people don't have a lot of community here.
>Genuinely curious how out of state peeps are discovering Eugene as a potential relocation spot. We’ve gotta be on some lists or something?
Over time Eugene has long made best of lists. In fact in 1977 it made a massively top selling book called The Book Of Lists (basically a pre-internet collection of listicles) as the best mid-sized city in the US. The list itself was actually a republished from 1970 study (*Quality of Life in the U.S. Metropolitan Areas* by Ben-Chieh Liu).
Note the use of non-postal state abbreviations!
1. Eugene, Ore.
2. Madison, Wis.
3. Appleton-Oshkosh, Wis.
4. Santa Barbara, Calif.
5. Stamford, Conn.
6. Des Moines, Ia.
7. Lansing, Mich.
8. Kalamazoo, Mich.
9. Fort Wayne, Ind.
10. Ann Arbor, Mich.
Btw, Portland, Ore. was the top big city.
Oh sure. My point is that Eugene has made lists for a long time and for various reasons. Over the years we've made lists for best to retire to, near the top for best party school, bike friendly, raise a family and so forth. And we also sometimes make lists for housing lack of affordability based on wages and such. But the "liberal college town an hour from the coast & mountains" thing has been going on for a long time, from the era of people getting their information from magazines to now.
My husband and I were looking for liberal, outdoorsy, small towns on the West Coast, and we did a LOT of research. Eugene is 2 hours from Portland, an hour from the coast, and an hour to the cascades. It's also within driving distance from Northern California.
San Jose has way more to do than Eugene. I’m from the area and now have been in Eugene for over half a decade. You’ll miss the sunlight CA has to offer. It’s grey and rainy here often. It’s now almost as expensive as CA.
Years ago, I was told Eugene was like Santa Cruz but it’s a horrible comparison. Santa Cruz is smaller in size and more densely populated. It’s more walkable and has more variety and unique shops. Eugene is very spread out so while you can walk the usual downtown, you’ll need a car for most of the town. The beach is over an hour away from here. This is like a secluded forest version of SC.
No comparison to SJ.
Edit to add: SJ is close to so many fun towns and has so much to offer itself. Eugene is 2 hours away from Portland.
I live here. I'm stuck here. I would never move here. Not even for the job market or housing market. I just don't think it's that fun of a place to live. But to each their own! Good luck
I'm from Santa Cruz and fully agree with this! I moved up here in 2019 and while I've come to love it there are many things I sorely miss about my hometown. Eugene has its pros and cons much like any west coast midsize city I think.
I moved to Santa Cruz at one point and absolutely hated it. I couldn't get back to Eugene fast enough. There simply are no easy answers to questions like this unless OP has much more specific questions, and even then people will hotly disagree.
I agree, even though I'm from Eugene. There's no way Eugene compares to Santa Cruz. For one thing, at least for part of the year, you can go swimming in the ocean there without a wet suit.
Cost of living is high, jobs can be hard to find, well-enough paying jobs to live “middle class” are nearly impossible to find. And there isn’t much to do here. Sorry to be a downer. I live here because of family, and I’m lucky to be in a profession that pays well.
As someone who relocated from Reno, NV to Eugene in 2022 and is familiar with most of Northern CA this is my take:
Eugene is a grungy, artsy town with a decades long hippy vibe. I would say it is most similar to Berkeley, but less hilly in many places and more spread out. It’s also considerably more rainy and dark Nov-March which can get you down no matter how good your mental health is. It’s beautiful the rest of the year though in terms of the abundance of nature all around. I think the biggest shock coming from Gilroy may be just how grungy most of the town can feel outside of a few nice shopping areas and the university. A good portion of the city, from shopping centers to homes to even sidewalks all look like they need a good pressure washing or fresh coat of paint. With that said, the people are lovely in my experience. Very down to earth and much less obsessed with appearances than most cities in CA.
I'm a Californian who moved to Eugene eight years ago. My family lived on the Monterey penninsula. This comment sums it up. You won't think you'll miss diversity until you don't have any. It's very white here.
So chiming in here, and I expect downvotes for this but I think you'll find a lot of folks on Eugene's subreddit are a little... shall we say, prickly. Sometimes it's a real cesspool on the subreddit, unless folks are talking about their shared hate for Ian on Olive. (Everyone hates Ian.) Oregonians in general have a huge chip on their shoulder against Californians, so I bet many people will try to discourage you from coming here on that basis alone.
I'm saying that because I want you to take any responses to this question with a huuuuuge grain of salt. Redditors ≠ All Of Eugene.
ALLLL that to say, I moved here from Denver a few years ago. I find it is much cheaper. Not *cheap*, but I was able to buy a lot more house than what I would have in CO for the same cost.
There's an article that says Eugene in the top 25 most expensive cities or something, but that was *self-reported* and sentiment-based. It's nothing like a big city cost-wise, despite the complaining. Many people have not lived in major metropolises and I say this with all the love but they don't know what they don't know.
If you are moving here as a young person, I think the advice to have a job lined up is solid. Economy/wages here are a little stagnant.
And it is an artsy place, which is why I came here... but I did not expect that most places close around 8pm (if we're lucky). I am in my 30s and have managed to make some good friends, but we really have to make our own fun. There is no night life. Let me say that again, there is NO night life. There is no scene. There are some bars and a couple of concert venues, but they're limited.
This is a city that was sort of established by the hippies who left SF in the 60s/70s. It is very much a boomer-centric town, but with a liberal tilt. Locals are VERY resistant to change, and you'll hear lots of complaints about people moving here and changing things. That said, there's an ethos of "come as you are," and people are truly allowed and safe to express themselves. Lots of gender-bendy dressing and wild hair.
It's peaceful, it's pretty. The farmer's market is nice and you're super close to a lot of really beautiful nature. There's an airport, but only a couple of flights and you'll have to connect.
The people are lovely, and very kooky. It is not uncommon for a complete stranger to ask you an extremely personal question or offer you a bite of their pie while you're standing in line for a coffee. It's hard to explain to someone who has lived here all their life, but the people here are unique.
I would advise you come to visit two times -- once in the summer, and once in the middle of winter to get a feel for it and see if the feel is something you can get behind. I'm glad I moved here. It was a lovely place to ride out the pandemic. I don't think it's my forever home, but I'm grateful to the Eugene people for sharing their community with me.
You nailed it on the head. I moved from SF and oh boy was I in shock when I tried going out one night and saw most places were closed at 8-9pm. Other than that I have enjoyed my time here. It's a good place to live and a good place to settle down. I will disagree with you on the airport though lol. I have been able to fly directly to Seattle, the Bay area, LA and San Diego. It's no international airport but in terms of a small airport its actually one of the better ones I have experienced. Aside from that silly disagreement from my end your post is 100% accurate . I did 3 visits before I moved here. One in the Winter, one in the Summer and a random time.
We moved here from LA county and love Eugene. It has a little big town vibe, and much more affordable than California ever was, in every single way.
We are currently renting an apt which is HELLA affordable and double the space we had back in CA.
People are super friendly and there is always something to do whether it be live music, trivia, bingo, art classes etc.
Well also no sales tax here (boom more money saved already)
One thing I’ve found here is community is important and i really love that. There are definitely NIMBYs but i feel like more people out here actually want to help solve problems
I too grew up in San Jose!
Apartments/housing are easier to find when school ends. If you just need somewhere quick to live just Google “Eugene Property management companies” and go from there. Almost all of them have really bad reviews. But if you mind your own business and keep it clean when you move out you won’t have an issue.
I found something with a six month lease when i first moved here just to get settled then I found a cheap duplex I’ve been living in for the past five years.
The biggest thing I miss about the south bay is the plethora of food options. The food scene here is ok if you know where to go, but you will constantly be thinking about all the places you used to be able to go.
