Cost of living in coastal NC vs. Suffolk County, LI NY

[goldenage1]

I had a couple more comments. Some things are *more* expensive in this part of NC because the competion doesn't exist. For example, the glasses came from a single-practice optician because we don't have the chains like Hours Eyes.

The dry cleaners are full-price: $6-10 for a garment. In Maryland, we had discount cleaners which charged $1.95 per garment.

Used cars and trucks may be more expensive because of less competition. Trucks and 4-wheelers are in high demand, and one could buy them for less in Maryland.

Our telephone, cable TV and Internet service are more expensive, and not as good. We do not have fiber-optic service at all.

[escapenc]

Originally Posted by LLN

I think you are making a HUGE mistake if you are considering moving to the NC Coast as a means of getting a better cost of living. Huge. Food is not cheap. Dare I say, Property Insurance. Flood Insurance. There are also a lot of no load, losers that live in and around NC coastal communities. A lot. You pay their freight too, whether in electric bills, hospital costs, or whatever. Good luck, but this is not the land of the inexpensive, high quality, lifesytle. Too many folks have had this misconception.

Amen! It's about time someone actually tells the truth! The ONLY significant differance regarding cost of living will be in the actual home you purchase (you get more home here for the money).

Gas in coastal NC costs more than in Raleigh (where people make more $). We can thank greedy Fisher Oil for that.

Food here is more expensive due to lack of competition (No Kroger, Lowe's Foods, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods. Not enough warehouse clubs (Costco, BJ's, Sam's, etc.).

Taxes are high compared to other parts of NC. My parents pays less for their property taxes in Cary, NC than we do living in Taberna (New Bern).

Utility Bills are way too overpriced! I always chuckle when new people move into this neighborhood without realizing the high cost of utilities. Once they receive their first bill, they no longer water the grass and are forced to cut back on use of electricity.

Great schools are few and far between. Where does all of that property tax money go?! It goes to paying for those coastal losers LLN was referring to!

Property insurance/flood insurance is expensive. You pay higher premiums to live near the coast.

High paying jobs are few and far between. Unless you are a doctor, lawyer, or own your own business, be prepared to earn significantly less money.

Lack of great universities-resulting in a lack of educated locals-resulting in those losers LLN was referring to.

Best of luck.

[mommanmia]

Thanks for all the input, folks. I am curious about some of the costs' actual figures and wonder if someone can speak to that. For example, for a family of 4 in NY, I spend at least $650-800/month on groceries (and that's with shopping for sales, coupons, etc). Gas is $4.09/gal. We spend about $170/month on electric for 1300 sq ft. and the home insurance is $1560/year. Car ins is $2700/year for two cars full coverage. Oil is $350/month and firewood is $175-225/cord. Water is only about $20-40/month here.
How do these figures compare to the area?

[goldenage1]

Some things are not directly comparable. For example, there are probably no homes heated with oil. It is mostly electric on the coast. In the winter we spent maybe $180 on heat in a much larger house, so you save there. We spent about $225 for electricity in the summer, but we have a house twice the size of yours. You sound like a frugal shopper with groceries. We have a 2% sales tax on groceries, and I'm just guessing you could spend about the same if you use Wal-mart or Costco.

Gas is about $3.89 in my area. I have no idea about firewood as it's not much used here- we have a propane fireplace. Our water was $40-60/month over the summer, but we had to water the lawn. We have a septic tank, so no sewer charges. Our car insurance is about $850 for two cars, but we are retired and don't commute. Our homeowners insurance is $2400/year, but we are about 3 miles from the ocean.

Hope this helps.

[mommanmia]

Thanks so much for your assistance. Yes, I am a frugal grocery shopper (mom was a home ec teacher and taught me how to feed and army for pennies ;0). Thing is, we are cautious, well-educated, hard working and make good choices financially. Still, we downsized and the more we tighten our belts AND make more money, the more we still can't get ahead to save for retirement. The cost of living is outpacing our increases in pay (on top of that we're stuck with one of my husband's two jobs has been pulled away as the European-based company is closing its US operations soon). We are the poster family for what's wrong with NY (and this country), sadly. I'm reading everything I can and polling anyone who has relocated for info, but I'm starting to think we'll end up in the sticks of nowhere.
All we want is a nice, safe family-oriented area where it is not impossible to save, but not gang-infested or with such bad schools as to put our kids at risk--all with friendly people who are open to yankees that defy the typical NY stereotype.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by mommanmia

All we want is a nice, safe family-oriented area where it is not impossible to save, but not gang-infested or with such bad schools as to put our kids at risk--all with friendly people who are open to yankees that defy the typical NY stereotype.

I think you could find a similar sized house in Hampstead, NC for about $170,000. I'll let you Google the property tax rate for Pender County. The schools are rated highly.

I think you could thrive around here, but your challenge would be to sell the house in New York. Good luck.

[le roi]

Originally Posted by mommanmia

Thanks so much for your assistance. Yes, I am a frugal grocery shopper (mom was a home ec teacher and taught me how to feed and army for pennies ;0). Thing is, we are cautious, well-educated, hard working and make good choices financially. Still, we downsized and the more we tighten our belts AND make more money, the more we still can't get ahead to save for retirement. The cost of living is outpacing our increases in pay (on top of that we're stuck with one of my husband's two jobs has been pulled away as the European-based company is closing its US operations soon). We are the poster family for what's wrong with NY (and this country), sadly. I'm reading everything I can and polling anyone who has relocated for info, but I'm starting to think we'll end up in the sticks of nowhere.
All we want is a nice, safe family-oriented area where it is not impossible to save, but not gang-infested or with such bad schools as to put our kids at risk--all with friendly people who are open to yankees that defy the typical NY stereotype.

if you're chasing a low cost-of-living, the coast is the wrong place to look.

[LLN]

We have a 100 year old home in New Bern. Our electricity is NEVER below $250 and has been up to $850 . It gets you in cold winter and in hot summer..only about 4 months a year where it is in the $250 Range. Of course we are in an "Electric City" which really makes our electricity expensive.

Our gas just dropped below $3.90...but remember things are spread out and there is NO public transportation so you are in the car..a lot. My insurance auto, is probably close to $4,000 per year, but I got four cars and teenage drivers. There are just so many variables, and shopping styles that it is really hard to compare. Again, good luck.

[NYer]

Hi there- I am in the Raleigh area, and there are many Long Islanders here. I truly miss the beach, but I gave it up for the other things that would be better for our families- the schools, museums, just the "feel" of the place.
I miss the beach terribly- I miss being able to just swim in the bay after work, going to the ocean every weekend, fishing, clamming.... all of it.
But it was worth it for us.
We visit the ocean a lot. (not enough- would it ever be enough?) and I think that when the kids are grown I would like to be in a coastal area.
However, as a general proposition, looking at the whole package, the Raleigh area was a much better fit for us.

So what do we do instead of going to the beach?
We chose a subdivision with a pool, and a little stream running through it.
We are near some really pretty lakes. More than one Long Islander I know has moved here and has purchased a boat to use on one of the lakes.
I invite you to visit this area and see if you can make the adjustment. It's so personal- I can't know how important salt water will be to you and your family! ;-)
Good luck!