“We weren’t really happy,” Lomboy said. “We just felt stuck.”

When they decided to return to California, they sold their house in Roswell and drove across the country to start over on the West Coast. Now the family lives in Millbrae, a town near San Francisco. And although things like food and housing are less affordable, the family feels much happier than they did in Georgia.

While the Lomboys moved away last year, California experienced an influx of new residents between 2021 and 2022 – 475,803 people moved to the state during that time, including 11,002 people from Georgia, according to the most recent available data from the U.S. Census Bureau. California had the third-largest influx of residents during that time, after Florida and Texas.

In fact, according to census data, 817,669 people left California between 2021 and 2022.

The Lomboys moved to California because they said they enjoyed the Bay Area’s mild weather, culinary diversity and access to state forests and parks.

As they also start a family, Lomboy said she prefers California’s maternity leave and health care policies to Georgia’s.

Real estate in California is more expensive than in Georgia

The Lomboys bought their Georgia home in 2018 for about $455,000. It was a 4,000-square-foot home with five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. They paid a monthly mortgage of about $2,300.

Lomboy said they enjoyed living in Roswell because of the school system and pleasant neighborhood. However, she said the family felt stuck and unsure about their long-term careers in Georgia. In 2021, they began discussions about moving.

Although they love Georgia, she said that she often remembered life in California and wanted her son to experience the West Coast. Lomboy is from the Philippines and said the diversity in the Bay Area is a better reflection of his homeland.

In 2023, they sold their Roswell home for $655,000. Lomboy said they sold it for $15,000 less than their asking price, but were able to sell the house in just one week.

“We were just ready to go, so it was fine for us,” Lomboy said.

Eric is from Georgia and his family lives in the state. Lomboy also has family in Georgia, and The most difficult aspect of the move was living further away from them, she said.

Life in California is expensive, but it’s worth it

In Millbrae, the Lomboys rent a 1,400-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse. They pay $4,700 a month, more than double their mortgage in Georgia.

Food is also more expensive. For example, her son drinks soy milk, which costs about $5.49 in California but only $4.39 in Georgia, Lomboy said. Gasoline is also more expensive in California than in Georgia, she said.

And also According to the policy institute Tax Foundation, California has the highest sales tax at the state level at 7.25%, compared to 4% in Georgia.

Lomboy and her husband both work at Sutter Health, a healthcare company that operates clinics throughout Northern California. Lomboy is an occupational therapist and treats hand injuries, while Eric works as a gastrointestinal nurse.

She makes 50% more per hour in California than in Georgia, and Eric makes 76% more per hour, which somewhat eases her cost-of-living concerns.

To adjust to the higher expenses, however, the Lomboys have also learned to cut back. She said they enjoy eating out, but since moving to California, they’ve been going to restaurants less.

The influence of state politics

Lomboy said one of the most unexpected aspects of moving to another state is the practical costs of moving, from packing the house to transporting their belongings from Georgia to California.

Still, Lomboy said they feel they made the right decision because they feel happier and more fulfilled in California.

Although they would like to own their own home at some point, they are prepared to rent for the foreseeable future. And Lomboy says renting also brings some pleasant surprises.

As a homeowner, repairs and maintenance are much more tedious, she said, but having a landlord in Millbrae has made their new jobs easier.

In California, Lomboys are active and spend a lot of time outdoors, which has improved their quality of life. California’s weather is milder year-round than Georgia’s, and they enjoy camping, hiking, and snowboarding.

One of California’s biggest advantages is the state’s paid maternity leave policy, Lomboy says, especially since Georgia does not have a mandatory statewide paid parental leave law.

She also said her family has better health insurance options in California than in Georgia. Since she and Eric are raising a family, the state’s policies toward employees are of utmost importance, she said.

Are you a new parent managing maternity leave? Is it paid or unpaid? This reporter wants to hear about your experiences. Please contact [email protected]