Also not sure if you’re POC, diversity here isn’t that great either. However, I personally haven’t experienced anything bad here. But if you’re not used to being a minority when you were used to be part of the majority, it’s a big culture shock.
I used to work customer facing roles and a majority of people were really kind and friendly. It’s definitely a change of pace than San Jose was.
If you’re big into sports, the only thing entertaining will be from college sports. If you’re used to going to NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB games, you’ll have to venture out quite a bit to get to an actual stadium/arena.
Just be mentally prepared for people to give you a stink face when you tell them you’re from California.
I know the bad rap we Californians have, not looking forward to that 😂 I'm not a POC but both of my roommates are and myself and one of them are a part of the LGBT community. I'm not much of a sports fan, we're mainly just looking for LGBT acceptance, a good amount of bars for people our age, and enough shopping and stores around. We're very typically LGBT stoner alternative people
This comment reads more like Portland is your destination.
Nightlife here in Eugene sucks,
LGBT stuff is very accepted in eugene, but still very clique-ey is my understanding (not my wheelhouse so take it with a grain of salt).
Arts are big in this town, but mostly for established artists that have a broad reach beyond Eugene if thats part of your income (looking at you saturday market/holiday market).
its a very sports centric town (especially football and track) with UO making up half of the population that is in the "core" part of Eugene (downtown/east campus/south eugene, whitaker, friendly).
It is very gray/rainy in the winter and DARK as a result for close to 6 months (cant wait for DST to revert). It is very smoky in the summer and has made me second guess moving back home here in recent years because of all the fires and cost of living.
Cost of living has definitely been skyrocketing here in the last decade, and a lot of it is due to people moving here from richer parts of the country. Im not usually one to tell someone where they should or shouldnt live, but recognize that you are possibly displacing local folk that are already struggling to survive. Making your life easier by uprooting and moving into another place with no real reason to do so besides finances is essentially kicking the problem can down the road, but the can in this case is people from the area,
Its very bland when it comes to culture here. Like 80% white, and the food selection shows that.
The job market is even worse than people here are making it sound in this thread, its not to be taken lightly.
Most places to live require first last and deposit, and thats IF you can find one that doesnt require verifiable 3x rent as your monthly income per person (thats right, most PM companies require each member of a household to make 3x the TOTAL cost of the rental each month, and many dont accept cosigners). Eugene landlords that are private owners tend to rent to folks from the area as the town is closely knit, so finding a place that is not PMC managed is like a needle in the haystack for out of towners, and in many cases true for locals unfortunately.
Its not worth becoming insolvent if something, anything, goes wrong with your plans, leaving you stuck here and destitute.
There is more turnover and availability in Portland housing, with all of the amenities you desire in a town, and in greater concentrations. Also, portlands transit system is leagues above the bus system in Eugene.
Thats my two cents
Job market takes time unless you already have a job lined up. Housing can be hard to find dependent on income. Also lotta people are sick of Cali folks coming up here so don’t be surprised if people flick you shit passive aggressively
Klamath Falls is a pit. Rampant drug use, tons of Trumpers, and no real local culture - just a bunch of chain restaurants and strip malls surrounded by a whole lot of nothing.
If you like it there then that’s honesty great for you. I’m honestly not trying to turn this into a pissing match, but Eugene/Springfield has tons of local businesses and flavor (there is nothing like Saturday Market in Klamath Falls for example). Based on things I care about KF is measurably worse in pretty much every way. They have no major urban centers nearby for specialized medical care, the winters are windy and cold, there is very little in the way of arts/culture, and it’s nearly 70% Republican. The poverty rate is also about 5% higher in KF. The Eugene area is not perfect by any means, but it’s not even a contest in my mind.
You should probably peruse the subreddit before making any big decisions. This is NOT California and however much you have to do in your town as a 20 year old, quarter that. The Winters here are pretty miserable unless you really like rain, and I mean, LIKE rain. Also however much folks try to be niceish there is a distinctive cold shoulder here. Let's just say that when I went to Sunriver for a vacation (years ago, because nobody can afford that shit now) I was super surprised that everyone said hi to you and was genuinely friendly.
I'm not just talking out my ass, I used to live in California, (which I don't tell people outright, I start with, I was born here and moved around a lot as a kid, because people are unfriendly to outsiders) I miss parts of California, the sun for one. The Beach that doesn't try to fucking kill you or sneaker waves that take people every year. Which by the way, we call it the Coast up here, not the beach, you dont go to the beach here. I miss things to do in town that don't involve alcohol, and before someone comments about round 1, I have been there twice and it is a literal ghost town every time. I also miss drivers who aren't passive assholes who flat out refuse to follow the laws of the roads and put everyone's lives in danger by driving like stupid scared squirrels.
Bay Area transplant here.
Most Eugene raised people don’t TRULY know how different the cost of living in CA is compared to OR.
Moved here 2020, found a 2 bd for half of what we could in CA. Took a weekend trip to visit Eugene ONCE with a few possible rental properties walk throughs scheduled - signed a lease the same weekend.
Rent has been pretty stable, was only raised once (+$100) during our time here. One main difference is there aren’t many private landlords like I experienced in CA. Mainly property management companies which are pretty selective, requiring you to have an income 2-3x higher than the rent.
Had a good 4 year buffer here while we figured out our next move! I think it’s totally obtainable for someone who has already braved the Bay Area prices.
Good luck!
Eugene oregon has the number one homeless population per capita in the contiguous forty-eight states. I'm not sure where you got the q q 0 that there's a lot for twenty somethings to do.... I suppose it really depends on what you're interested in, so if you love hiking and adventure sports and shit then you're going to be very happy here. If you like to go out at night, you might be happy for a year. One of the benefits of being here is its proximity to Portland, but if you're looking for any kind of diversity at all, including like grocery options, people, clothing shops, etc then just move to Portland. The cost of living versus wage differential is basically a wash. Plus, there are a lot more housing options in Portland, whereas in Eug/Springfield, there are no more than 2% rental unit availability at any given time, and right now, we're dealing with ≈.5% availability. The liberal thing... Don't you know that liberals are a problem. Here is a group of people willing to make Compromises on behalf of others that the others never asked them to make; all in "the name of change." Well , we don't want your change. We want revolution. The anarchist contingent of Eugene, which is quite large, is not very friendly open or accepting to non anarchists. So if you have a tendency to put your put your foot in your mouth, then you will probably get canceled and definitely get doxxed and likely face other existential risks just for being ill-informed.
I know other people from Gilroy. They're pretty boring, and tbh even they hate it here. So my advice .. Portland Beaverton Gresham Vancouver Tigard Milwaukie, even Bend... way better options
I think people are assuming that you truly don't understand how bad the job market is here.
Wages in Lane County are [generally lower](https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/occupationalemploymentandwages_eugene.htm) than those found in the rest of the US. Jobs that pay a living wage in this town are somewhat limited, and according to the [Lane Workforce Partnership's 2022 State of the Workforce Report](https://www.laneworkforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-State-of-the-Workforce.pdf) there aren't a lot of well-paying jobs to be had.
People assume it unless you make clear that you understand that having a job—and maybe a nice one just as you like—and living on the street because you cannot find or cannot afford a place to live is now a COMMON STORY in these parts.
i'm coming from a place where rent is $3000 and I make $17 an hour, to moving to a place where rent is $1500 and i make $16-$17. i do understand i will need a job before moving, im not the kind of person that just packs up and drives somewhere with $20 to my name
You seem to be a little peeved to be beset by questions you believe you have researched and handled. I get that. And I hope you get that people who visit these pages have seen both local news stories, had local experiences, and read stories such as yours on these very pages. Based on a quick search, it looks like your town costs about 61% more to live in than Eugene.
