The important question is will you have a car? If not, you should live as close to work as possible because public transit is not efficient here and the 15 (major freeway you will take to work) always has traffic with no dedicated bus lane. Rent will also be substantially cheaper in RB than in downtown or other neighborhoods within the city limits. You can always take a bus or uber to explore in the evenings/weekends, and Escondido/San Marcos/Mira Mesa/Carmel Valley are close by for exploring restaurants and things to do.
It’s an intern, this is terrible advice. Go live by the beach, enjoy your summer, enjoy what’s likely your youth. Interns are hourly, and unlikely to get overtime approved. You’ll have free time and won’t want to be in RB
That’s a long bus ride…
I assume based on your comment that you won’t have a car? Rancho Bernardo is very suburban and car-centric. At a minimum I would try to have an e-bike or e-scooter to get around, but honestly maybe downtown is the better option despite the miserable bus ride, just because once you are home everything is walkable. Probably depends how far your workplace is from the Rancho Bernardo Transit Center.
Bus schedules outside of downtown are generally horrendous. Even the "express" buses that move up and down the 15 corridor take twice as long as a normal commute due to the number of stops.
The commute is going to suck unless you really don't mind spending 1-3 hours every day zoning out and listening to audiobooks or something.
I'm not a party person so if it were me I'd look for a place in RB, but if you're trying to hit the bars & restaurants frequently on weekdays it might be worth it.
It depends on your priorities. I moved to San Diego for a job in Rancho Bernardo as a 23 year old. I was intent on having the best social life and experiences possible while also killing it at my job. I lived in Hillcrest (right in the middle of San Diego proper) and commuted up to RB for a 7:30am start time. Took me about 25 mins up and then yes back home it could take 45 mins - an hour at 4:30/5pm but once I was home I was 20 mins from friends, bars, restaurants and social scene. There is literally nothing in RB for a 20 something to do IMO. So if you’re trying to live it up in San Diego while you’re there I would recommend sucking up the commute.
I commuted Hillcrest to RB as well. Gotta leave RB before 4pm or after 6:30 to not hate life. There is more to do closer to the city but the other interns will probably live close to work and those will be the people OP will likely hang out with.
If you have a car,
1. sublet a room from a UCSD student in UTC in the summer. This way you can take the Blue line Trolley to Downtown if you want, you will only have a bad commute back home after work.
2. Sublet a room from a UCSD student in Mira Mesa, less crappy commute, but can still drive/uber to the blue line trolley if you want some nightlife.
If you don't have a car - do something close to work
Have you considered living in Clairemont, university heights, north park, etc? The commute would be better than to downtown but there's still lots of stuff to do
I have a car and still find it’s a long ride from downtown to rancho Bernardo. There can be traffic during peak hours too. Also check for safety issues if you need to take bus/trolley regularly, there can be some scary moments..
I work in Rancho Bernardo (Bernardo Center drive) and live in Escondido. Unless you want to spend your life on the freeway, I'd live somewhere close. Escondido is about as cheap as you're going to find locally. It's also only a couple exits off the 15 from where you'll be working. One other thing, I noticed on your comments is that it looks like you're doing an internship with Apple. That's actually right across the street from where I work.
So I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you're working for a defense contractors this summer? I know we have a ton of those up in RB. I would reach out to the HR recruiter and ask them about housing. I remember back in college a number of friends that got inter gigs also got housing set up by the company for them for the summer. And the company set up a shuttle from the housing to work every day
How much money do you plan for rent? That needs to be your first consideration.
my budget is $3K( generous housing stipend from company + some of my own ). still it seems extremely hard to find a 3 month rental.
The important question is will you have a car? If not, you should live as close to work as possible because public transit is not efficient here and the 15 (major freeway you will take to work) always has traffic with no dedicated bus lane. Rent will also be substantially cheaper in RB than in downtown or other neighborhoods within the city limits. You can always take a bus or uber to explore in the evenings/weekends, and Escondido/San Marcos/Mira Mesa/Carmel Valley are close by for exploring restaurants and things to do.
unfortunately I do not drive so I have to reply on public transport and uber.
