My thoughts on LA after 2 weeks of living here (Los Angeles: car registration, insurance)

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Gas this morning was up to $2.61 a gallon.

2.89 here.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

2.89 here.

well that isn't as bad as what my brother was paying a couple of weeks ago in San Fernando Valley. We were paying $1.49 and he way paying $3.15. Of course here we can go to MO and it is about 5 to 10 cents lower usually. i don't know about today cause we went the other direction.

Nita

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by nmnita

We were paying $1.49

Typo?

[user_id]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Sorry, I still disagree with you. Yes, in some cases salaries are higher, but not in every case. When 2 of our kids transferred from companies in Calif to companies in Texas the salary range was identical.

Average salaries are higher, that does not mean its higher in every single case. If you compare apples to apples rents in Texas are pretty similar to rents in California. A 3/2 home in a decent neighborhood right by downtown Dallas is going to be around $1,600 as well.

Originally Posted by nmnita

There is more to taxes than income, every state we have lived in has a graduated income tax policy, but I am talking other things.

California's income tax is more progressive than most other states, lower income residents pay almost no income tax.

Originally Posted by nmnita

If you are drinking $1.80 a bottle of wine, I would not want to see what your insides look like.

Are you under the impression that they put some toxic chemicals in it? Its a California wine and its cheap because its local.

Anyhow, food in general is pretty cheap in California. That is especially true if you have a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

Originally Posted by nmnita

How much do you pay for gas and how much for car insurance, as well as car registration?

I pay $80/month for gas, $900/year for insurance and $200/year for registration. In the last state I lived in it was $650/year for insurance and $40/year for registration, but the insurance was less because I was driving less. This is for a newer car though, would be a lot less for an older car. The difference in gas would be around $8/month. So at worst that is around $200/year higher costs in California. I save that much a year on fruits alone...

Originally Posted by nmnita

Calif has a lot to offer, there is no argueing about that, just a similare cost of living to most other states is not one of them.

I said if you compare apples-to-apples the costs are similar, you can't compare living near downtown Los Angeles to living in Arkansas. Additionally, there are many low cost areas of California. Living in a major city is never cheap though.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by nmnita

How much do you pay for gas and how much for car insurance, as well as car registration?

I pay:

Gas: already told you
Ins: $412 a year
Reg: $74

[yoyoma02]

Haha, I haven’t checked this thing since last weekend. This topic has gotten hilarious!

Nita – I didn’t claim that Los Angeles was as cheap as Little Rock, AK. I can tell you, I’ve lived in Minneapolis, Boulder, Omaha, and now LA. LA transportation is more expensive (gas, insurance, registration, etc…) Rent is actually cheaper than what I was paying in Boulder 3 years ago with a roommate. Food is the same.

Again, I’m not calling Southern California a “cheap to live” but I think there is a stereotype in the Midwest that has California is outrageously expensive and you won’t be able to survive unless you make millions a year. I make under $40k and I’m doing fine & putting money into savings.

Plus, not to mention the activities and weather are well worth the extra bit of $ you pay for transportation expenses.

[Dunbar42]

You're making the assumption that most people don't mind having roommates. That is probably true for people your age but definitely not the case as you get older. I moved here from the midwest (Chicago) and I was shocked at how expensive 1BR apartments cost (even in the inland empire.) It was about 30% more than a comparable place/location in the Chicago city limits. My brother lives in Culver City and pays $1300/mo for a dumpy 1BR apartment!

I came to the conclusion that for a single person with no kids who wants their own place it's tough to live comfortably (in a decent neighborhood) on less than $50k a year in LA.

[yoyoma02]

Originally Posted by Dunbar42

I came to the conclusion that for a single person with no kids who wants their own place it's tough to live comfortably (in a decent neighborhood) on less than $50k a year in LA.

I think that’s a bit of a broad statement. I don’t think being financially comfortable in a big city depends solely on income. A lot of it is based on lifestyle and debt levels. For instance, I would rather make $35k/year and have 0 debt than make $50k/year and owe on credit cards, school loans and have a car payment.

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by yoyoma02

I think that’s a bit of a broad statement. I don’t think being financially comfortable in a big city depends solely on income.

Actually that number is based on no debt other than possibly a car loan.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Typo?

maybe more of wishful thinking...yes, typo. let's try $2.49?