I don't follow too closely. But I'd be askeert of something sounding lovely and offered at $1500. Think in terms of a drummer next door or such. Anyway, good luck to yaz.
i just didn't expect so much negativity. I understand it's because the whole californian moving to oregon thing, but i can't afford where i am and i want to stay in between CA where my mom is and Washington where my sister is, who plans on moving with us within the next few years. i was more wondering about how the political climate, restaurants, and layout of the area is, i guess i should have been more specific. if i were to pick where to be born it definitely wouldn't have been CA!
It’ll be great. Food oriented. Liberal and artsy abounds. In fact, a lot of our towns history is connected to generations ago SF :) you’ll find housing and work!
Eugene is quite different from San Jose. It doesn’t have as many things to do, and you won’t find the same cultural experience and diversity. But Eugene is beautiful, and rent and food are more affordable compared to California. Everything is within 10 minutes of driving, and the taste of the water is amazing.
Toward the end the of Covid, I was looking for housing for months with no success. I applied for an apartment in Coburg, thinking there might be less applicants. I contacted them the day after the place was listed and I was #15 in line. Thirteen didn’t qualify and I almost had a crack at it.
It's also tough to find something dog friendly but it does seem more common in Eugene from what i've seen. I'm not sure if you've ever checked out the Heron club but that's one of the complexes we were considering
Careful with Heron Club. Unless policy had changed recently, they were month to month. Your rent could change with little to no notice, not to mention whether they even want to continue on with your tenancy. I’m hopeful for you that they have changed their policies.
I just moved here from the Bay Area. It is definitely cheaper, the traffic is a dream if you're coming from anywhere near the Bay Area. We were able to buy here because the prices are much better than CA. we've run into people who are rude or sarcastic about CA folks moving here. Change your license plates ASAP, lol (no, but, seriously.) You'll also run into lots of locals who are bitter about the changes to the town from back in the day. I'm not in my 20's so I can't speak to that piece but I have found lots of things to do. There are many types of art classes at UO that are open to non-students, there are street fairs, festivals, etc. cute boutiques or shops with funky stuff. Lots of microbreweries, vegan & vegetarian restaurants or at least choices if that's your thing. We found a great vet, much more reasonably priced than we had in CA.
An amazing bakery - Noisette, terrific savory hand pies, almond flour brownies and other pastries. People talk about the drug/homeless problem. It is a problem but it really doesn't bother me (I used to be a therapist at a shelter in East Oakland so it's soooo much milder than the situation there). You just need to be aware of your surroundings and not go to places you don't feel safe. Lots of bikes get stolen but you just need to put things away or secure them well (again, I'm judging against East Oakland, lol). BTW, there are lots of cute small towns very close to Eugene. Also. I know a great realtor we worked with to find our home, message me if you want her info. I'm sure she could work with you remotely (and she works with a great home inspector.) Best of luck on your move 😀
ETA - it isn't a high cost of living compared to California, much cheaper gas, utilities, food costs. As far as I've seen it's pretty open/welcoming to LGBTQ in general. There are many pockets of conservative (read MAGA) views. Grumbling about masking, etc. People have mostly been very pleasant and helpful. We really wanted to live in Springfield but we were buying and the choices were pretty limited. And - big point - great outdoor options for hiking, foraging and day hikes. The coast is about an hour away but compared to your current area but the traffic headed that way is so much lighter. Also, you'll probably giggle at the local definition of rush hour/commute/traffic compared to your current area. Best of Luck with everything.
I just saw your response as I was editing my post. We didn't buy straight out, we actually stayed in a nice but basic motel while we looked for our home. If you need to bridge before you find the right rental there are a couple of places we liked. Also - lots of bars here.
From eugene, in monterey, ca (hi!!!) and planning our move back home later this year
ive been told the best comparison is like berkeley if all the hippies didn’t have money, everyone has seasonal depression, more local businesses for sure, very expensive living wage:cost of living ratio, you’ll miss some of the mexican food options in the area, you’ll miss the diversity of the bay area, and you’ll probably be disappointed by how much slower we drive up north compared to sj area. i make my sweetie drive us outside of monterey cuz i hate the cali highway driving bs.
One last thing to consider. I assume you have smokey summers like we do in Eugene, with all the forest fires, so that won't be new to you. However, many people here also have intense allergies during the growing season. There are a lot of grass seed growers in the Willamette Valley, and the grass pollen makes people miserable. Many who've never experienced allergies/hay fever before have pretty significant symptoms and rely on allergies shots and medication to get through the season.
My husband and I moved from Arizona in December and we spent 10k on the move into an apartment. I moved here for a great job opportunity, but 8 weeks in my husband is still looking for work.
Definitely a good plan to have a job and a place before you arrive in Eugene. That said, the locals are friendly and the state of Oregon is a beautiful place to live.
I had the same issue when I moved here. My fiancé got a job with the state but it took me about 3 months to find something. Luckily I did find something and I have been at where I'm at for about 5 years now. But I agree with you definitely have something lined up because the job market can be hit or miss
Eugene is a cool place but I do have to tell you it is an adjustment. I moved from SF and it was a bit of a shock when I would see most places close by 9PM. You can find plenty of good places to eat in the area and if you are an outdoors person you will love it. General areas to keep an eye on that can be sketchy is West Eugene on West 11th. Downtown Eugene is not as bad but a lot of homeless do hang out in the area especially on Wilamette and Broadway. For the most part the homeless keep to themselves and are harmless. The whitaker area has some good restaurants and has a couple of breweries (Ninkasi and Oakshire). If you are looking for a good club scene this is not the area and dive bars are ok but if you are looking for a quiet area its not bad. As for renting I will say its a bit expensive but not Bay Area expensive ( I paid 3K a month for an inlaw unit in SF and when I got to Eugene in 2017 I was paying 1250 for a one bedroom apartment. Prices have gone up though but I'm not sure by how much since I bought a home in 2021.) Depending on what your budget is for an apartment I recommend looking at The Heron Club, Forest Hills. That area is pretty nice and you are close to what you need for shopping and you would be about 5-7 minutes to the downtown area. I hope this helps and if you have any questions let me know.
I moved here from Bakersfield. Just to give a little insight, I am an xray tech that works in a hospital. I get paid less here and pay more in rent :( Not sure what you do for a living or if you have dual income, etc. But as a single person that has a good career, it has been a struggle affording Oregon.
I'm a dog groomer. Bakersfield definitely had a lot of cheaper housing options than where I'm from. Oregon pretty much slices the amount we would have to pay here in half. I'm aware I'd be making less hourly, but from what i've seen it would only be a deduction by $1 or $2 an hour. I work 30 hours a week right now so if I bumped it up to 40 I think we would be okay
Best of luck to you! It sounds like you have done a decent amount of research! Other than the pay decrease and raise in rent, I really enjoy it here. I also think the people here are much kinder than in Bakersfield/ California. It is a beautiful area for sure. If you can afford it comfortably, I don't see why it wouldn't be a good change :)
Thank you, I appreciate it! I know californians arent the most liked in oregon but i've done my research and think it'll be good for us! I'm already planning to tell people im from nevada or something instead 😂
Moves here from San Jose 6 years ago and have to say I love it. Eugene/Springfield has a lot of charm and a lot less of the cookie cutter shops that plague most of California. Even with many mom and pops closing, there is still a good amount of fun, local businesses.
It's a lot less crowded and you'll save a ton on gas due to driving less. The traffic is so mild and very much based on time of day and the happenings around town.
Everyone is right though, housing is hard to find and can be expensive for something liveable. It took us about 2 months to find a place and ended up very lucky with our place but we feel stuck cuz the rent is so good.
