Costs of things in North Carolina (Raleigh, Boone: apartment complex, car registration, homeowners insurance)

[Father John]

OK, here are some items I pay in Arizona. I wonder what the costs would be in North Carolina? I realize some things will vary by area, but list what your costs are, if you will.

Car insurance for two drivers (married), no accidents, about 10,000 miles a year per car, 2003 Camry XLE and 2003 MINI Cooper. We pay $915 per year TOTAL (not per 6 months and not each).

Car registration: MINI Cooper ($396.06 for 2 years); Camry: ($493.83 for 2 years) - these includes the state excise tax

Groceries (not including toiletries and other items - just food): $103.08/wk for the two of us.

Water, sewer, and garbage pick up: $58.34 per month

Electricity (we don't use gas in this house): $148.43 per month

Cable TV, Internet, and telephone (all combined): $123.92/month

Property taxes on house (valued at $377,000): $1815.38/year
Insurance on same home: $806.00/year

Those are the basics. What about in your neighborhood?

[NJRose]

Here is what we pay:
Car Insurance: about 1400 a year. We have full coverage on 2 vehicles, and liability only on an older pickup.
Groceries: about $100 a week, plus a $300 Sams Club trip once every 6 weeks or so (family of 4)
Water: $30 a month (no sewer, we have septic)
Trash: $58 every 3 months
Electricity: average month is $150. Higher, of course, in the winter when we have the heat and Christmas lights on, lower in the spring when we're not running the heat or AC.
Phone/cable/internet bundle: $165/month. A little high, but my darling husband has to have the premium cable package in order to watch NASCAR 24/7.
Property taxes: $900 a year (house valued at $175,000)
Homeowners insurance: $408/year

The initial registration on our vehicles was high (about $500 total) but our renewals were much lower. Then we had to pay property tax on our cars later on in the year. I think that was about $120 for 2 of the cars.

[miamiblue]

Originally Posted by Father John

OK, here are some items I pay in Arizona. I wonder what the costs would be in North Carolina? I realize some things will vary by area, but list what your costs are, if you will.

Car insurance for two drivers (married), no accidents, about 10,000 miles a year per car, 2003 Camry XLE and 2003 MINI Cooper. We pay $915 per year TOTAL (not per 6 months and not each).

Car registration: MINI Cooper ($396.06 for 2 years); Camry: ($493.83 for 2 years) - these includes the state excise tax

Groceries (not including toiletries and other items - just food): $103.08/wk for the two of us.

Water, sewer, and garbage pick up: $58.34 per month

Electricity (we don't use gas in this house): $148.43 per month

Cable TV, Internet, and telephone (all combined): $123.92/month

The initial registration for my MINI Cooper (purchased in state) was $75, but I think the renewal might be a bit less - however, renewal is on a yearly basis.

Insurance for a 6 month policy on my MC started at $430, but went down when I renewed to $408 - this was the lowest rate I found for the area, and about half what it was where I was coming from. No accidents, full coverage. However, I'm single, late 20's and living in an apartment complex in Raleigh, so this might impact the rate. I know that the city you live in will definitely make a difference in rate. My boyfriend's insurance for his truck is much lower (he's older, so is his vehicle). The personal property tax on the car (brand new) was $205 - this will decrease each year as the vechicle depreciates.

You can find cable rate info at Time Warner Cable - Home.

Our water, sewer, trash bills have been about $23-$28/month (two person household), and we have been told by others that our apartment complex has been ripping us off at that rate. <shrugs>

Groceries, this is so subjective based on personal preferences, etc. We could easily spend $100+/week if we bought everything we wanted, when we wanted it. But lately we have been on a strict budget and get away with about $80 every two weeks. You have to have discount cards for all the grocery stores here in order to keep your grocery bills in a normal range.

I hope this helps!

[Father John]

Yes, Miamiblue, it helps. Thanks!

Comcast wants an address to quote rates - I guess to be sure they provide service in the area. Some things may have to wait until we move.

Anyone from Boone who can quote rates?

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Father John

Yes, Miamiblue, it helps. Thanks!

Comcast wants an address to quote rates - I guess to be sure they provide service in the area. Some things may have to wait until we move.

Anyone from Boone who can quote rates?

Are you sure about Comcast? It's my understanding that Charter Communications is the only cable provider in Watauga County.