Highest COL in the country, a lot of it due to regulations, zoning and prop 13 which prevent density and building. Paris has the same area as SF but 3X the population.

Probably one of the highest salary areas for non-owners as well. Pretty good weather, particularly near San Diego. As people have pointed out, Prop 13 isn't progressive. Nor, really are the NIMBY rules that keep housing density low and prices high.

Some folks dislike the fact that it's a desert. It wiggles quite a bit and has been known to burn. Few blizzards, though. Little frostbite.

Fixable problems by any measure though