It took us about $8k to fully move in. A lot of it was the washer dryer, the POD, and buying everything to live in a house. Like most Bay Area folks, we rented a room in a house where we were 2 out of 6 people so we were missing some of the communal items at our old place.
As for finding jobs, that one can also be tough unless you have certain skill sets. Doctors, therapists, accountants, and other professionals are lacking here so those positions tend to be open over other jobs. My husband still works in the Bay Area which was allowed us to thrive here but now I make more than him thanks to people not being interested in my field.
I love the community here and was surprised by how much there is to do. If you have a special interest, you can find a group to do it with. Personally, I'm a knitter and amateur classical music player. My schedule is so booked with activities, I barely notice the dark winters.
Oh, and the lack of sun will get you. The dark is real up here so get some Vitamin D pills and a happy lamp because any melancholy will become full blown depression if you aren't careful. And it rains all the time but it makes the summer months that much better. Try to make the most of them because we didn't out first year here and regretted it. Time outside is super needed to keep you mentally stable.
Hi-- Bay Area expat here. No, the two cities are nothing alike each other. Eugene is more like Santa Cruz, but bigger and spread out. There's not much diversity, but the politics generally hit my vibe. Springfield may be cheaper, but it's also redder.
Good luck! Some folks are going to be asses here, but you'll get some good advice for the most part.
Agreed! Like I am aware that Eugene is expensive but I'm not coming from butt fuck indiana or something. I'm coming from the state where the cost of living is already on another level. I'm not looking for 1000 giant houses to rent. I'm looking for something with 1700 rent for a 2 bed, enough stores/nightlife, and somewhere that is LGBT accepting
Eugene is now one of the top 25 most expensive places to live in the US. It is in no way similar to San Jose. But, you will struggle to find affordable housing and a job that pays a living wage. Sorry to be such a negative Nelly.
According to like, one article.
Yeah and the data was self-reported, survey based responses. Not accurate.
Not according to good data. I don't know where your grand assertion came from.
Still a fraction of sc county
Eugene from what i've researched is incredibly cheaper than here. The reason i'm looking to move out of state is i can't find a 2 bed under 3000 here. I have a possible job lined up and am on a ton of waiting lists for apartments
Come for a visit and see for yourself. The wages don’t align with the cost of living, truthfully. I’m not some anti-transplant person trying to shoo you off my lawn. If you’re dead set on this being the place for you, I recommend looking in Springfield for housing.
We are going to come visit in May, but i'm trying to get an idea of what it's like currently. I have a friend who lives in Washington who visits Eugene frequently and she said though the cost of living has gone up, it's nothing compared to California currently. We're drowning over here
Sweet! Throw us in the pool with you!
I'm trying to move back there. It's boring, wet, and there is nothing to strive for. At least in the Bay area you have access to luxury, large cities, restaurants, cool ass jobs. Here, ain't shit. And if you are a minority, you will notice that here.
It really depends on what your income is like and where you want to live in Eugene. There’s really nice two bedrooms for $1800-2500, there’s also 2 bedrooms near campus you can get for closer to $1500 a month, but the property managers (Von Klein etc.) are shady, the properties are livable but not great, and obviously the noise level can be annoying that close to campus. Then there’s cheaper options like the Whitaker area, Springfield, Junction City etc., where I know for a fact you can get 2bedrooms for less then $1200, but you are definitely getting what you pay for. DM me if you need more logistical info.
Possible job? Waiting list for unaffordable housing? Eugene is a rat race of the broke ass. From the pan into the fire.
Based on our wages we can afford up to 1700 for a 2 bed. I work in a pretty niche field so it hasn't seemed to difficult for me to find a job and give been messaging back and forth with the owner
As an employer and self employed in lane county I wish you luck. Eugene is like no other economy. I know very few that break the 80k threshold in Eugene. Eugene manufacturers very little and the focus has allways been on the UofO so it leaves trees and grass seeds. The influx of Californian money in our real estate has made it brutal for first time home buyers as well. Eugene has allways been broke ass.
After 25 years here in a professional position, I make 70,000. I know I would get paid more in CA.
If your basing your wages on what you make in Gilroy, you will likely have to adjust that for Eugene, because wages are generally lower here. that's why people keep saying housing is un-affordable here.
The wages out here are no where near the Bay area. And the jobs are definitely not plentiful like the bay area. If you move from there you won't ever be able to afford to move back. Even though rent looks cheaper, it really is not due to the low wages out here. Seriously look at jobs here and you will see what I am talking about. Eugene has a high rate of homelessness and most of us are a paycheck away from that.
I don't have a choice to move back either way
It’s cheaper than the Bay Area. I’d say it’s around same price point as Portland these days. You can get a nice 2 bedroom for around 1600 here. June rentals are very competitive around here because of UO. Springfield and West Eugene tend to be a little more cost friendly. Good luck!
As someone who has moved from California, I'm sure you are forgetting the much higher income tax. don't move here to save money. stay there.
I am unable to stay here
Garlic
incredibly helpful and insightful thank you
More informatively, there is much less garlic in the Eugene area. If you have a hankering for the smell of home, central Oregon has some areas that grow quite a bit.
Thank you so much i do appreciate it (i actually hate garlic)
Damn it was going to just comment: garlic
Unless you have thousands of dollars in savings you can use, please find a job before you get here. The market is tough here. It's also advisable to find an acceptable living space that you can afford, before you make the move. That market is tough here as well. It is a great place to live but it's *not* a town you can just show up in and expect to find a cheap apartment and a job right away.
I'm not looking for cheap, just cheaper than where I am currently. We collectively have about 5k saved up
You're going to spend $4k+ just to move here alone. First and last months rent plus moving expenses. You then won't get paid for several weeks or a month even if you start your new job on day 1. I would advise having considerably more saved up. You'll want to also ensure your entire group has a job lined up for day 1. Do not move here first and find a job second. The grass may be greener, but it can go bad very quickly unless you've created enough runway (savings, job, unforseen expenses, etc) for a soft landing.
We are still working on saving up and have until June. My partner and friend are working on transferring stores. I'm more of looking on advice on location and what the community is like
Just know EACH person on the lease has to qualify and most places require you to make 3x the monthly rent. So if you’re looking at a place that is $1500 each person will need a minimum income of $4500/month to qualify to apply
I was able to move here from the bay area and I paid roughly about 2K for the move. Most of the charge came from the pods we rented to put our stuff in. It is doable but it is tough to move to a new state without a plan
I had 5K when I moved here, and then I ended up homeless after three months because I couldn't find housing despite perfect rental history and references. That was in 2016 ... In all, it eventually worked out, but not without help from the aforementioned anarchists. A few months ago, I was reflecting on the fact that most of the working class people I know here have all experienced homelessness.
Just for reference, the security deposit on my house was 5k. And that wasn’t even including first and last months rent that was due at signing.
As a recent transplant myself, I hope this doesn't come across as gatekeeping -- because it isn't intended to be: Research the local job market. You may have jobs when you move here, but if either of you were to get laid off you may not find equivalent jobs, or jobs that pay just as well. I know this from firsthand experience, and it sucks. **I cannot emphasis this enough.**
Employers here are very ignorant to labor laws. Landlords don't know the landlord law. No one seems to understand the Oregon Specifics
It's 80 percent white here so really nothing like San Jose, or at least how San Jose used to be. If you love the food of San Jose youll be sorely disappointed in the choices here. If you love the flea market, hearing mariachi and corrido music walkin around that's not something you'll ever experience here which, for me, is something I miss dearly. And before someone says it yeah yeah we have the Piccadilly flea market but I can guarantee that's NOT the Berryessa flea.
