Is Charlotte really cheaper? (Columbus: apartment, rent, house)

[cutejanelle1]

I'm moving from Ohio and prices (besides housing) seem to be the same as Ohio or more, but salaries are less. How come? Is there a reason that salaries are not keeping up with rising cost?

[DawnW]

I think it depends on what line of work you are in. It is a bit general to say that they are all low. Are you talking about waitressing at Denny's or working as a Sr. Manager of a financial company? It makes a huge difference.

Dawn

[queen city broker]

I moved here from Ohio too. Everything seems about comparable. What part of Ohio?

[njguy23]

try moving from NJ where a house the size of a geo metro costs 500,000. This is pretty reasonable around here LOL

[Linus]

Salaries in Ohio may be higher than Charlotte but where are the jobs? Ohio has one of the worst unemployment rates in the nation. Only Alaska, South Carolina and Michigan are worse.

Housing is also relatively cheap but that's hardly a good thing. Ohio has a large stock of housing and annual net population loss so of course housing is cheap...and getting cheaper.

Ohio is slowly dying. Ohioans should take a look a Michigan, see the future and get out while the getting is good.

[joenc]

Salaries are dependent on occupation.

Median HHI is higher in Charlotte than it is in Columbus. More people are making decent money ($100,000+) in Charlotte than any city in Ohio.

[cutejanelle1]

I'm a teacher, and taking a 15k drop in pay and have to pay for my own benefits.

[Linus]

Originally Posted by cutejanelle1

I'm a teacher, and taking a 15k drop in pay and have to pay for my own benefits.

No teachers' unions in NC. And that's a good thing.

[cutejanelle1]

Linus unions have their benefits and their costs.

Regardless of what you believe, teachers should be recognized as valued employees. When you have to work for such little pay and you don't have job security it can be hard. I know many first year teachers who have to have a roomate because they cant even afford to pay rent in an apartment.

These are the people who are educating your kids. Have some respect for what we do.

[Linus]

I agree that teachers should be valued. My mother and sister teach. As long as you are good at what you do, or even if you aren't, you'll have job security because there is a shortage of qualified teachers.