What International Students Wish They'd Known Before Studying in California

A few weeks before flying to California, most international students know they need a visa, a flight, and somewhere to live. They are less prepared for the smaller things — prices at the checkout being higher than on the label, a Pacific Ocean that is colder than it looks, or a 195 km drive between San Diego and Los Angeles that can take four hours in traffic. These are the practical things students at the College of English Language (CEL), which has welcomed international students to San Diego for over 45 years, and at our partner school EC English in Los Angeles Santa Monica, often say they wish they had known before arriving. This post is most useful in the last few weeks before you fly. It brings the surprises together in one place, with the numbers — a clear set of California tips for international students.

Quick Answer: what international students should know before studying in California

Five themes catch most students by surprise:

• Money: prices on shelves and menus do not include sales tax (typically 7.75% to around 10.25%, depending on the city), and tipping is expected on most services — usually 18–22% in restaurants.
• Weather: Southern California is sunnier than many students expect, but the Pacific Ocean is cold (16–20°C most of the year) and winter coastal evenings drop to around 10–13°C.
• Distances: San Diego to Los Angeles is 195 km but can take 2–4 hours by car depending on traffic. California is larger than many European countries.
• Daily rhythms: restaurants close earlier than in much of Europe, the drinking age is 21, and small talk with strangers is normal.
• Language: San Diego and Los Angeles are English-speaking environments. You will hear Spanish, especially in food and street signage, but English is what you study, speak, and live in.

Studying in California: why your final bill is higher than the price shown

The biggest surprise for most international students in California is the gap between the price they see and the price they pay. Two things drive it: sales tax is added at the checkout, and tipping is part of the price of most services.

A common moment in the first week: a student orders a $12 burrito in Pacific Beach, hands over the card, sees about $13 charged on the receipt, and then watches the card reader ask for a tip on top. Adding 20% takes the total to about $15.50. The menu said $12.

Why is sales tax not included in shop and menu prices?

In California — and most of the United States — sales tax is added when you pay, not when you choose. The rate varies by city and county, typically between 7.75% and around 10.25%. The shelf price is the pre-tax price. A $10 t-shirt at the checkout in central Los Angeles costs about $10.95.

This is different from most of Europe, Asia, and Brazil, where tax is already included in the displayed price. Plan for it: assume the real cost is roughly 8–10% above the shelf price.

How much should international students tip in California?

Tipping is expected on most services. The amount depends on what kind of service it is.

A $12 menu item in San Diego ends up costing roughly $15.50 after sales tax (around 7.75%) and a 20% tip. That gap of around 30% on top of the menu price is the single biggest budgeting surprise for students from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East — places where tax is already included in the displayed price and tipping is either smaller or built into the bill.

What does a typical day cost beyond rent and tuition?

Honest ranges, based on standard student spending in San Diego and Los Angeles:

• Coffee and pastry: $7–10 after tax and tip.
• Casual lunch (taco shop, café, sandwich): $14–18 after tax and tip.
• Sit-down dinner with a drink: $30–45 after tax and tip.
• Single bus or trolley fare in San Diego: $2.50.
• Single rideshare across central San Diego: $10–18 depending on distance and time of day.

Budgeting roughly $25–40 per day on food and transport outside of rent is a realistic starting point. Cooking at home brings this down substantially.

California weather is sunnier and colder than most students expect

Two misconceptions about California catch students out. The first is that the Pacific is warm. The second is that Southern California is hot year-round. Both are wrong.

Is the Pacific Ocean warm in Southern California?

The Pacific in San Diego is cold compared to the Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast of Florida, or the warm parts of Brazil and Asia. According to NOAA buoy data, sea surface temperatures in San Diego typically sit around 14–16°C in winter and 18–20°C in late summer. Even on a 28°C beach day in August, the water can feel sharp on entry.

Surfing and swimming are popular year-round, but most surfers wear wetsuits. If you want to spend time in the water, plan for one.

What is the "marine layer" and when does it appear?

The marine layer is a low band of coastal clouds that sits over Southern California's coast on many mornings, especially in late spring and early summer. Locals call it "May Gray" and "June Gloom." It usually clears by midday but can keep the coast overcast and cool while inland areas are sunny and warm.

The practical effect: mornings in Pacific Beach or Santa Monica in May and June can feel grey and 16°C, while a 20-minute drive inland is bright and 26°C.

Do you need warm clothes for San Diego or Los Angeles?

Yes — more than most students think. Winter daytime temperatures in coastal SoCal are pleasant, usually 15–20°C. Evenings drop to around 10–13°C on the coast, lower inland. A light jacket and a couple of long-sleeved layers are useful from November through March. Buildings are often heavily air-conditioned in summer, so a light layer is also useful indoors year-round.

Distances in California are bigger than they look on a map

California is roughly 1,240 km long. Whether you are based at CEL in San Diego or at EC English in Santa Monica, your daily life will mostly happen within walking, cycling, or short rideshare distance of your campus. The rest of California is much further away than the map suggests.

How far is San Diego from Los Angeles?

San Diego to Los Angeles is 195 km by road. Without traffic, the drive is about two hours. With normal Friday-evening or Sunday-return traffic, three to four hours is common. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train takes about two hours and 45 minutes city-centre to city-centre and is often the easier option.

Can international students live in California without a car?