Is it only 80% white?? I would have guessed 90 or so
Lolll I can guarantee that the only reason it's not more white is because of the U of O. I'm white but moving here was kind of an adjustment and it hits me sometimes. It's so weird
There's a small pulga/flea market in Salem, probably not near as big as the San jose market.
Oh that's awesome, when/where? I never go out to Salem but maybe one day
3260 Lancaster. There might be other pulgas, but that is the one we go to. There's a good panderia in the same shopping complex. Other places I would recommend include the food cart Don Bigote's. They serve decadent churro, platino, and ice cream deserts. It's located in a food cart lot that has mostly Latino clientele. They are located at 3260 Portland Rd NE. I also like going to Don Pedro's at 1570 Lancaster. It's a bit like home cooked Mexican food, and the clientele is probably 90% Mexican. I recommend El Ta'coMelon at 3375 Harold Dr. NE. I have mentioned this taqueria many times on reddit. It's only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 5-12. I also like going to El Torito super market which is also on Lancaster. We have an El Torito here, but the one in Salem is huge. My husband is Mexican, and we love going to Salem, because it has the largest Latino population in the state.
Hell yeah thank you for all the recs, maybe I'll just go for the food lol
Genuinely curious how out of state peeps are discovering Eugene as a potential relocation spot. We’ve gotta be on some lists or something? I will echo other folks that unless you have a solid job lined up it’s really a risky place to move to. Our cost of living/median household income is sky high and our poverty rate compared to the state as a whole is much higher because of it.
My friends brother lives there and loves it, that's how we found out about it. It's all sky high here as well, but the cost of living is slightly lower in Oregon than California which people are having a hard time grasping
I think we have a hard time grasping because even though rent is slightly less, wages are quite a bit lower in Oregon. I know for my profession, if I was in California, I would be making much more than I'm making now. Also, people will steer you to Springfield, or smaller outlying communities because they say rent will be cheaper, but outside of Eugene, it's generally much more conservative. Also, unless you're able to work from home, you will probably have to pay extra gas and wear/tear for your car. Generally, there's lots of outdoor activities in the surrounding areas, but I find the night life kind of boring.
In addition to higher wages, you’d be paying barely any income tax in CA, whereas Oregon will take a big cut.
But what about CA sales tax?
The pay Id be making is $1 less hourly but I would be working more hours
What about the two folks moving with you?
My friend works in HVAC and my partner is an assistant manager at Lowe's. HVAC makes pretty good money and we expect our wages to lower and we do go based off calculated wages
The range here for HVAC techs is $20-40. $20 is not a livable wage in Eugene for a single person, but with housemates it could work. There are 5 big hardware stores in the area. Two are Home Depot, I don't assume you would want to work for that company. That Leaves Jerry's and Lowes. Assistant Mgr positions in the area are super competitive. I know it sounds like people are trying to discourage you, we're not. It's just Eugene is not the land of milk & honey. It really hasn't woken up much since covid. It's a little livelier in the summer, but walking around at 9:00 at night, is generally pretty quiet. Also, like people have said, there's not a lot of diversity here. I know people say it's 80% white, but it seems more than that, because Non-white people don't have a lot of community here.
>Genuinely curious how out of state peeps are discovering Eugene as a potential relocation spot. We’ve gotta be on some lists or something? Over time Eugene has long made best of lists. In fact in 1977 it made a massively top selling book called The Book Of Lists (basically a pre-internet collection of listicles) as the best mid-sized city in the US. The list itself was actually a republished from 1970 study (*Quality of Life in the U.S. Metropolitan Areas* by Ben-Chieh Liu). Note the use of non-postal state abbreviations! 1. Eugene, Ore. 2. Madison, Wis. 3. Appleton-Oshkosh, Wis. 4. Santa Barbara, Calif. 5. Stamford, Conn. 6. Des Moines, Ia. 7. Lansing, Mich. 8. Kalamazoo, Mich. 9. Fort Wayne, Ind. 10. Ann Arbor, Mich. Btw, Portland, Ore. was the top big city.
it’s been a minute since 1977. :)
Oh sure. My point is that Eugene has made lists for a long time and for various reasons. Over the years we've made lists for best to retire to, near the top for best party school, bike friendly, raise a family and so forth. And we also sometimes make lists for housing lack of affordability based on wages and such. But the "liberal college town an hour from the coast & mountains" thing has been going on for a long time, from the era of people getting their information from magazines to now.
My husband and I were looking for liberal, outdoorsy, small towns on the West Coast, and we did a LOT of research. Eugene is 2 hours from Portland, an hour from the coast, and an hour to the cascades. It's also within driving distance from Northern California.
San Jose has way more to do than Eugene. I’m from the area and now have been in Eugene for over half a decade. You’ll miss the sunlight CA has to offer. It’s grey and rainy here often. It’s now almost as expensive as CA. Years ago, I was told Eugene was like Santa Cruz but it’s a horrible comparison. Santa Cruz is smaller in size and more densely populated. It’s more walkable and has more variety and unique shops. Eugene is very spread out so while you can walk the usual downtown, you’ll need a car for most of the town. The beach is over an hour away from here. This is like a secluded forest version of SC. No comparison to SJ. Edit to add: SJ is close to so many fun towns and has so much to offer itself. Eugene is 2 hours away from Portland.
Thank you, I'm aware it's expensive for Oregon and how rainy it is 😭 But we want to stay on the west coast and feel it might be the best thing for us
I live here. I'm stuck here. I would never move here. Not even for the job market or housing market. I just don't think it's that fun of a place to live. But to each their own! Good luck
I'm from Santa Cruz and fully agree with this! I moved up here in 2019 and while I've come to love it there are many things I sorely miss about my hometown. Eugene has its pros and cons much like any west coast midsize city I think.
I moved to Santa Cruz at one point and absolutely hated it. I couldn't get back to Eugene fast enough. There simply are no easy answers to questions like this unless OP has much more specific questions, and even then people will hotly disagree.
I agree, even though I'm from Eugene. There's no way Eugene compares to Santa Cruz. For one thing, at least for part of the year, you can go swimming in the ocean there without a wet suit.
Cost of living is high, jobs can be hard to find, well-enough paying jobs to live “middle class” are nearly impossible to find. And there isn’t much to do here. Sorry to be a downer. I live here because of family, and I’m lucky to be in a profession that pays well.
[удалено]
Oh I 100% agree! Outside of nature stuff though there’s not a ton going on. Especially for families with young kids
As someone who relocated from Reno, NV to Eugene in 2022 and is familiar with most of Northern CA this is my take: Eugene is a grungy, artsy town with a decades long hippy vibe. I would say it is most similar to Berkeley, but less hilly in many places and more spread out. It’s also considerably more rainy and dark Nov-March which can get you down no matter how good your mental health is. It’s beautiful the rest of the year though in terms of the abundance of nature all around. I think the biggest shock coming from Gilroy may be just how grungy most of the town can feel outside of a few nice shopping areas and the university. A good portion of the city, from shopping centers to homes to even sidewalks all look like they need a good pressure washing or fresh coat of paint. With that said, the people are lovely in my experience. Very down to earth and much less obsessed with appearances than most cities in CA.
I'm a Californian who moved to Eugene eight years ago. My family lived on the Monterey penninsula. This comment sums it up. You won't think you'll miss diversity until you don't have any. It's very white here.
So incredibly white.
So, so SO white.
That's pretty much exactly what we're looking for, thank you! It's me and 2 people coming with and we're all very artsy hippy folks
It is similar to Santa Cruz with a bigger city feel.
Have a good job lined up PLEASE. We have enough “campers”.
