Offered new position in Dever. Need advice and info. (Denver: apartment, renting)

[nomad6907]

Hello everyone.

I have been offered a position with my company in Denver making 35K per year as a Production Manager. I would have to relocate from Green Bay WI with my wife and 7 year old daughter. My wife currently works for Walmart as a pharmacy cashier/tech and would be looking for a transfer if this were to happen.

My question is would my salary plus a Walmart salary in the opinion of those who live in the area be enough to conceivably make a good life for my family? Also what areas would you recommend for affordable housing that is a good area to raise children?

Some extra expenses that I would be looking at right off the bat would be mortgage and utilities for my home in GB(750 per month) while on the market and childcare(estimate around $500 per month).

I know the cost of living would be higher in a larger metro area, but no matter how much I plug numbers into a spreadsheet it doesn't make up for good opinions from actual residents. I have from friends out there who are trying to sell me on the move, but would like some opinions from people who are more or less impartial.

Thanks.

[Count David]

What is your wife's prospective salary? Is her transfer guaranteed, or is there a possibility she'd have to look for a job once you got here?

Your salary, if my guesstimates are correct, would bring you home about $550/wk. $1250/mo in GB home costs and childcare, leaves only $950/mo left to eat, pay rent, utilities, transportation, etc. You'd need to dump that house in GB fast, and your wife would definitely need to be working if you want to have any chance to breathe (imo). I sure hope you don't have other cc/debt/loan payments.

Assuming your wife could bring home at least $300/wk, you should be able to comfortably afford a 2 bed/2bath apartment (at @ $750-$900) in average Denver metro neighborhoods (the non-trendy parts of Denver proper, inner ring suburbs like Aurora, Thornton, Lakewood etc).

I wouldn't consider renting an apartment in an average area of an average US metro blob a quote "good life for my family", but it's exactly what my own personal family is doing right now and it's alright I guess.