answer: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.