Important question: is it rain per se or overcast skies that you hate? Because the Pacific Northwest has only an average amount of the former, but as for the latter…the only reliable sunshine is late July through late August, and while that’s not so bad in February (you can snicker at those suckers in Minnesota), you may feel differently when your July 4th BBQ is shrouded under a think gray blanket that hasn’t let up in weeks and probably won’t for a few more…
Well, I guess that lets Toronto out…
…but Oakland or Berkeley might still be in. Yes, it’s fashionable to talk about how dangerous Oakland is, but I defy any city it’s size to not have a bad neighborhood or two.
Eugene, Oregon fits every single one of your criteria, and in my opinion it really doesn’t rain that much, but then, I grew up there so I’m probably oblivious. But, it’s nice rain - not like cold sheets of rain, but lovely drizzles that make the air smell good.
One problem - terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad job market. You can find work, but man, you gotta pound that pavement.
But it’s worth it to live there. I miss it. 
You ain’t getting a one-bed place in my quiet little town for that money. And apart from one recent serial killing which featured in every newspaper on the planet, people mostly die of old age. So when the international version of this thread comes along, you’ll be earning more, and I’ll have just the right suggestion for you 
Holy Hell! I wasn’t expecting this many replies…I thought I pretty much had every place in the U.S. eliminated because of my pickiness.
So.
I am quite shocked (shocked! etc.)with all the North Carolina suggestions. Seriously. I hope ya’ll is getting paid good fo dat (ah…haven’t lost my Memphis roots. Do you know what kind of looks I would get in MN if I said something like that??? But, I digress…)
Also interesting are the replies for small towns in OH and IN. I would like a small town if it weren’t for my anti-car stance (but, yeah brendon_small I am sure I could bike around many of them). The thing is, though, I am kinda over the Midwest. For now.
Bouv: The hippy-dippy side of me has long been somewhat interested in Vermont…but the weather things you mentioned…that’s reason #1 I have to get the hell out of MN. I need a break. 
Obsidian: I know San Fransisco would be about perfect for me. Quit bragging and find me a cheap apartment, then. :dubious:
GingerOfTheNorth :Baltimore? Really? I always thought that was among the murder-y-est places in the U.S.! And how do you know I am not a druggie? I should have put that on my list…must be hospitable to druggies. Hmm.
spazurek :I think long stretches without sunshine bother me more than simply rain. The winters here are quite grey, and by March I am ready to shoot myself. So, only one actual month of reliable sunshine??? :eek:
Sunspace : Despite my list, I have always wanted to move to Toronto, at least for a short time (same with NYC–which I have REALLY wanted to move to lately…except there is no way in hell I can afford it…and for some reason, I really really don’t want to live in New Jersey).
The other parts in California that were mentioned actually sound promising (but, earthquakes!! :o ).
Folks, thanks so much for your suggestions…and please forgive my prodigious use of smilies in this post. . Oops.
Oh, and GorillaMan , I may be looking you up in a few years. You are in the UK, right?
My favorite place to find appartments: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/
Pickins are slim in your price range, and generally studios/in-laws/roomshares. You’d probably have better luck in the east bay like Troy suggested. Go a little higher (say, $900) and you’d do much better.
But-- $700 is not much money here, and salaries tend to be higher to compensate. I make a completely unspectacular mid-range income for the area (compared to my coworkers I’m close to and my largish group of friends). I share a house at the moment, but could comfortably afford the average 1br.
Depends on the kind of job you’re looking for, though.
It’s really crowded here, though. I don’t want to add to that. I take it back. NC is cheaper anyway 
Global warming is coming. Stay north. If you’re tired if MN, come to Madison WI. Every year it’s on several top ten lists for some quality of life aspect or other.
Ok, if Midwest is out, I’ll second Charlottesville. Beautiful town, good restaurants, friendly people. I know nothing of the public tranportation there, but it’s a college town, so there must be some.
If you’re hippy at all and the Midwest thing isn’t too much of a drag, I have to second Bloomington, IN. It’s very hippy-friendly.
check out Flagstaff AZ, I lived there for a year and it was great
Seconding this. Since you’re all so set on leaving fair MN (hey, I *like *Mpls. I like winter. It’s this summer I’m not so fond of.), go to Madison. I graduated from there and I’d love to go back. Yes, they have winter. Yes, winter there is mostly the same as here. But it’s an incredible town. Liberal? They’ve got that in spades. Fun? You can’t have more fun somewhere else. It’s got everything - good eats, good theatre, good sports, good access to outdoor stuff, good culture. Everything. I’d move back in a second.
ETA: The winter? That’s what keeps the riff-raff out. Really. Appreciate it.