For shelter miners generally used simple canvas tents, which provided little protection from the coldness of the ground and often resulted in sickness during winter. Men also ate primarily protein-based food: beans, game or bacon. Fruits and vegetables were rarely eaten. Cooked over an open fire, meals commonly caused fires, burning down tent and wooden building communities of miners. An average miner made between six and 10 dollars per day. However, the cost of living was high, compounded by the cost of travel initially to California, which was generally six months' wages. Per pound pork cost approximately 25 cents, butter and cheese cost one dollar, and coffee cost 16 cents. However, if a miner could afford it, board was available for approximately 21 dollars per week.
The majority of miners were men, often young men, who left their families to pursue wealth in California, though some brought their families. Miners on their own missed their families and often became homesick, adding to the negative effects of the miner lifestyle on health. To cope miners formed relationships in their new communities, consisting largely of travelers. For recreation they bet, gambled and played card games.
California existed in legal limbo during the time of the 1848 gold rush. Neither Mexico nor any state had yet implemented laws in California. If a situation occurred where a man needed to be jailed, he was simply brought back to his place of work. No jails existed at the time and pulling a man from work removed 16 to 100 dollars per day from the community economy. This vigilante justice was an outgrowth of democratic meetings generally held to settle disputes. More serious vigilante action resulted when dealing with other races. Chinese, Latinos and Native Americans were referred to as non-Americans. They were not allowed to make claims and were forced to pay higher taxes and fees.
Approximately 30 percent of all miners died. Due to miners eating little vegetables or fruits, they often developed scurvy. Other health issues included exhaustion, pneumonia, dysentery and cholera. In addition to disease, accidents and violence caused many miner deaths during the 1848 gold rush. Some miners committed suicide. Clean water and general sanitation were not maintained consistently. These problems were compounded in the event of a disaster such as a fire.