Moving to Orange County - where will all our money go?

[Twigglett1]

We're moving to Orange County,CA for a few years and I could really do with planning our finances when we're out there.

We'll have an income of £210k per year for a family of 4. I'm genuinely worried that won't be enough out there which is ridiculous

So far I think we'll spend per month

Healthcare $400
Rent $6500
School $1500 (if it's private)
Food $700
2 cars $600
Utilities $600

How far off the mark am I?

On healthcare you really need solid figures for your specific plan: how much of the premium you have to pay, the deductible, copays, etc. employers can be very generous, or they can be very stingy.

Gas is expensive in CA, over $4 (one US gallon is 3.78 L). Cars are very expensive right now. In my area dealers are selling them for well over MSRP unless you're willing to wait at least 6 months, and the used market is tight.

If the pound stays close to par as it is now, expect real sticker shock at the price of everything.

$6500/month for rent sounds high. It depends on where in Orange County. It's a large county....sort of like saying I'm moving to the south of England.

Most of the costs you have mentioned are ones that you can easily ascertain in advance. Also, as a PP mentioned, there are areas with very good public schools in OC, so take a look at the schools before you commit to a place to live. Health insurance costs really depend on how much your company will cover and what type of health needs your family has. Most companies have a choice of a few different types of plans. You should go over the options with HR to figure out what will best suit your family's needs.

I live in Los Angeles, not far from OC, costs are very comparable, same family size. I’d say you’re likely a bit under.

Healthcare I pay $400 a month and I have an extremely low amount as my company pays a huge amount of my plan. Also remember to stockpile amounts to fund deductibles. My family amount is $8k per year. HSA and FSA plans are helpful.
Rent $6500 that’s about right where I am and would get a 3 bed house in a decent school district area.
School $1500 (if it's private) this will be much higher. My daycare costs are double this, so private school will likely be much more.
Food groceries here are extortionate. Grapes are $5-$7 a bag. Chicken is about $10 and steak $20 for a normal supermarket portion right now. If you cook your meals, expect much higher costs. I think I’d be about $1400 a month.
Utilities might actually be ok compared to the Uk 🎉. My gas bill is around $50 a month and $100-$150 in electricity/water charges depending on AC use.
Other normal costs include $200 a month for a cell phone plan, much more expensive here than home.

something to know is that credit history from the UK does not transfer to the USA. My first credit card limit here was $200 10 years ago. I could barely get approved for a cell phone plan so it could cause issues for cell phones, utility bill setup, renting for houses etc. it’s frustrating if you don’t know it and then get here and can’t set up what you need. Hopefully your move is easy though!

Also we have a salary of about $250k for the family, and have to budget. It’s a lot of money on paper, but it’s an expensive state to live in. You’re not wrong to be a little nervous. It’s do-able, but I’d echo others suggesting public schools. The well rated ones are worth it, though the rent does go up in those areas.

Have you looked carefully at tax? It's much more complicated there - various different local taxes, e.g. property tax but also various things you can deduct from your tax return

Try to build your credit now- look into it more, but I think having an American Express card already helped us. Credit history is really important to try and get. We hired cars to start with on our UK licences (got a cheap month long rental) then sat driving tests and bought a car.

Rent is about right
Food is too low-1k-1200 a month
Use public schools in OC no need for private so save there. It is enough to be comfortable but not loads left over.