Berkeley is in one of the highest cost of living areas in the country - assuming you could find a minimum wage job in the Jamestown area (call it $9 an hour) you would have to make the equivalent of $16 an hour in Berkeley to break even - 50% more than minimum wage. You would be better off finding a lower unemployment area with a lower cost of living rather than a place like Berkeley with a lower unemployment rate (about 4.5% but a much higher cost of living. You also do not say what your skills are - have you checked to see that your skills are in demand in the Berkeley area?

Atrix,

You know California is a big place right? The entire state is not warm and sunny all year round. Homelessness in Berkeley during the winter months is going to be cold and HOPEFULLY rainy.

Steve D provided you a lot of great information. The one thing he missed is correcting your housing cost estimate. $800 is NOT the average cost of rent in Berkeley. It would be rare to find rent that low.

100s of Better places to move.

do real world research b4 becoming homeless in CA..

as for unemployment? u know where library is?

plenty of books on self employment there.

learn how to wash store front windows for 10 -20$

each . great way to earn 300 - 500$ cash week.

use a library to learn.

so rent is about double and min wage is only 37% higher - and most min wage jobs are part-time. $500 might not even you there

What skills do you have? Why would you be able to get a job in CA when you cannot get one in NJ?

i live in jamestown ny. #1 welfare city in the tri state area.... i lost my job, most places here are not hiring due to over population.(unemployment is at 8%) iv tried for 2 months. i now have 20$, no phone service, no car, and enough belongings to make about 500$ if i was to sell everything. i feel like there is nothing going for me in this city. what is your opinion? should i stay in NY or move to CA

info....

Jamestown---average rent is 450$. min wage is 8$. 9 in January

berkeley ca---- average roommate rent is 800 (much easier to find a place too). min wage is 10$ 11 in january