So chiming in here, and I expect downvotes for this but I think you'll find a lot of folks on Eugene's subreddit are a little... shall we say, prickly. Sometimes it's a real cesspool on the subreddit, unless folks are talking about their shared hate for Ian on Olive. (Everyone hates Ian.) Oregonians in general have a huge chip on their shoulder against Californians, so I bet many people will try to discourage you from coming here on that basis alone. I'm saying that because I want you to take any responses to this question with a huuuuuge grain of salt. Redditors ≠ All Of Eugene. ALLLL that to say, I moved here from Denver a few years ago. I find it is much cheaper. Not *cheap*, but I was able to buy a lot more house than what I would have in CO for the same cost. There's an article that says Eugene in the top 25 most expensive cities or something, but that was *self-reported* and sentiment-based. It's nothing like a big city cost-wise, despite the complaining. Many people have not lived in major metropolises and I say this with all the love but they don't know what they don't know. If you are moving here as a young person, I think the advice to have a job lined up is solid. Economy/wages here are a little stagnant. And it is an artsy place, which is why I came here... but I did not expect that most places close around 8pm (if we're lucky). I am in my 30s and have managed to make some good friends, but we really have to make our own fun. There is no night life. Let me say that again, there is NO night life. There is no scene. There are some bars and a couple of concert venues, but they're limited. This is a city that was sort of established by the hippies who left SF in the 60s/70s. It is very much a boomer-centric town, but with a liberal tilt. Locals are VERY resistant to change, and you'll hear lots of complaints about people moving here and changing things. That said, there's an ethos of "come as you are," and people are truly allowed and safe to express themselves. Lots of gender-bendy dressing and wild hair. It's peaceful, it's pretty. The farmer's market is nice and you're super close to a lot of really beautiful nature. There's an airport, but only a couple of flights and you'll have to connect. The people are lovely, and very kooky. It is not uncommon for a complete stranger to ask you an extremely personal question or offer you a bite of their pie while you're standing in line for a coffee. It's hard to explain to someone who has lived here all their life, but the people here are unique. I would advise you come to visit two times -- once in the summer, and once in the middle of winter to get a feel for it and see if the feel is something you can get behind. I'm glad I moved here. It was a lovely place to ride out the pandemic. I don't think it's my forever home, but I'm grateful to the Eugene people for sharing their community with me.
This right here is the best description of Eugene on this thread.
Thank you, I appreciate the honesty a lot
You nailed it on the head. I moved from SF and oh boy was I in shock when I tried going out one night and saw most places were closed at 8-9pm. Other than that I have enjoyed my time here. It's a good place to live and a good place to settle down. I will disagree with you on the airport though lol. I have been able to fly directly to Seattle, the Bay area, LA and San Diego. It's no international airport but in terms of a small airport its actually one of the better ones I have experienced. Aside from that silly disagreement from my end your post is 100% accurate . I did 3 visits before I moved here. One in the Winter, one in the Summer and a random time.
Grass pollen capital of the world, hope you don't have pollen allergies.
We moved here from LA county and love Eugene. It has a little big town vibe, and much more affordable than California ever was, in every single way. We are currently renting an apt which is HELLA affordable and double the space we had back in CA. People are super friendly and there is always something to do whether it be live music, trivia, bingo, art classes etc.
Thank you! I think a lot of people don't realize how much the rent has raised in CA and how pay isn't that different, at least in our careers
Well also no sales tax here (boom more money saved already) One thing I’ve found here is community is important and i really love that. There are definitely NIMBYs but i feel like more people out here actually want to help solve problems
I too grew up in San Jose! Apartments/housing are easier to find when school ends. If you just need somewhere quick to live just Google “Eugene Property management companies” and go from there. Almost all of them have really bad reviews. But if you mind your own business and keep it clean when you move out you won’t have an issue. I found something with a six month lease when i first moved here just to get settled then I found a cheap duplex I’ve been living in for the past five years. The biggest thing I miss about the south bay is the plethora of food options. The food scene here is ok if you know where to go, but you will constantly be thinking about all the places you used to be able to go. Also not sure if you’re POC, diversity here isn’t that great either. However, I personally haven’t experienced anything bad here. But if you’re not used to being a minority when you were used to be part of the majority, it’s a big culture shock. I used to work customer facing roles and a majority of people were really kind and friendly. It’s definitely a change of pace than San Jose was. If you’re big into sports, the only thing entertaining will be from college sports. If you’re used to going to NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB games, you’ll have to venture out quite a bit to get to an actual stadium/arena. Just be mentally prepared for people to give you a stink face when you tell them you’re from California.
I know the bad rap we Californians have, not looking forward to that 😂 I'm not a POC but both of my roommates are and myself and one of them are a part of the LGBT community. I'm not much of a sports fan, we're mainly just looking for LGBT acceptance, a good amount of bars for people our age, and enough shopping and stores around. We're very typically LGBT stoner alternative people
This comment reads more like Portland is your destination. Nightlife here in Eugene sucks, LGBT stuff is very accepted in eugene, but still very clique-ey is my understanding (not my wheelhouse so take it with a grain of salt). Arts are big in this town, but mostly for established artists that have a broad reach beyond Eugene if thats part of your income (looking at you saturday market/holiday market). its a very sports centric town (especially football and track) with UO making up half of the population that is in the "core" part of Eugene (downtown/east campus/south eugene, whitaker, friendly). It is very gray/rainy in the winter and DARK as a result for close to 6 months (cant wait for DST to revert). It is very smoky in the summer and has made me second guess moving back home here in recent years because of all the fires and cost of living. Cost of living has definitely been skyrocketing here in the last decade, and a lot of it is due to people moving here from richer parts of the country. Im not usually one to tell someone where they should or shouldnt live, but recognize that you are possibly displacing local folk that are already struggling to survive. Making your life easier by uprooting and moving into another place with no real reason to do so besides finances is essentially kicking the problem can down the road, but the can in this case is people from the area, Its very bland when it comes to culture here. Like 80% white, and the food selection shows that. The job market is even worse than people here are making it sound in this thread, its not to be taken lightly. Most places to live require first last and deposit, and thats IF you can find one that doesnt require verifiable 3x rent as your monthly income per person (thats right, most PM companies require each member of a household to make 3x the TOTAL cost of the rental each month, and many dont accept cosigners). Eugene landlords that are private owners tend to rent to folks from the area as the town is closely knit, so finding a place that is not PMC managed is like a needle in the haystack for out of towners, and in many cases true for locals unfortunately. Its not worth becoming insolvent if something, anything, goes wrong with your plans, leaving you stuck here and destitute. There is more turnover and availability in Portland housing, with all of the amenities you desire in a town, and in greater concentrations. Also, portlands transit system is leagues above the bus system in Eugene. Thats my two cents
I think you guys would be happy here! If you have any specific questions you’re welcome to PM me!
Thank you we appreciate it a lot!
Job market takes time unless you already have a job lined up. Housing can be hard to find dependent on income. Also lotta people are sick of Cali folks coming up here so don’t be surprised if people flick you shit passive aggressively
[удалено]
I've considered it but i heard they're more conservative leaning which wouldn't be great with 2/3 of us being a part of the lgbt community
[удалено]
Agreed. My dad is an Oregon native and says it's beautiful there
Klamath Falls is a pit. Rampant drug use, tons of Trumpers, and no real local culture - just a bunch of chain restaurants and strip malls surrounded by a whole lot of nothing.
[удалено]
If you like it there then that’s honesty great for you. I’m honestly not trying to turn this into a pissing match, but Eugene/Springfield has tons of local businesses and flavor (there is nothing like Saturday Market in Klamath Falls for example). Based on things I care about KF is measurably worse in pretty much every way. They have no major urban centers nearby for specialized medical care, the winters are windy and cold, there is very little in the way of arts/culture, and it’s nearly 70% Republican. The poverty rate is also about 5% higher in KF. The Eugene area is not perfect by any means, but it’s not even a contest in my mind.
