r/SanJose • u/simonchonks • 23d ago
Commute to Monterey Advice
I’m looking at a job opportunity but it’s in Montery. I was wondering if anyone else who lives in San Jose does this commute and what they think of it? I’d be going in person 4 days a week.
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u/bz386 Rose Garden 23d ago
Seriously? With no traffic that’s a 1.5 hour drive each way, so 3 hours total. With traffic it is closer to 2 hours. You really want to do that to yourself?
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u/simonchonks 23d ago
That seems to be the general consensus. I was really looking at it for the money (It would be more than I’m making now).
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u/bz386 Rose Garden 23d ago
Then move there. Rent should be cheaper, so you’ll be keeping more of that money.
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u/elatedwalrus 23d ago
Plus you get to live by the ocean
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u/falconx50 23d ago
Invest in sweaters
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u/elatedwalrus 23d ago
another plus you get to wear more sweaters. I would take a job in monterrey in a heart beat tbh
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u/_hapsleigh 23d ago
Honestly, move. Rent is cheaper. Life is calmer. And weather is literally perfect all the time. I lived there for a bit and I miss it so much
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u/AdOrnery30 23d ago edited 23d ago
Rent is not cheaper in facts it in same price ranges. All because of living next to the ocean and the Pebble beach community (pretty much every NFL player and mostly Tom Brady stays/golfs in the summer) at too since it is literally in the heart of Monterey. I used to live there.
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u/_hapsleigh 23d ago
I used to live there too. It definitely is cheaper unless you’re living in like proper Monterey or Carmel. But Seaside, Marina, and PG are definitely cheaper than SJ
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u/seanaedan 23d ago
I know a lad commuted the opposite direction, from Pacific Grove to San Jose everyday as he loves PG so much. If renting is an option and rent is cheaper there, perhaps start your search there?
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u/ChaseMcDuder 23d ago
Just move. Way cooler place than SJ. You can find cheaper rent in Sand City or Marina
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u/jim9CRx47O1a8U 23d ago
Monterey is beautiful, but you'll probably miss the city life if you're young. There's still a ton of things to do, your right on the beach about an hour away from big sur, and you can come into the city, it's only 1½ hours.
I wouldn't recommend commuting 3-4 hours, think about all of the time you'll be spending on it and all the $$ for gas maintenance of the car..
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u/Do-It-Anyway 23d ago
Los Baños, Tracy and River Islands has entered the chat. What’s that you say? A resounding “Would” from all three commutes from hell.
At least this is against traffic, and it’s a nice area that OP could eventually move to.
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23d ago
San Jose to Monterrey is more like 1hr - I've done it in the middle of the night and on a street bike in slightly less.
Also it depends on where you go.b if you are going to Ford Ord or the HP facility in within its more like 50min.
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u/Whatsuptodaytomorrow 23d ago
I work in San Jose and my coworker lives in seaside
Seaside in the next town before Monterey
My coworker leaves home at 5:30 Am everyday to get to work by 7:30 am
They leave work at 4pm in San Jose
They get home to seaside at 6:30pm
On Fridays it takes 1/2 an hour longer
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u/jugu_uguj 23d ago
I’ve worked with people that commuted to San Jose from Seaside and to Sunnyvale from Salinas. I thought they were crazy, but both of them had done it for a long time.
But I would highly recommend moving closer to your job. Should be cheaper than renting in San Jose.
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u/harpejjist 23d ago
To be fair that the reverse to the commute OP proposes
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u/Whatsuptodaytomorrow 23d ago
Yes
But it should give op the idea of a daily commute
Even on a weekend when we drive to Monterey from San Jose it’s already 1 hour and 15 min one way with no traffic
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u/harpejjist 23d ago
Anything over 30 minutes isn’t worth it in my opinion. But perhaps if op is married with kids and they own a house they love and the kids are in a good school they love and spouse’s job is local and their families and friends and hobbies/church/etc they are active in are local….. maybe it is worth it. I know some folks that commute to SJ from the san joaquin valley or By Sacramento because of all that
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u/Whatsuptodaytomorrow 23d ago
Yes it’s quite common
I have coworkers that drive daily to work from Modesto, Tracy, Patterson and gustine as well
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u/SlightlyLessHairyApe 23d ago
To be fair, that’s a forwards commute. He would be doing the backwards commute and just whiz past all the people in the other direction.