Yes, in central San Diego and central Los Angeles. Public transport exists but is slower and less frequent than in most European or Asian cities. Most students rely on a combination of these options:

• Rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft) for evenings and longer trips.
• Buses and the San Diego Trolley for everyday local travel. Students at EC English in Santa Monica can use the Metro Expo Line, which connects Santa Monica directly to downtown Los Angeles.
• Bicycles, especially in San Diego. Many students buy a cheap second-hand beach bike on arrival — often from a student who is finishing their course and selling it on — and use it as their main everyday transport. The flat coastline between Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and surrounding neighbourhoods makes cycling fast and easy.
• E-scooters, available through rental apps in both Pacific Beach and Santa Monica.

A car is not necessary for a typical 4–24 week language course. It is, however, useful for weekend trips beyond the city.

What is the easiest way to travel between Southern California cities?

Most language students travel at weekends, since classes run Monday to Friday. Flights between SoCal cities are short and run frequently, though weekend prices are higher than weekday prices. Trains are reliable on the coastal corridor. Buses (FlixBus, Greyhound) are the cheapest option.

Daily rhythms in Southern California are not what most students expect

Some of the smaller surprises are about timing and social behaviour.

Why do restaurants and shops close so early?

Kitchens in Southern California often stop taking orders by 21:00 or 22:00, even in central San Diego and Los Angeles. Bars stay open later — usually until 01:00 or 02:00 — but full dinners after 22:00 are harder to find than in Spain, Italy, or much of Latin America. Plan dinners earlier than you would at home.

Why is the drinking age 21 in California?

The legal drinking age across the United States is 21. California enforces it firmly. Anyone who looks under about 30 will be asked for photo ID at every bar, restaurant that serves alcohol, and shop selling alcohol. Carry your passport in the first weeks. Many students later carry a copy of the passport ID page plus their original passport in a secure place.

If you are under 21, this is one of the most significant differences from countries where the drinking age is 16 or 18. Plan social life around it — California has a strong café, beach, and outdoor culture that does not depend on bars.

How does American small talk actually work?

"How are you?" is a greeting, not a question — the expected reply is "Good, you?" Cashiers, waiters, and strangers will often chat briefly. Waiters will check on your table several times during a meal. This warmth is genuine but also part of a service culture connected to tipping. It is not a sign that someone wants to become a close friend; it is simply how public interaction works.

Are San Diego and Los Angeles English-speaking cities for international students?

San Diego and Los Angeles are English-speaking cities. This is the most important point for students choosing California specifically for English immersion: you will study, work, socialise, and order coffee in English. SoCal is not bilingual in the way Miami is — English dominates daily life clearly.

That said, Spanish is part of the cultural fabric, especially in San Diego (30 km from the Mexican border) and in many neighbourhoods of Los Angeles. You will see Spanish on signage, hear it in food culture, and meet bilingual classmates and locals. For most students this is one of the more interesting aspects of SoCal — a real bilingual layer over a clearly English-speaking environment.

For structured English progress, what matters more is classroom time and speaking opportunities. CEL San Diego offers English courses at every level of the CEFR scale, from A1 (beginner) up to C2 (mastery), with most students arriving in the A2 to B2 range. Classes run at an average of 7 students, with a maximum of 12 — small enough that every student speaks in every lesson. EC English in Santa Monica, CEL's partner school for Los Angeles, runs an average of 11 students per class, with a maximum of 15.

Small things that add up

A few practical items that students regularly say they wish they had known:

• Sunscreen is essential year-round. UV stays high in Southern California through winter. Bring it or buy it on day one.
• Set up an eSIM before you fly. It is faster, cheaper, and avoids the first-day problem of needing data without a US SIM. Most modern phones support eSIMs, and several travel providers offer US data plans you can activate before take-off.
• Carry your passport for the first weeks. You will be asked for photo ID often — at bars, when buying alcohol, sometimes when paying with a foreign card. After settling in, many students switch to carrying a copy of the passport plus a secondary photo ID.
• US power outlets are 110V with flat-pin plugs. Bring an adaptor. Most phone and laptop chargers work fine on 110V; check the label on hairdryers and other high-wattage devices before plugging in.

Frequently asked questions

Do international students need a visa to study English in California?

In most cases, yes. The exact visa depends on how many hours per week you study. Intensive courses of 18 or more hours per week require an F-1 student visa. Shorter or part-time study can sometimes be done on the visa waiver (ESTA) or a B-1/B-2 visitor visa. CEL San Diego is accredited by CEA (the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation) and certified by SEVP, so the school can issue the I-20 form required for the F-1 visa. Confirm the visa and course combination before booking. You can explore English courses in the USA here.

Is California safe for international students?

San Diego and Santa Monica are among the safer neighbourhoods of their respective metropolitan areas, with strong year-round student populations. Standard precautions apply — situational awareness at night, keeping valuables out of sight in parked cars, using rideshare instead of walking long distances late. For more on this, see is San Diego safe for international students.

How much does a month of daily life cost in San Diego or Los Angeles, outside of tuition?

Outside tuition, international students in San Diego or Los Angeles typically spend $1,200–$1,800 per month on food, local transport, mobile data, and social spending. Housing is separate and varies widely — homestay, residence, and shared apartments all have different price points. Tipping and sales tax should be factored into every food and service budget.

Do I need to know any Spanish before going to Southern California?

No. San Diego and Los Angeles are English-speaking environments. You will manage every aspect of daily life — classes, shops, restaurants, transport, banking — in English. Picking up a few Spanish words is useful for cultural curiosity, especially around food, but it is not a requirement.

When should I start preparing for California?

Most students benefit from a 6–10 week preparation window: visa application, flights, housing, packing, and notifying their bank that their card will be used abroad. Read this post a few weeks before flying, then read your first week at a language school abroad once you have your departure date.

If you are considering a study abroad in California, the next step is to see the course options and start dates. You can explore CEL's San Diego campus here or Los Angeles options through our partner school here.