@Ziv
+1 for Palm Springs. If you want more affordable, go further out into the valley.
Stockton.
Frey said:
Stockton.
OP wants a safe place.
Bishop. Not the most exciting place, but you can get a room with breakfast for just over $100/night. Lots of worthwhile day trips from there and terrific views in Bishop as well as up and down 395.
Mika said:
Bishop. Not the most exciting place, but you can get a room with breakfast for just over $100/night. Lots of worthwhile day trips from there and terrific views in Bishop as well as up and down 395.
Isn’t it kind of cold there, because of the elevation?
Not in CA, but Gulf Shores, Floribama.
Gulf Coast, a bit off most people’s radar. Affordable. Away from any big hot spots.
Cheapest would be campgrounds or hostels along the Southern California coast, that’s the warmest area. Otherwise, a vehicle can get you out to the deserts, warm days and cold nights.
Vale said:
Cheapest would be campgrounds or hostels along the Southern California coast, that’s the warmest area. Otherwise, a vehicle can get you out to the deserts, warm days and cold nights.
I do not mind the deserts tbh. But I prefer a hotel room or Airbnb. If getting into the deserts could make housing affordable, I do not mind cold nights 
@Jory
Both of those options are available in both locations I mentioned. Find a hotel/Airbnb, fly into LAX, rent a car, done!
Any chance you could go to Baja California? Fly to Cabo, drive about an hour away, live like a local for 350/week Airbnb rental. Get great tacos.
One of my favorite local trips was to Visalia which is close to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. If you like the outdoors, it’s a great place to go.
I also like Ashland, Oregon which is just 15 miles over the Northern California border.
Others have mentioned Fort Bragg, which is a fun little coastal town.
During COVID, I really explored my state and I love it so much. Depending on the time of the year and if you look carefully, you can find something in Napa or Sonoma.
California native. Palm Springs or San Diego might fit the bill for you.
You don’t mention a timeline but Christmas time around San Simeon and Cambria was super cool. I’m thinking it wasn’t necessarily cheap but quiet. They have a Festival of Lights in town and Hearst Castle was all decorated. It’s pretty close to Paso Robles too. Our idea of affordability might differ. Mid-week is usually cheaper anywhere if you’re flexible. There’s all kinds of stuff easy driving distance south of there. Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria. Heck, Vandenberg Space Center is down there. Check in the schedule, and maybe you can see a rocket take off.
@Casey
I was thinking Morro Bay. Flights to San Luis Obispo are reasonably easy to book, connecting from either LAX or SFO. Morro is quiet and a bit cheaper than SLO or Pismo Beach.
Fort Bragg is quaint and quiet for OP, but flying there isn’t realistic—it would be a flight to SFO, then renting a car for the 2.5-hour drive.
@Jaden
I’m no expert, but my son just went through FB, and my friends who used to live there both have said it’s sort of gone rogue up there. Another reason why I was thinking the Morro area.
Palm Springs area for SoCal and Willits for NorCal.
Brianna said:
Palm Springs area for SoCal and Willits for NorCal.
“Willits about time”
We have friends in Modesto. It’s best known for growing most of the almonds you eat, but it’s a surprisingly vibrant city. It’s an hour and a half from downtown SFO, an hour and a half from Napa, and an hour and a half from Yosemite.
That’s a pretty solid base of operations, and you can fly into SFO or FAT.