Choose one: Cardiff/Solana Beach or North Park?

Solana Beach is even more expensive than North Park, and far less convenient in terms of access to grocery stores and the like- most of it is far less walkable than North Park. I haven’t found many good restaurants there, and most of the shopping is concentrated in the district on Cedros Ave. I do like the antiques store there, and I miss Cut and Dried, the hardwood store that used to be there. But it’s a schlep out to Lomas Santa Fe for groceries at Vons, for example, and it’s a bit hilly to be a comfortable bike ride!

Overall, Solana Beach is more for tourists than residency, I think. Depending on where you are working, you might want to look at Encinitas for much better livability and affordability, but still being close to the beach.

North county San Diegan here. I’d pick Solana Beach in a heartbeat. Just the thought of being in Downtown SD makes me panicky and uncomfortable. My sister lives and works in North Park, and every time we go to visit her, or I go visit the area, I have no idea how people would want to live in such a cramped city.
But, I know that North Park does have quite a night life scene (With my sister working at one of the big clubs, I see all about it on Facebook), as well as a lot of art.
The only exciting things I can think of in Solana Beach are Pizza Port brewery and Belly Up Tavern. However, it’s just a gallon of gas to get from Solana Beach down to North Park. A 30-minute drive isn’t too bad, if it’s going to mean that you’re in a better place to live and closer to work.