Financially speaking.....Phoenix vs. LA (Glendale, Scottsdale: home, salaries, property taxes)

[nehazaidi]

Was it better, and I am not JUST talking about being able to afford a house

[dshimel]

Originally Posted by nehazaidi

Was it better, and I am not JUST talking about being able to afford a house

Housing is obviously cheaper. Rents generally run half of L.A.

Gas is a good 30-40 cents cheaper per gallon.

Property taxes are a small fraction of L.A.

Even going to a bar/club has cheaper cover and dink prices.

Just about everything is cheaper there than L.A. Salaries are a tad lower, but not "that much" lower.

We talk about traffic here, but compared to L.A. our rush-hour is a Sunday drive. When I lived in L.A. it would take me 45 minutes to get from Covina to Cal State East L.A. at 9AM, then 10 minutes to get home at 1PM. And you can't do surface streets because no road goes straight or very far.

Sure, a trip from Glendale to Scottsdale at rush hour will be 50-75% longer than at midnight, but not 400% longer like an L.A. rush hour.



I loved being a half-hour from the beach, an hour from the desert, and hour from the mountains, an hour from Six Flags, half hour from Disneyland, hour from Hollywood, Sea World, Knotts, Universal, etc., etc., etc.

Phoenix can't compete with L.A. in most areas, but financial we blow them away!

[ibarrio]

I agree with the postr above.

Even a Gallon of milk is substantially cheaper...

[wit-nit]

I agree also. You have better investment opportunities in AZ too.

[Magnum Mike]

When it comes to the cost of living, comparing Phoenix and LA is like comparing roses and weeds. Everything in the Los Angeles basin, and California in general costs a lot more. Unless you can settle for living in a small town not that many people want to live in, like Barstow, El Centro, Blythe or any of the other townships in the state.

[Grimey]

Agree, no comparison financially.

Jobs generally pay better in LA but not nearly better enough to make up the difference.