[Goodpasture]

I look at cost of living in a different manner. I suppose comparing San Diego costs to Tulsa costs or NJ costs to Arkansas costs is relevant, but that, to me, is not a real world test. I MUCH prefer asking things like "Can a cable installer afford a house" or "Can a working couple afford to eat the food that is available in the supermarket" or "Is there enough money left at the end of the month to provide adequate savings." I suppose monitoring the cost indicators are of value, but I prefer to monitor the contents of the shopping carts around me and the tables at the barbeque restaurants.

[TheComputerGuy]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

I look at cost of living in a different manner. I suppose comparing San Diego costs to Tulsa costs or NJ costs to Arkansas costs is relevant, but that, to me, is not a real world test. I MUCH prefer asking things like "Can a cable installer afford a house" or "Can a working couple afford to eat the food that is available in the supermarket" or "Is there enough money left at the end of the month to provide adequate savings." I suppose monitoring the cost indicators are of value, but I prefer to monitor the contents of the shopping carts around me and the tables at the barbeque restaurants.

Real life is a BETTER indicator than what those #%$&%*$* bean counters come up with.

You have the right idea.

M.

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

I look at cost of living in a different manner. I suppose comparing San Diego costs to Tulsa costs or NJ costs to Arkansas costs is relevant, but that, to me, is not a real world test. I MUCH prefer asking things like "Can a cable installer afford a house" or "Can a working couple afford to eat the food that is available in the supermarket" or "Is there enough money left at the end of the month to provide adequate savings." I suppose monitoring the cost indicators are of value, but I prefer to monitor the contents of the shopping carts around me and the tables at the barbeque restaurants.

I agree with you 100%. New Jersey is one of the wealthiest states in the union. I run across tax returns everyday with incomes of $500,000+. People are buying condominums for three quarters of a million dollars. There is definitely big bucks in this state. However to use your example: no -- the cable installer cannot survive in New Jersey unless he has a second job and his wife works full time. Policemen in our little town of 25,000 make between $75,000 and $100,000, but they work overtime to make ends meet. And their wives work full time as well. If you have your MBA or other professional degree and want to commute to Philadelphia or New York City you can make big money and probably have a decent life. That was the reason we decided to move. Neither one of my kids are the MBA type. Scott will most likely do honest decent work with his hands and Anna is thinking of law enforcement. They could not survive (buy a house, raise a family, take a vacation) with the incomes those careers will provide in New Jersey.

My neice and her new husband bring home an income of about $200,000 (together). They commute 2-1/2 hours from Point Pleasant Beach to New York City each way. They would like to start a family, but how can they do that with that kind of time committment? They will have to either one or both work closer to home and take a huge cut in pay. They're thinking of moving to Delaware.

Statistics mean nothing. Quality of life means everything.

[StillwaterTownie]

Texans seem to think high property taxes are better than having a state income tax like what Oklahoma has.

Probably with Texas having a lot more people than Oklahoma, it leads to efficiencies, which help keep prices lower. There's more people in the Dallas Ft. Worth area than in all of Oklahoma.

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

Texans seem to think high property taxes are better than having a state income tax like what Oklahoma has.

Probably with Texas having a lot more people than Oklahoma, it leads to efficiencies, which help keep prices lower. There's more people in the Dallas Ft. Worth area than in all of Oklahoma.

Good. I'm looking for some wide open spaces.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

Good. I'm looking for some wide open spaces.

You don't want to live down here in DFW for sure. It is rapidly becoming hugely overpopulated with gridlock on many freeways at a good portion of the day (and night). The people here are good, and Texas has been good to me, but I look forward when I can return to the country in Oklahoma someday. I think you people are really fortunate that you live there (especially out in the country). I MEAN that with all my heart. I'm sooo looking forward to the day when that can happen.

[peggydavis]

Hey, I used to be a bean counter.

But, if you look at quality of life, people around here who are willing to work at all can live pretty comfortably. They may not live in a cookie cutter brick house, or wear the most expensive trendy clothing, but they can pay their bills. For a go-getter, life can be more than comfortable.

[PoppyOK]

I have lived in The central valley, east Texas and north central Oklahoma. Oklahoma is DEFINATELY hands down cheaper than Texas. It cost us nearly as much to live in east Texas as it did in California. They may not have state taxes in Texas but they tax everything else to death. My family moved to Texas to be near family after a job loss and we hated it. The employers in Texas treat their employees like @#&%! Housing costs are high and the food is horrible. Oklahoma has an overall better cost of living. The people are less uppity and more friendly and the jobs are better all the way around. Oklahoma is now home as far as my family is concerned.

[montanamom]

Wow, where did this thread come from? I started it THREE YEARS ago!

[Lawman_Kyle]

The cost of living in Durant has gone up in the short time we've been here. I live right on the lake so naturally prices are going to be inflated some, but its to the point of craziness. Jenn and I live in a little old 16 x 80 trailer on a 1.13 acre lot and it appraises over 75,000$???? Psh, anyone who'd pay that for this place is outta their mind. Most lots here ranger from 30-60k.

Alot of the houses in this area are 250k plus, with 3 being over a million that I can think of. And yes it's mostly outta staters that own them. For instance when we first moved here a Dr. from Texas had bought this nice house....TORE IT DOWN....and built a multimillion dollar house on the same spot. Money is nothing to these folks.

As for day to day bills everything is fairly cheap. My water bill is about 15-20$ a month. Electric varies widely from about 100$ in the summer to over 300$ in the winter since I'm total electric. Food runs us about 100$ or less a week with two adults and a 8 month old. Internets pricy if ya want highspeed....60$. Other than that we just have two new vehicles that cost us about 1000$ a month plus insurance. Compared to some places I'd say OK is still cheap.

Back where I grew up you can rent a big house for around 350-400$ a month, but good luck finding a decent job in Hughes County.