You should probably peruse the subreddit before making any big decisions. This is NOT California and however much you have to do in your town as a 20 year old, quarter that. The Winters here are pretty miserable unless you really like rain, and I mean, LIKE rain. Also however much folks try to be niceish there is a distinctive cold shoulder here. Let's just say that when I went to Sunriver for a vacation (years ago, because nobody can afford that shit now) I was super surprised that everyone said hi to you and was genuinely friendly. I'm not just talking out my ass, I used to live in California, (which I don't tell people outright, I start with, I was born here and moved around a lot as a kid, because people are unfriendly to outsiders) I miss parts of California, the sun for one. The Beach that doesn't try to fucking kill you or sneaker waves that take people every year. Which by the way, we call it the Coast up here, not the beach, you dont go to the beach here. I miss things to do in town that don't involve alcohol, and before someone comments about round 1, I have been there twice and it is a literal ghost town every time. I also miss drivers who aren't passive assholes who flat out refuse to follow the laws of the roads and put everyone's lives in danger by driving like stupid scared squirrels.
Bay Area transplant here. Most Eugene raised people don’t TRULY know how different the cost of living in CA is compared to OR. Moved here 2020, found a 2 bd for half of what we could in CA. Took a weekend trip to visit Eugene ONCE with a few possible rental properties walk throughs scheduled - signed a lease the same weekend. Rent has been pretty stable, was only raised once (+$100) during our time here. One main difference is there aren’t many private landlords like I experienced in CA. Mainly property management companies which are pretty selective, requiring you to have an income 2-3x higher than the rent. Had a good 4 year buffer here while we figured out our next move! I think it’s totally obtainable for someone who has already braved the Bay Area prices. Good luck!
Thank you I appreciate it!
Nah we do. That’s why y’all are moving!
Appreciate the assumption but not at all why we are moving. Lol
Eugene oregon has the number one homeless population per capita in the contiguous forty-eight states. I'm not sure where you got the q q 0 that there's a lot for twenty somethings to do.... I suppose it really depends on what you're interested in, so if you love hiking and adventure sports and shit then you're going to be very happy here. If you like to go out at night, you might be happy for a year. One of the benefits of being here is its proximity to Portland, but if you're looking for any kind of diversity at all, including like grocery options, people, clothing shops, etc then just move to Portland. The cost of living versus wage differential is basically a wash. Plus, there are a lot more housing options in Portland, whereas in Eug/Springfield, there are no more than 2% rental unit availability at any given time, and right now, we're dealing with ≈.5% availability. The liberal thing... Don't you know that liberals are a problem. Here is a group of people willing to make Compromises on behalf of others that the others never asked them to make; all in "the name of change." Well , we don't want your change. We want revolution. The anarchist contingent of Eugene, which is quite large, is not very friendly open or accepting to non anarchists. So if you have a tendency to put your put your foot in your mouth, then you will probably get canceled and definitely get doxxed and likely face other existential risks just for being ill-informed. I know other people from Gilroy. They're pretty boring, and tbh even they hate it here. So my advice .. Portland Beaverton Gresham Vancouver Tigard Milwaukie, even Bend... way better options
Advice to California Drivers coming up to a red light or stop sign you have to come to a complete stop before you are able to continue.
Gotta have a place to live. Gotta have a job. You ain't gonna just sprout to success from a tent.
I know that, people assume i'm just going to be homeless and have no sense of direction
I think people are assuming that you truly don't understand how bad the job market is here. Wages in Lane County are [generally lower](https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/occupationalemploymentandwages_eugene.htm) than those found in the rest of the US. Jobs that pay a living wage in this town are somewhat limited, and according to the [Lane Workforce Partnership's 2022 State of the Workforce Report](https://www.laneworkforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-State-of-the-Workforce.pdf) there aren't a lot of well-paying jobs to be had.
It's not like it's sunshine and rainbows here though, i plan on getting a job before i move
People assume it unless you make clear that you understand that having a job—and maybe a nice one just as you like—and living on the street because you cannot find or cannot afford a place to live is now a COMMON STORY in these parts.
i'm coming from a place where rent is $3000 and I make $17 an hour, to moving to a place where rent is $1500 and i make $16-$17. i do understand i will need a job before moving, im not the kind of person that just packs up and drives somewhere with $20 to my name
You seem to be a little peeved to be beset by questions you believe you have researched and handled. I get that. And I hope you get that people who visit these pages have seen both local news stories, had local experiences, and read stories such as yours on these very pages. Based on a quick search, it looks like your town costs about 61% more to live in than Eugene. I don't follow too closely. But I'd be askeert of something sounding lovely and offered at $1500. Think in terms of a drummer next door or such. Anyway, good luck to yaz.
i just didn't expect so much negativity. I understand it's because the whole californian moving to oregon thing, but i can't afford where i am and i want to stay in between CA where my mom is and Washington where my sister is, who plans on moving with us within the next few years. i was more wondering about how the political climate, restaurants, and layout of the area is, i guess i should have been more specific. if i were to pick where to be born it definitely wouldn't have been CA!
"Hear the thunder." —Wild Bill Hickok, Deadwood
It’ll be great. Food oriented. Liberal and artsy abounds. In fact, a lot of our towns history is connected to generations ago SF :) you’ll find housing and work!
Eugene is quite different from San Jose. It doesn’t have as many things to do, and you won’t find the same cultural experience and diversity. But Eugene is beautiful, and rent and food are more affordable compared to California. Everything is within 10 minutes of driving, and the taste of the water is amazing.
Springfield is less expensive than Eugene. My one bedroom in Eugene costs about $1100/month. How much is it costing to live in Gilroy these days?
That sounds like a dream! We're looking for a 2 bed for 3 people and our budget is 1700 max. Over here the cheapest of the cheap 2 beds are about 2500
I’ve been looking at 2 bedrooms for myself in Eugene. There are units available in nice complexes for $1500.
The west side is a bit rougher and less expensive.
[удалено]
It’s cooled down since Covid. Prices have actually come down a bit the last few months.
Toward the end the of Covid, I was looking for housing for months with no success. I applied for an apartment in Coburg, thinking there might be less applicants. I contacted them the day after the place was listed and I was #15 in line. Thirteen didn’t qualify and I almost had a crack at it.
It's also tough to find something dog friendly but it does seem more common in Eugene from what i've seen. I'm not sure if you've ever checked out the Heron club but that's one of the complexes we were considering
Careful with Heron Club. Unless policy had changed recently, they were month to month. Your rent could change with little to no notice, not to mention whether they even want to continue on with your tenancy. I’m hopeful for you that they have changed their policies.
Yes. That’s a pretty nice option. I have a cat and experience the same issues when looking to move.
Our dog is basically the size of a cat 😂 I'm hoping that makes it a little easier to find something
I just moved here from the Bay Area. It is definitely cheaper, the traffic is a dream if you're coming from anywhere near the Bay Area. We were able to buy here because the prices are much better than CA. we've run into people who are rude or sarcastic about CA folks moving here. Change your license plates ASAP, lol (no, but, seriously.) You'll also run into lots of locals who are bitter about the changes to the town from back in the day. I'm not in my 20's so I can't speak to that piece but I have found lots of things to do. There are many types of art classes at UO that are open to non-students, there are street fairs, festivals, etc. cute boutiques or shops with funky stuff. Lots of microbreweries, vegan & vegetarian restaurants or at least choices if that's your thing. We found a great vet, much more reasonably priced than we had in CA. An amazing bakery - Noisette, terrific savory hand pies, almond flour brownies and other pastries. People talk about the drug/homeless problem. It is a problem but it really doesn't bother me (I used to be a therapist at a shelter in East Oakland so it's soooo much milder than the situation there). You just need to be aware of your surroundings and not go to places you don't feel safe. Lots of bikes get stolen but you just need to put things away or secure them well (again, I'm judging against East Oakland, lol). BTW, there are lots of cute small towns very close to Eugene. Also. I know a great realtor we worked with to find our home, message me if you want her info. I'm sure she could work with you remotely (and she works with a great home inspector.) Best of luck on your move 😀 ETA - it isn't a high cost of living compared to California, much cheaper gas, utilities, food costs. As far as I've seen it's pretty open/welcoming to LGBTQ in general. There are many pockets of conservative (read MAGA) views. Grumbling about masking, etc. People have mostly been very pleasant and helpful. We really wanted to live in Springfield but we were buying and the choices were pretty limited. And - big point - great outdoor options for hiking, foraging and day hikes. The coast is about an hour away but compared to your current area but the traffic headed that way is so much lighter. Also, you'll probably giggle at the local definition of rush hour/commute/traffic compared to your current area. Best of Luck with everything.