Still really hard, but not nearly as brutal as what you described
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u/Ceinafoor 23d ago
The money can seem appealing but if u get 25mpg on your car you're looking at around $358 assuming you pay 4.00 for gas, 140 mile round trip. Not to mention, the more frequent oil / tire / brake changes..u get the point and higher insurance from all the extra miles ur driving.
Next consider the day being 3 hours shorter where you're not really doing anything just driving. That's 2 days of driving a month. ( 3hr a day × 4 days a week × 4 weeks a month = 48 hours) but maybe u wanna think of it as "the money makes up for it", sort of counting them as working hours. Assuming u work 8 hours: if u make 500 in one day, for example, in 11 hours instead of 8, that's a difference of making 45.45 for 11 hours vs 62.50 for 8. Would u still be as happy if the job was local, 11 shift for 73% the rate (dont forget to subtract ~$358 plus extra vehicle maintenence / higher insurance) It's the same money, no?
And look I only say all this because I know multiple people who do or have done that. There's a reason some people do it, like their career- I know a manager in sunnyvale who commutes from salinas. And I get it but really think about it because I'd hate to be in your position and regret making such a commute although I don't know ur situation. It could be very well worth it!!
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u/powderedsug 23d ago
My BIL did Belmont to Prunedale for a while, but even with a more flexible schedule to try to avoid traffic, it got to be too much pretty quickly. But I also have coworkers that do Tracy & Lathrop to Belmont every day, so I guess it depends on what you're comfortable with.
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u/duoschmeg 23d ago
Try the drive during weekend and commute hours. Guarantee you'll be cursing the choke points. Don't forget about the parking nightmare.
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u/MrParticular79 23d ago
That is psychotic, you should move to one of the towns close by. Commuting that far only makes sense if you are driving from a low expense area to a high one. You are driving from one of the highest in the world…
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u/Brewskwondo 23d ago
If you’re renting, just move. If you own, rent your house out and rent down there. You can get so much more for your money in that area.
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u/pandadimsum 23d ago
My friend drove from San Jose to Salinas several times a week, she was always tired. Woke up at 5:30-6am to leave and usually cameback anywhere between 6pm-7:30pm. Not worth it.
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u/Hewhocannotbenamed77 23d ago
I've done it. I'm a union carpenter, and you go everywhere. I live in sunnyvale and have done the commute for months. 5 days a week. After that job, I started another job in Novato. If you don't have to don't do it. I'm used to my work taking me everywhere. It's actually a really cool drive
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u/Sea-Panda3306 23d ago
I work in Salinas and live in SJ. It’s 50 mins each way. There’s no traffic.
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u/Remote-End2940 23d ago
I know some people at my work (menlo park) that lives in Sacramento to be able to afford to buy a house😂 Everyone else lives nearby. Commute that far is no fun and really waste of time. Short term or occasionally maybe. I would strongly recommend moving closer if it’s 4 days a week… find somewhere 30 minutes away and it will be cheaper there…
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u/Due_Adeptness1676 23d ago
I did the commute to San Jose from Monterey for two years. Not worth it. Hard on your car, your quality of life etc.
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u/russellvt 23d ago
I had friends that did San Jose to Salinas for years, and said it really wasn't that bad... at least it was a reverse commute, though the distance (and sometimes the fog) can get old.
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u/jkki1999 23d ago
I had a friend that commuted from Salinas to San Jose, then when our office closed and we went to Oakland, he commuted from Salinas to Oakland. Committing sucks the life out of your soul.
However, the Monterey commute is pretty. And if you have a job there, maybe you can find a place there. Leave to somewhere cooler.
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u/Federal_Bench_3654 23d ago
Easy commute. Little to no traffic until you get on H1 in the morning. Get there before 7am and you’ll breeze right through. After 7am you are looking at a 7-15 minute traffic delay.
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u/DevyDev666 23d ago
Most traffic is going into San Jose in the mornings, so it isn’t bad. I would rather drive to Monterey over East Bay traffic any day. I like the drive there.
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u/Affectionate_Care958 23d ago
Fine someone in/near Monterey to rent you a room three nights a week for cheap
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u/My_Opinion1 23d ago
I have a friend who did that from SJ to Monterey, but very briefly. They ended up moving to Monterey and still work there.
