Living expenses?? (Charleston, Princeton: real estate, apartment, for rent)

[petwurscht]

Hi,
Next year, I get the possibility to work in the USA for my company. At this moment it is not sure where it will be.
One facility is in Cranbury, NJ (near Princeton, NJ), the other one is in Charleston, SC.
My wife and my two kids (4 and 2 Years old) will join me.
Now my questions:

1 What is about the Living expenses?
- rent a house or flat (at least 4 rooms, good neighborhood)
- Kinder garden
- Primary school
- Phone
- Insurance
- Car
…..?

2 We hope, my wife will get a Work permit. How is the possibility to work for a foreign teacher (Art and History) in the social area (not necessarily as a teacher)

3 Where is it better to live, Princeton (area) or Charleston?

Thanks for your HELP


Ralf

[emilybh]

Your living expenses will include food; rent; renter's insurance; utilities (electric and or gas, water/sewer, phone and cable if you want it). I'm not sure what you mean by "car". If you have a car, you'll need to pay for maintenance of and gas for and insurance for the car. Also, if you come to Charleston, a car is necessary. You'll also pay property taxes on your car which are substantial. Charleston does not have the level of public transportation you'll find in New Jersey . Also most of the communities are not very walkable including few sidewalks except for a few areas.

For a 4 year old, you'd want a nursery school; for a 2 year old, you'd need daycare. Or your wife could stay at home with them which might be more cost effective than paying for both daycare and nursery school unless she makes a substantial income.

Electric and Gas in the winter and summer months depending on the size of your house or apartment can be over $200 per month. In March/April and October it might be less than half. Water/Sewer would probably run $60 to $80 per month.

If you live 30 to 60 mins outside of Charleston, you can find a 3 bedroom 2 bath home for a lower rent than if you live closer in. You'd probably want to plan on spending $800 or more per month for rent if you live farther out.

Renters insurance and auto insurance will vary depending on the value of your possessions and furniture and the value of your car.

Food is not cheap here and there is as much as an 8.5% tax on food.

Gasoline for your car will be much less expensive than N.J which is a nice thing.

Overall however, you'll probably find Charleston less expensive than Princeton, NJ.

[petwurscht]

Thanks for your response,
We want our kid spent half a day in a kinder garden for a better social integration. They are also use to go there. In Germany, where we come from, it is common to go to the kinder garden and it costs between 20 and 200€ (~30-250US$). How much is it in Charleston? Is it easy to get a place? What is about school? In Germany it is free! How much is it in Charleston?
The median income for Charleston is 42,000$/year (source Charleston Neighborhood Profile on Yahoo! Real Estate - Demographics, Cost of Living & more!)
I am not sure if it is pre tax or not. Is it realistic or not enough for a family (wife and 2 kids)?
Thanks
Ralf

[joyeaux]

Though $42,000 may be an accurate "median" that number pretax is low for both NJ or Charleston.