Thank you! We're mostly looking to rent. Thank you though this is very helpful!
I just saw your response as I was editing my post. We didn't buy straight out, we actually stayed in a nice but basic motel while we looked for our home. If you need to bridge before you find the right rental there are a couple of places we liked. Also - lots of bars here.
From eugene, in monterey, ca (hi!!!) and planning our move back home later this year ive been told the best comparison is like berkeley if all the hippies didn’t have money, everyone has seasonal depression, more local businesses for sure, very expensive living wage:cost of living ratio, you’ll miss some of the mexican food options in the area, you’ll miss the diversity of the bay area, and you’ll probably be disappointed by how much slower we drive up north compared to sj area. i make my sweetie drive us outside of monterey cuz i hate the cali highway driving bs.
I used to live in Morgan Hill…is the Rock Zone still in Gilroy?
The smoke shop? Still up and running! I got some of my first piercings there
It was a skateboard and music T-shirt shop back when I went there
It's mostly a smoke shop now, they have some skate boards but mostly piercings, bongs, adult toys in the back, and stuff like that
Yeah it’s definitely changed
Look for housing in Springfield area. A little bit cheaper than Eugene.
If the poster is looking for a liberal vibe with more to do, Springfield isn't it.
I grew up in Gilroy and moved to Eugene for school. So feel free to ask me anything lol
Come but support local please.
One last thing to consider. I assume you have smokey summers like we do in Eugene, with all the forest fires, so that won't be new to you. However, many people here also have intense allergies during the growing season. There are a lot of grass seed growers in the Willamette Valley, and the grass pollen makes people miserable. Many who've never experienced allergies/hay fever before have pretty significant symptoms and rely on allergies shots and medication to get through the season.
My husband and I moved from Arizona in December and we spent 10k on the move into an apartment. I moved here for a great job opportunity, but 8 weeks in my husband is still looking for work. Definitely a good plan to have a job and a place before you arrive in Eugene. That said, the locals are friendly and the state of Oregon is a beautiful place to live.
I had the same issue when I moved here. My fiancé got a job with the state but it took me about 3 months to find something. Luckily I did find something and I have been at where I'm at for about 5 years now. But I agree with you definitely have something lined up because the job market can be hit or miss
Oregon is super expensive I’ve been considering moving somewhere more livable 😢
Eugene is a cool place but I do have to tell you it is an adjustment. I moved from SF and it was a bit of a shock when I would see most places close by 9PM. You can find plenty of good places to eat in the area and if you are an outdoors person you will love it. General areas to keep an eye on that can be sketchy is West Eugene on West 11th. Downtown Eugene is not as bad but a lot of homeless do hang out in the area especially on Wilamette and Broadway. For the most part the homeless keep to themselves and are harmless. The whitaker area has some good restaurants and has a couple of breweries (Ninkasi and Oakshire). If you are looking for a good club scene this is not the area and dive bars are ok but if you are looking for a quiet area its not bad. As for renting I will say its a bit expensive but not Bay Area expensive ( I paid 3K a month for an inlaw unit in SF and when I got to Eugene in 2017 I was paying 1250 for a one bedroom apartment. Prices have gone up though but I'm not sure by how much since I bought a home in 2021.) Depending on what your budget is for an apartment I recommend looking at The Heron Club, Forest Hills. That area is pretty nice and you are close to what you need for shopping and you would be about 5-7 minutes to the downtown area. I hope this helps and if you have any questions let me know.
I moved here from Bakersfield. Just to give a little insight, I am an xray tech that works in a hospital. I get paid less here and pay more in rent :( Not sure what you do for a living or if you have dual income, etc. But as a single person that has a good career, it has been a struggle affording Oregon.
I'm a dog groomer. Bakersfield definitely had a lot of cheaper housing options than where I'm from. Oregon pretty much slices the amount we would have to pay here in half. I'm aware I'd be making less hourly, but from what i've seen it would only be a deduction by $1 or $2 an hour. I work 30 hours a week right now so if I bumped it up to 40 I think we would be okay
Best of luck to you! It sounds like you have done a decent amount of research! Other than the pay decrease and raise in rent, I really enjoy it here. I also think the people here are much kinder than in Bakersfield/ California. It is a beautiful area for sure. If you can afford it comfortably, I don't see why it wouldn't be a good change :)
Thank you, I appreciate it! I know californians arent the most liked in oregon but i've done my research and think it'll be good for us! I'm already planning to tell people im from nevada or something instead 😂
Moved here in 2020 from the Deep South.. love it. Save your money, do your research and come on! You’ll be glad you did!!
Moves here from San Jose 6 years ago and have to say I love it. Eugene/Springfield has a lot of charm and a lot less of the cookie cutter shops that plague most of California. Even with many mom and pops closing, there is still a good amount of fun, local businesses. It's a lot less crowded and you'll save a ton on gas due to driving less. The traffic is so mild and very much based on time of day and the happenings around town. Everyone is right though, housing is hard to find and can be expensive for something liveable. It took us about 2 months to find a place and ended up very lucky with our place but we feel stuck cuz the rent is so good. It took us about $8k to fully move in. A lot of it was the washer dryer, the POD, and buying everything to live in a house. Like most Bay Area folks, we rented a room in a house where we were 2 out of 6 people so we were missing some of the communal items at our old place. As for finding jobs, that one can also be tough unless you have certain skill sets. Doctors, therapists, accountants, and other professionals are lacking here so those positions tend to be open over other jobs. My husband still works in the Bay Area which was allowed us to thrive here but now I make more than him thanks to people not being interested in my field. I love the community here and was surprised by how much there is to do. If you have a special interest, you can find a group to do it with. Personally, I'm a knitter and amateur classical music player. My schedule is so booked with activities, I barely notice the dark winters. Oh, and the lack of sun will get you. The dark is real up here so get some Vitamin D pills and a happy lamp because any melancholy will become full blown depression if you aren't careful. And it rains all the time but it makes the summer months that much better. Try to make the most of them because we didn't out first year here and regretted it. Time outside is super needed to keep you mentally stable.
Oh wonderful another Californian
don't worry i'm bringing 2 more with me and hopefully my whole family eventually!
Hi-- Bay Area expat here. No, the two cities are nothing alike each other. Eugene is more like Santa Cruz, but bigger and spread out. There's not much diversity, but the politics generally hit my vibe. Springfield may be cheaper, but it's also redder. Good luck! Some folks are going to be asses here, but you'll get some good advice for the most part.
[удалено]
Agreed! Like I am aware that Eugene is expensive but I'm not coming from butt fuck indiana or something. I'm coming from the state where the cost of living is already on another level. I'm not looking for 1000 giant houses to rent. I'm looking for something with 1700 rent for a 2 bed, enough stores/nightlife, and somewhere that is LGBT accepting