You CAN live in Cali cheap if you want to. I know people that do. I told myself when I left that I'd be back when I'm making six figures 
I say stick to a coast because the ocean helps moderate the temperatures. Large bodies of water like lakes also help but around the great lakes you have lake effect snow. I love Chicago but that's probably still too cold.

I say stick to a coast because the ocean helps moderate the temperatures. Large bodies of water like lakes also help but around the great lakes you have lake effect snow. I love Chicago but that's probably still too cold.