Wages (Altus: real estate, property taxes, insurance)

[jooseyjoose]

Maybe a thread like this exists but I can't find it and research on the internet is not going so well.
My question is about wages there in NWA. The cost of living is less but it seems the wages are much much less than here in California. Just curious if anyone has some general info about common salaries there in the NWA area?
We currently have County jobs and when I look for city and county jobs there, the same jobs seem to pay less than half of what would be paid here in San Diego.
Like I said, I know the cost of living is less so maybe it all works out or breaks even? We don't mind making less at all for a better quality of life. Money isn't too important to us. Of course we like to be comfortable, but we don't revolve our lives around it.
Any info appreciated!
Thanks,
Sarah

[Sam I Am]

Sarah, I can't really help you on wage comparisons...but I can tell you that when we moved to the Virgin Islands, our very good Arkansas wages didn't go so far. Mainlanders moving to the islands from the northeast and California didn't seem nearly as sticker shocked as we were...and thus we are back in the River Valley and loving it!

The only comparison I could give you would be our home...$135K for 3/4 acre dead center of town, with a 2100 sq. foot historic home circa 1880. Yep, it needs a little work, but nothing $20K won't cure. New homes in the area can be purchased very reasonably for $80/100 sq. foot with some upgrades - not granite throughout, but very nice homes still. We ended up giving roughly $65 a square foot for our home and did not buy at the low point for real estate. Truth be told, we probably overpaid for our area, but we loved the house, so whatever!

I'm not in NWA and I think the cost of living is a little higher there, but I think you will find Arkansas to be substantially cheaper in the long run over California. I'm only guessing...the one thing I can assure you is that you will have a WONDERFUL quality of life here.

[Stormcrow73]

Well, while I have no firsthand experience with the cost differential between NWA and SoCal, we did give some serious consideration to both San Diego and the LA area before we moved back to AR. Yes, you're going to make a LOT less here. Personally, I think if you only wind up taking a 50% pay cut to go to NWA you'll probably be doing pretty good! In other words, I'd expect most people to take even more of a pay cut. Housing cost is the main place you make it all back. When we were looking at going to San Diego (Escondido area) we were seeing housing prices of $350-500k for 3bdr 1200-1500sqft townhomes with what I'd consider 'starter' amenities. LA area was even worse, of course. In NWA, for that price you can basically have a mansion with a huge yard. In a modest sq ft range you'd be looking at anywhere from upper 100's to $250k for a very nice home. Twice the home, half the price...makes a 50% pay cut look doable to me. I'm not even factoring property taxes, auto insurance, gas....

[jooseyjoose]

Thanks everyone! After the great responses on here and a bit more research on the internet (my fingers and eyes hurt!!!) and talking to my mom who lives in Altus....we have made up our minds and we are GOING FOR IT in November.
I am SO excited.
What a life change, wow.
Now the fun begins....quitting job, looking for job, hiring movers, packing, moving, looking for a home, and so forth. Moving is stressful!!! Gotta keep the eye on the prize though.
Thanks again for the good info.
~Sarah