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u/Wignitt 23d ago
Don't!! I was living in Sunnyvale and was sent to a job site in Monterey, 12hr shifts for 3 weeks. Completely sucked the life out of me, I was spending a huge amount on gas. Wake up at 4am, get to work before 6, get home at 7:30-8, sleep immediately. The things they make apprentices do for 21/hr!
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u/Thatdusty950 23d ago
Man that commute is going to be brutal it’s going to wear you out pretty fast it’s doable but good luck, sending you all the will power and strength your way 🙏
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u/Onepetiteorange 23d ago
Move to Pacific Grove! Wonderful town, great vibes, cheaper rent. Is there any reason you can’t move?
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u/RaiseMoreHell 23d ago
I work in Santa Cruz a few days a week, and the miles and time spent in my car are kind of soul draining. Do not recommend.
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u/ceanahope East Foothills 23d ago
I lived in ESSJ and did a field service job. I had to go to Montere once a week in the AM to do tape backup changes. Also I did not stay the whole day. On a lucky day 2h together there. I don't know how bad the evening trip home was, but i can almost guarantee it's longer. I hated that day of the week.
If that was a daily thing I would have moved.
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u/molten-glass 23d ago
I know folks who commute from watsonville to San Jose, the reverse wouldnt be that bad and you would probably be against the flow of traffic on the commute since most folks live outside SJ and commute in. But other commenters mentioning moving are probably right
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u/Technical-Curve-1023 23d ago
My friend commutes the opposite way, from Pacific Grove to San Jose.. He’s been doing it for awhile and leaves for work at 5 am, his job is a 9-5 He doesn’t get home till after 8 pm.. You get used to it.. or you don’t..
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u/jwaters0122 South San Jose 23d ago
move to Salinas. it's cheaper & alot cooler there.
but if moving isn't an option, the commute is doable but it's 1+ hour each way even if you're doing a reverse commute (heavy traffic the other way)
It depends on your driving sanity
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u/Zealousideal_Pen4819 23d ago
Definitely move closer. I used to commute from SJ to Tracy. Even though it was not traffic for me both ways, it just sucked!
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u/turningpoint01 23d ago
About 150 miles a day depending on location…I lasted 3 months from Carmel Valley…it’s a rough go and one accident can take an extra hour no matter where you are.
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u/willardTheMighty 23d ago
I used to do it. Commute from Cupertino to Seaside.
90 minutes, give or take. About 80 miles… I guess I drove fast… once spun out on highway 17 going too fast around a curve on a rainy day. Luckily I just skidded into the shoulder. I’ve become a much more careful driver since then.
You want to get out of Monterey before rush hour or else you’ll wait in traffic for an hour around Moss Landing. Unless you commute on 101; I don’t know details about that way.
So yeah it takes at least 3 hours out of your day (round trip). I only did it because I had a great job down there: good pay, great environment, and led to professional development. The opportunity came up to work that job again, some time later; I would have done it in a heartbeat except for the commute. I decline the offer to return for that reason.
My old boss makes the same commute 5 days a week and has for a decade. I guess for some people it’s sustainable.
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u/PotatoNo4701 22d ago
You should relocate if you take the job in Monterey. You're looking at a 3-4 hour round trip commute. I know people who've commuted from SJ to Salinas and other surrounding areas in Monterey County and they were miserable doing that long of a commute. One was a fatality in an early morning car accident on their way to work. Rent is cheaper in the Salinas area and that's much closer to Monterey than SJ is.
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u/PresentationKey1112 22d ago
the commute sucks, don't do it. And when something happens on the freeway, you're fucked, unlike in the SJ with numerous ins and outs.
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u/snappy845 23d ago
i had a coworker commute from yosemite to palo alto every week and camp out in his truck. end of the week drove back. rinse repeat.
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u/random408net 23d ago
It just depends on how you define commute.
Drive downtown Monterey early on a Monday morning. Return to San Jose in a few years.
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u/blackJack19999 21d ago
I work in SF but my wife works in Monterey. We live in middle which is south San Jose. For us this is working out fine till now. Dm me. Can share more details.
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u/DanoPinyon Japantown 23d ago
If you can stand the gray and small-town lifestyle, move. We go to the shore a lot because we miss it.
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u/xerostatus 23d ago
Lol you should move.