Cheap Place to live in New Jersey (Newark, Elizabeth: real estate, rent)

[Canadian_girl]

Hello,

i am a 17 (turning 18yrold girl) from Canada, but I have this plan you see..this year i am graduating High School I am going to take a year off work , when i turn 19 go to collage, and still work and then by the time im 20-21 move to the United States, New Jersey Preferably, because i heard its not so expensive, what would it cost to do that? I just would like to know so I have an Idea what I need to be earning. Thanks

[teachbeach]

New Jersey is one of the most expensive states to live in. Real estate is high, taxes are high, insurance is costly, rent is high, utilities are expensive and it's very crowded. You might want to spend some of those three years researching other areas of the US.

[Canadian_girl]

Oh? I heard it wasn't, what city (ies) are least expensive to live in?

[Machinist]

Austin,Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth Texas
The Carolinas

Some of these areas will be much more affordable for you, My recommendation would be the Austin area. Good job potential, safe and beautiful area.

Good Luck

[hrjersey]

The least expensive cities to live in may not be cities you want to live in. Elizabeth, Newark, etc. Spend some time on this forum.

Also, have you given thought as to how you are going to get a work visa? This is not as simple as saying I'm going to go the US and get a job. Unless you plan on coming to school here and even that gives you limited time to work here.

This is a good start, ask questions, but I suggest you read some of the forums here and do a bit more research. Good luck.

[jerseyj]

hrjersey is quite correct. The first thing you should be doing is looking at the type of visa you can get. It took me 3 years to get a permenent visa and that was well before 9/11, could be longer now.
A collegue (from Korea) waited more than 3 years to get a work visa.

Some things are cheaper here in New Jersey, food (no tax on most of it), clothes (no tax on most of that too), gas, beer to name a few. 7% tax on all other goods and commodities, as opposed to your combined taxes (GST & PST) which I think totals to about 17%.

Housing is more expensive here as is college tuition.

It's a big decision. Good luck!

[christina0001]

NJ is expensive, but for many fields of employment, you will earn more than you might elsewhere. What sort of work do you plan on doing?

[kaudyatas]

What cities in NJ are least expensive and family friendly?

[tommyc_37]

Originally Posted by Canadian_girl

Oh? I heard it wasn't, what city (ies) are least expensive to live in?

What you heard is that compared to NYC, it is not expensive. That is true, it is slightly cheaper to live in NJ compared to NYC. But when compared to the rest of the U.S, New Jersey is very, very expensive.

[SweepTheLeg]

Originally Posted by kaudyatas

What cities in NJ are least expensive and family friendly?

It's hard to get one without the other in NJ unless you are in South Jersey.

It's kind of a broad question. You need to focus it before we can help you.

Long story short: if you mean "low crime" and "good schools" by the term Family Friendly... it's going to be a stretch.