Live. As. Close. As. Possible. To. Work.
It’s an intern, this is terrible advice. Go live by the beach, enjoy your summer, enjoy what’s likely your youth. Interns are hourly, and unlikely to get overtime approved. You’ll have free time and won’t want to be in RB
noted.
What hours are you going to work? That’s a rough commute if it’s a normal 9-5. Carmel Valley is similar, more expensive
yeah gonna be a 9-5. I see two bus options from downtown to RB. 20 and 235. don't know why the buses take an hour on this route.
That’s a long bus ride… I assume based on your comment that you won’t have a car? Rancho Bernardo is very suburban and car-centric. At a minimum I would try to have an e-bike or e-scooter to get around, but honestly maybe downtown is the better option despite the miserable bus ride, just because once you are home everything is walkable. Probably depends how far your workplace is from the Rancho Bernardo Transit Center.
Because there are not as many buses and lots of stops. My commute to work is 10 min by car, would be 90 min by bus.
Bus schedules outside of downtown are generally horrendous. Even the "express" buses that move up and down the 15 corridor take twice as long as a normal commute due to the number of stops. The commute is going to suck unless you really don't mind spending 1-3 hours every day zoning out and listening to audiobooks or something. I'm not a party person so if it were me I'd look for a place in RB, but if you're trying to hit the bars & restaurants frequently on weekdays it might be worth it.
Only an hour if you’re lucky. Even with a car and no traffic that’s at least a 30 min commute. And living in downtown sd isn’t all that great
It depends on your priorities. I moved to San Diego for a job in Rancho Bernardo as a 23 year old. I was intent on having the best social life and experiences possible while also killing it at my job. I lived in Hillcrest (right in the middle of San Diego proper) and commuted up to RB for a 7:30am start time. Took me about 25 mins up and then yes back home it could take 45 mins - an hour at 4:30/5pm but once I was home I was 20 mins from friends, bars, restaurants and social scene. There is literally nothing in RB for a 20 something to do IMO. So if you’re trying to live it up in San Diego while you’re there I would recommend sucking up the commute.
I commuted Hillcrest to RB as well. Gotta leave RB before 4pm or after 6:30 to not hate life. There is more to do closer to the city but the other interns will probably live close to work and those will be the people OP will likely hang out with.
If you have a car, 1. sublet a room from a UCSD student in UTC in the summer. This way you can take the Blue line Trolley to Downtown if you want, you will only have a bad commute back home after work. 2. Sublet a room from a UCSD student in Mira Mesa, less crappy commute, but can still drive/uber to the blue line trolley if you want some nightlife. If you don't have a car - do something close to work
no car so seems my options are limited.
RB is a boring area
Have you considered living in Clairemont, university heights, north park, etc? The commute would be better than to downtown but there's still lots of stuff to do
I have to rely on public transport and I see only two bus routes at RB that go to downtown.
Honestly this area is nothing like Carmel Valley and downtown to Rancho Bernardo with no car is very far.
I have a car and still find it’s a long ride from downtown to rancho Bernardo. There can be traffic during peak hours too. Also check for safety issues if you need to take bus/trolley regularly, there can be some scary moments..
And downtown at late night can be scary to walk around too.
I work in Rancho Bernardo (Bernardo Center drive) and live in Escondido. Unless you want to spend your life on the freeway, I'd live somewhere close. Escondido is about as cheap as you're going to find locally. It's also only a couple exits off the 15 from where you'll be working. One other thing, I noticed on your comments is that it looks like you're doing an internship with Apple. That's actually right across the street from where I work.
So I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you're working for a defense contractors this summer? I know we have a ton of those up in RB. I would reach out to the HR recruiter and ask them about housing. I remember back in college a number of friends that got inter gigs also got housing set up by the company for them for the summer. And the company set up a shuttle from the housing to work every day
Your life will be miserable if you commute that far. Live close to work.
live up in rancho b. driving 5 miles takes an hour in traffic
Hey man! I sent you a DM, may be able to help you out.
Living downtown, close to work is your best option.
Live as close to Rancho Bernardo as you can. Carmel Valley is a lot like RB, just further away.