McIntosh, for example, puts in 50-hour weeks. Both large and small employers in the defense, entertainment, automotive, health care, higher education, banking and retail industries are represented in Los Angeles. The climate makes outdoor activities available year-round. A big drawback to living in L.A. is the cost of housing. Home prices are high and continue to skyrocket, largely as a result of a lack of new construction, according to a recent report in the Los Angeles Times.
People avoid traffic snarls by getting to work early.
In the evening, however, it takes Scott about an hour to get home. San Diego San Diego is smaller and less hectic than Los Angeles. It's home to small and midsize companies, particularly start-ups, as well as branch offices of large companies. Few large companies are headquartered here. Software engineering positions at start-up vendor companies or programming positions in very small IT departments are more common in San Diego.