We moved from California to Texas in search of a less expensive lifestyle. We didn’t like almost everything else so we’re backtracking.

• Guadalupe Galindo-Nevarez and her family moved to Texas from California in 2022.

• Although life is more affordable in Texas, they could not get used to the weather.

• Despite the higher cost of living, the family plans to move back to California as soon as possible.

This told essay began in 2022 when she moved with her husband and daughter from California to El Paso, Texas, where she currently lives. return to california. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in El Paso but ended up attending college in Sacramento, where I lived for 47 years.

A few years ago I started feeling homesick. I wanted to move back to El Paso to be closer to family and raise my teenage daughter in a different environment. My husband and I both thought Texas would be a good fit for her because of its high school program that allows students to earn an associate’s degree before graduation.

In December 2022, we moved to El Paso from Natomas, near Sacramento. We bought a brand new 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home for $250,000. We felt it was an incredible bargain compared to California’s expensive housing market.

Texas has a great low cost of living. Groceries and eating out are noticeably cheaper, and gas prices were as low as $2.34 a gallon before they started rising due to the Iran war. There is also a large state income tax shortfall.

However, while we have enjoyed these benefits, we have realized that living in Texas has many trade-offs. And for us, they outweigh many benefits. We once thought living in El Paso would mean moving forever, but now we’re happily moving back to California.

Life in Texas is not what we expected

When I told my family I was moving to El Paso, they were excited. They kept telling us that “everything is much cheaper and better here” and most of the time they were right.

El Paso is such a beautiful place and the people are so kind. Its location along the border with Mexico and New Mexico provides a unique blend of cultures. We want more people to learn about El Paso’s culture and great authentic Mexican food.

I was used to living in El Paso because I grew up there, but it was much harder for my daughter and husband to adjust.

When we first moved here, my daughter immediately said she didn’t like it. She started school and made some friends, but she said many people treated her like an outsider.

She is very happy that we are moving back to California. She is interested in pursuing a degree in molecular biology and hopes to attend the University of California, Davis.

My husband had gone to Texas within the first two weeks of moving here. One of the biggest adjustments for him was the weather.

In El Paso, summers are consistently over 100 degrees, but winters can also be surprisingly harsh. Temperatures can drop as low as 18 degrees, which is much colder than the California we are used to.

El Paso’s winds have also been brutal. We didn’t do enough research before we moved, especially the area where we bought our home. It’s a new and nice area, but there are a lot of empty lots in the back, so the wind feels even stronger. Just last week, wind speeds reached 41 mph and tore the curtains off the pergola. Sandstorms are also common, especially in the spring.

we will return to california as soon as possible

We are very sports-oriented and try to do lots of activities as a family. In California, I often went to Monterey Bay, Los Angeles, Dodgers games, and other baseball games. But in El Paso, there aren’t that many things to do, especially for a 16-year-old.

There are places you can hike, but overall the activities here feel much more limited. I look forward to visiting places like San Francisco, Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Monterey Bay again.

California has great insurance because my husband worked there for 30 years. My treatment would be more affordable there.

I know my mortgage will probably be higher if I move back to California, but property taxes in Texas are much higher than I expected, so I’m happy with that trade-off.

We are currently considering purchasing our oldest daughter’s home in Sacramento. She has been looking for a larger home for her family for about 8 months, so our timing depends on when she finds something. But we know we’ll be back.

We call this whole experience a learning lesson. If I ever move again, I’ll definitely look into it further. I should have looked more closely at the neighborhood, weather, medical benefits, and overall lifestyle before making such a big decision.

Have you moved to a new state and realized it’s not the right fit for you? We’d love to hear from you. Email reporter Alsinna Lloyd. alloy@businessinsider.com Share your story.

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