I love dry weather more than anything (San Diego, Oceanside: home, live in)

[Woof]

It's not that Phoenix has nothing to do, it does - but much less than LA, which has more and better of almost everything. The main reason people would choose Phoenix is if they were trying to find entry-level jobs in a weak economy, I guess - but the OP is an accountant, which means he's guaranteed a job wherever he chooses to live, even if not a wildly luxurious home. Not everyone can afford even a basic life in LA, but he will be able to.

Plus the cost of housing is much less in LA than in Phoenix.

Seriously. Lots of people forget to factor in airconditioning, which is absolutely necessary in Phoenix - you would probably die of heatstroke without it. In LA, you don't absolutely have to have airconditioning unless you live way out in east county, nor do you need heating - a thick blanket is enough for nippy mornings. That's a HUGE savings.

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by LAX-PHX

It isn't hot 9 months out of the year as some would suggest. To me Oct.-Apr. is perfect. May and June and sometimes Sept. are tolerable. If you can get through July and August the rest of the year is nice.

First off, those are a lot of qualifiers to your statement about it not being hot 9 months out of the year. If you find 90-100 dry heat to be comfortable, and I know many people who do, Phoenix weather would be nice about 8 months out of the year. These are the same people who find 70's to be cool in my experience. My definition of nice weather would be sunny, dry and <85F temps with 70's being just about perfect.

[tickyul]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

The worst part about Phoenix is the urban heat island that they do nothing to try to mitigate. All that concrete + low wind speeds means the temperature at night is 10 degrees hotter at night than it was 60 years ago in the more central areas of Phoenix. As far as I know, Phonecians just seem to think the solution is to crank up their air conditioners even more (which actually generates even more heat outside).

90 degree low temperatures in July and August are becoming more and more common, thanks to humans who can think of no other ways to mitigate the heat other than air conditioning.

Yeah, you make a great point, the HEAT ISLAND effect will just get worse and worse.

All of that broiling heat during the day builds up in the walls..........and is released at night. Coupled with the fact that it does not really cool down and low air flow...........yikes............I will not live there again.

I now live in Spokane........it will get up to 95 during a hot day..........but once the sun goes down, the temp drops like a rock.

[New Horizons]

That's the most awesome thing I've ever read. I think I need to start thinking big, I'm already putting limits on myself before I've even begin my career. I guess I'm just so used to being in the "working poor" class, that I naturally gravitate towards cheap things/cheap places.

Originally Posted by Woof

but the OP is an accountant, which means he's guaranteed a job wherever he chooses to live, even if not a wildly luxurious home. Not everyone can afford even a basic life in LA, but he will be able to.

[Hondacub85]

Originally Posted by desert_scene

That's the most awesome thing I've ever read. I think I need to start thinking big, I'm already putting limits on myself before I've even begin my career. I guess I'm just so used to being in the "working poor" class, that I naturally gravitate towards cheap things/cheap places.

With making what you'll most likely be making, you could live in North Scottsdale, which in my opinion is nicer, cleaner and safer than anything the LA metro has to offer.

[Woof]

Yeah, Scottsdale if he's got a family and is willing to set out the rocking chair instead of going out and having fun.

[Hondacub85]

Originally Posted by Woof

Yeah, Scottsdale if he's got a family and is willing to set out the rocking chair instead of going out and having fun.

Is that why Scottsdale was named a desert version of Miami's south beach by the New York Times, because there's "nothing to do here"... And let's not forget mill ave. in Tempe. I hate comments like that, people think nothing happens outside of California.

[Woof]

Originally Posted by Hondacub85

With making what you'll most likely be making, you could live in North Scottsdale,.....

What's the average air conditioning cost per month? Remember LA doesn't have that cost unless you live way out east in town.

He might save money by living in LA vs Scottsdale, plus an accountant would almost certainly make more in LA.

[Hondacub85]

Originally Posted by Woof

What's the average air conditioning cost per month? Remember LA doesn't have that cost unless you live way out east in town.

He might save money by living in LA vs Scottsdale, plus an accountant would almost certainly make more in LA.

That's a silly argument as well... Air conditioning is needed maybe 3-4 months out of the year and for my 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment, running it 24 hours a day for the month of August only cost $130. To say that it's cheaper to live in LA is retarded. Even in large houses, you won't make up a few 100k difference in air conditioning bills, what do you think our ACs burn, ground up white tiger fetus?

[Woof]

I've seen other people on C-D (Seattle, I think) say that it cost them several hundred per month during the hot season. I guess it depends on the particular building. But that's why I said "average".

And again, accountants make more in LA, plus one can climb further in a place with numerous Fortune 500 companies, and more billionaires than just about anywhere else. But of course that would only be for truly top-notch accountants.