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When mid sized cities compare themselves to better larger cities (like Midwest cities comparing to Chicago or the coasts) they always like to say, well we have a lower cost of living. But really that is not a good reason.
1. Bigger cities have jobs and careers that pay more. I could move to a 3rd world country with a low cost of living, but jobs would pay under minimum wage and the quality of life would be depressing.
2. Even if a home costs more and I would have to get a smaller home, I would still be okay with that because I would be happier in a smaller home, but in a great metro/city. The trade off is worth it.
1. There is still a huge number of people who have jobs between minimum wage and high paying white collar careers.
Your average mechanic, carpenter or any blue collar / labor job(career) most likely will be better off in a city with lower cost of living. Especially if he has a family and wants to have house for them and save for the kids education and so on.
2. It is worth it to you, and that is absolutely fine.
1. There is still a huge number of people who have jobs between minimum wage and high paying white collar careers.
Your average mechanic, carpenter or any blue collar / labor job(career) most likely will be better off in a city with lower cost of living. Especially if he has a family and wants to have house for them and save for the kids education and so on.
2. It is worth it to you, and that is absolutely fine.
True. My perspective is from people who relocate for careers. Joe the plumber is probably better off in a smaller city as far as cost of living. It’s just that people who make the cost of living comments from smaller cities don’t understand the higher pay and opportunities for people with careers looking to climb the ladder.
When mid sized cities compare themselves to better larger cities (like Midwest cities comparing to Chicago or the coasts) they always like to say, well we have a lower cost of living. But really that is not a good reason.
Better is subjective. I prefer mid-sized cities to larger ones, no matter the cost of living.
When mid sized cities compare themselves to better larger cities (like Midwest cities comparing to Chicago or the coasts) they always like to say, well we have a lower cost of living. But really that is not a good reason.
1. Bigger cities have jobs and careers that pay more. I could move to a 3rd world country with a low cost of living, but jobs would pay under minimum wage and the quality of life would be depressing.
2. Even if a home costs more and I would have to get a smaller home, I would still be okay with that because I would be happier in a smaller home, but in a great metro/city. The trade off is worth it.
Correct, lower cost of living only works out if you want to be there and can have an income independent from the low income area.
I'm currently in Tbilisi, Georgia and it is about the cheapest place on the planet and still a pretty nice place. If I wanted to retire early on a pension or money I had saved up, you can live well here for about $2K/mo. If you had about $4K/mo, I would go for Budapest....beautiful 1st world city at a discount.
I agree that you have to weigh income versus cost....but for retirees on a pension, staying in a high cost city may not be the best idea.
We live in a small town 90 miles north of Sacramento in California. The lower cost of living is a huge illusion. We moved here for the quality of life, not expecting to save much, but in truth we are spending more than in Orange County, in Southern California.
Housing, purchase or rent, is definitely less expensive. Nothing else is.
Everything else is more. Our health insurance alone is $ 400 higher. Property insurance, utilities, groceries, dentist, contractors, buying a car cost more. There isn't much competition in service providers and they take advantage of that.
We are spending about $ 700 more monthly than in Orange County. I love our town and our house in it, but anyone moving here for saving money will be deeply disappointed.
Last edited by mgforshort; 10-26-2018 at 07:50 PM..
When mid sized cities compare themselves to better larger cities (like Midwest cities comparing to Chicago or the coasts) they always like to say, well we have a lower cost of living. But really that is not a good reason.
1. Bigger cities have jobs and careers that pay more. I could move to a 3rd world country with a low cost of living, but jobs would pay under minimum wage and the quality of life would be depressing.
2. Even if a home costs more and I would have to get a smaller home, I would still be okay with that because I would be happier in a smaller home, but in a great metro/city. The trade off is worth it.
1. That's why it's important to not look at just cost of living OR what the salary is. You have to combine the two to get Buying Power (cost of living vs average income). Here are some comparisons: With the Buying Power Index average for the nation being 100, Charlotte's is 91.29 (ie 8.71% below the national average) and Portland OR's is 205.66 (ie 105.66% above the national average). Dallas/Ft. Worth 104.35 and Boston 251.81. Chicago 112.89 and San Francisco/San Jose Bay Area 542.39. In other words (in terms of these comparisons), you can afford more on less in Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Chicago than you can in Portland, Boston, and San Francisco.
2. This is where it's a personal choice and what someone wants and values individually. I love metros over one million, but I don't need 10 symphony orchestras if 2 or 3 are enough. Some would rather live in an area with a major theme park rather than a major zoo. So it's subjective to what a person/family finds more important to them and there tastes, desires, and even needs.
Great threat. Thanks for posting.
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