Cost of Living (The real story) (Minneapolis, Bloomington: renters, health insurance, credit card)

[Robert P Stewart]

Yellowsnow, I think you and I would get along!

Robert

[Old Paint]

Hey I'm all for living within you means, and I by no account live my life based off what other think of me or my lifestyle. I just would like to be comfortable knowing that I can pay for by basic needs, There is obviously a difference in the general price of good and services between the two cities.

[Jim Stokes]

Some nice areas I'd suggest are northeast, in the area just east of the old Grain Belt Brewery. That whole area was settled by immigrants who worked in manual labor for the brewery but also in foundries. They were an enterprising bunch of people. And they all managed to get along. They started their own cafes and bars.

What is very, very interesting are the church that still survive. There are around a dozen different Catholic, Russian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Churches within about 10 square blocks. A nunnery was most recently converted to apartment buildings.

[The Icy River Vagabond]

OLDPAINT - bad maybe down there, but not Iraq bad.

[naranek]

Hello. This seems to be the only forum for St.Paul... so I'll ask my question here. I lived in SP in 1978 in a neighborhood I think is called "highland" (I don't have a great head for municipal stuff - because I find it to be a bore). I went to an elementary school called Horace Mann and I lived on a street called Hartford, between Edgecumb and Hamline (I think, it was a long time ago). It seemed like a very nice area when I was there, although some of the kids seemed a little off balance (sociopathic) so maybe I was seeing with young eyes; but I was wondering what anyone could say about that area, now.

I define "nice" as; you can get through a day without hearing a subwoofer. Many thanks.

[Old Paint]

Originally Posted by Deni

You will LOVE Minnesota. The snow is so pretty. The summers are beautiful. The Lakes are plentiful! The cost of living is hugely reasonable compared to the rest of the country. You mentioned Elk River, I live just outside of Elk River. Wonderful growing area. Blaine is good with mix of older existing neighborhoods and a lot of new construction as well. $75,000 is more than reasonable to live here! By the way, have you heard of "Minnesota nice?" It's true! God bless you!

Thanks, I think I may be over analyzing the situation. I know that most of these matters will work them selves out and there is really know way of knowing where I will fit in cost of living-wise until I get up there and live it.

One thing that seems scary to me is not being able to realistically count on my car to commute back and forth to work regualary. My office will be right on Marquette Ave downtown and I've been lead to believe that parking in hte office spaces will be like &13-$15 per day. Figuring out bus line & rail lines seems a bit overwhelming.

How much would I expect to pay for a metro pass, without knowing exactally where I'd be coming from I'm thinking maybe as far out as say Blaine or
Chanhassen?

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Old Paint

Thanks, I think I may be over analyzing the situation. I know that most of these matters will work them selves out and there is really know way of knowing where I will fit in cost of living-wise until I get up there and live it.

One thing that seems scary to me is not being able to realistically count on my car to commute back and forth to work regualary. My office will be right on Marquette Ave downtown and I've been lead to believe that parking in hte office spaces will be like &13-$15 per day. Figuring out bus line & rail lines seems a bit overwhelming.

How much would I expect to pay for a metro pass, without knowing exactally where I'd be coming from I'm thinking maybe as far out as say Blaine or
Chanhassen?

The lightrail only runs from Bloomington to Minneapolis right now. It is SUPER cheep, like $1.50/ride. I looked up the monthly pass price and it is $78. A monthly bus ticket runs around $100 give or take depending on how far out you are. The light rail is VERY, VERY easy, you get on at your stop, get off at your stop. It only goes along one line so no transferring, etc. There are several park and ride lots along the ride so you can park for free and ride into downtown. There are also several express bus lines available where you park for free at a lot and ride the bus from that lot to downtown Minneapolis, probably very near your office, without making other stops. The Metro Transit board makes it very easy for those people who live in the suburbs that work in Minneapolis.

[Hampshire Boy]

I have seen that the cost of living based on weighted index is 36% lower Than where I live here in UK.Here an apartment in a poor area will cost you a minimum of $240000.
A house will start at no lower than $400000 and typical house in an average area is $650000 in a good area $1000000 and a very good area they start at $2500000. May I also point out that the $800000 place I have is 1300 sq ft!
So if you are not on the ladder you will really struggle to get on it because you need a huge chunk of equity as salaries for a typical Joe are $45000.
Tax for anyone making over $70000 is 40% , gas is $8.25 a us gallon etc etc...
So cost of living is all relative I am coming to USA for same salary my wife will not work so we will drop $24000 from her part time money but still be better off.

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by Hampshire Boy

I have seen that the cost of living based on weighted index is 36% lower Than where I live here in UK.Here an apartment in a poor area will cost you a minimum of $240000.
A house will start at no lower than $400000 and typical house in an average area is $650000 in a good area $1000000 and a very good area they start at $2500000. May I also point out that the $800000 place I have is 1300 sq ft!
So if you are not on the ladder you will really struggle to get on it because you need a huge chunk of equity as salaries for a typical Joe are $45000.
Tax for anyone making over $70000 is 40% , gas is $8.25 a us gallon etc etc...
So cost of living is all relative I am coming to USA for same salary my wife will not work so we will drop $24000 from her part time money but still be better off.

The cost of living in the UK is so high, you folks are going to think you won the lottery. There is a huge difference. Another thing you need to be aware of is medical insurance. Insurance is better and healthcare is much more universal in the UK. So don't get sick here! Just make money!

[Hampshire Boy]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

The cost of living in the UK is so high, you folks are going to think you won the lottery. There is a huge difference. Another thing you need to be aware of is medical insurance. Insurance is better and healthcare is much more universal in the UK. So don't get sick here! Just make money!

True we have universal healthcare each month we pay 11% of our salary in national insurance so free it ain't That is on top of regular tax,VAT or sales tax is 17.5%!Most companies here now give management grade and above healthcare and guess what the tax man then taxes you on it as its seen as a benefit in kind so you pay your tax rate on that figure.