The quality of life is so good that Californians want to leave but can’t live without it_2

When discussing why Californians are staying put despite the lure of moving elsewhere, we delve into a complex relationship with quality of life. The migration trends during the pandemic indeed show a net outflow of residents, only beginning to stabilize in 2024. Many contemplate leaving but find it hard to let go, raising an essential question: what is it about California that makes it so hard to leave?

According to commentary from KTLA, the daily sacrifices Californians make for essentials highlight a broader struggle. The report notes that while living expenses in other states may be significantly lower, the overall quality of life might not match that in California. The idea of moving to Texas or Florida for cheaper living raises doubts—will residents truly find happiness in the trade-off?

The high cost of living in California has long been a source of pain for its residents. A recent survey conducted by Emerson College and KTLA’s parent company, Nexstar Media, polled 1,000 Californian voters to understand not only their voting tendencies but also their views on economic and immigration policies.

The findings were revealing: 56% of respondents admitted to having considered moving out of the state due to high living costs. Among them, 37% reported sacrificing hobbies in the past few months for necessities like food and utilities, while 35% made compromises between food and housing, and 26% cut back on expenditures for meals and prescription medications.

From any angle, California’s living expenses rank among the highest in the nation—whether it’s the median home price or skyrocketing gasoline costs. Though the population remains robust, the trend of net outmigration driven by high living expenses cannot be ignored.

Recent research from ConsumerAffairs corroborated this finding, indicating that California leads the nation in net outmigration, followed by New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. In contrast, states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee are seeing the most significant influx of residents.

Governor Gavin Newsom has made efforts to alleviate the cost of living, such as mandating oil companies to increase stock levels to stabilize prices during refinery maintenance, and signing legislation aimed at encouraging local governments to build affordable housing. However, as noted by UCLA economist Lee Ohanian, when the median home price exceeds $900,000 and rent consumes more than 50% of pre-tax income—along with soaring utility bills and fuel costs—it’s no surprise that people are inclined to leave.

In the end, the reluctance to move stems from an attachment to California’s quality of life. However, emotional ties may eventually succumb to economic realities. The relentless rise in living costs could very well remain the primary push factor for those contemplating a departure from the Golden State.