Move to Pittsburgh? (student loans, health insurance, budget)

[amylynn83]

My husband and I are considering moving at the end of next year and are considering where to go. At first, we thought about the South to be close to our families, but are thinking about staying in the northeast. We'd like a place where we can find jobs in the marketing field and enjoy a low cost of living. I'd like to go somewhere where I can build my career and lay down roots. I've been to Pittsburgh many times and loved the city.

Given my criteria, do you think Pittsburgh is the right choice?

Also, we won't move until my husband has found a job -- once we're living in the city, I'll start my own job search. How much should I budget for heating costs each month? We currently live in an apartment that includes everything so I don't know how much gas is in the winter months.

[guylocke]

Hi amylynn! Well, you're right, Pittsburgh does have a low cost-of-living and the housing is very reasonable. I would have suggested to make sure you come and check out the city but you've done that and love it!

As long as your husband finds work before you pick up and move I certainly think Pittsburgh could offer you what you're looking for!

I'm not sure if this will help you, but my parents live in a nice 3-bedroom home and my mum is on a flex-plan with the gas company. She pays $125 every single month and it fluctuates very little due to the flex-plan which averages out your yearly gas use.

She said if she wasn't on the flex-plan she would probably be paying $300 during the winter and less than $100 during the summer each month.

The flex-plan doesn't save you money, it just stretches your gas use/monthly payments out so some months you aren't getting hit hard and other months you barely owe anything. My mother likes it that way, it's predictable. :P

[guylocke]

Oh, I live in a nice one-bedroom condo and my gas bills in the winter are about 50 to 75 bucks.

[truemann77]

Pittsburgh is named as the most livable city in 2006, everything is affordable, as long as u have a secured job, 2000 bucks would secure a monthly comfortable living, for 2 persons with a car(economy size) and a dog , heating bills are tricky and variable among areas but the average

[Merge]

Gas bills will obviously fluctuate based upon the age, size and insulation of the house you live in. My gas bills sometimes exceed $600/month in the winter. But this is mostly because it is a 100+ year old house with very high ceilings, hard wood floors, and a poorly-insulated addition in back.

The cost of living is low in Pittsburgh. I don't know how the marketing field is doing in the area. I used to work for a prominent firm downtown (in the mid-90's), but they have since shut down. Since then I've been out-of-the-loop.

[goodgirl49]

$2000 does sound a bit low for a monthly income for 2 persons in Pittsburgh considering all expenses.

[guylocke]

$2000 does sound a bit low for a monthly income for 2 persons in Pittsburgh considering all expenses.

Where does this number even come from?? The OP does not mention any price-ranges or anything. Was it just a random example?

[globalburgh]

I don't think Pittsburgh is the best place to advance your careers in marketing. Pittsburgh is a great place to raise a family, but my guess is that you would need to transition to a different field in order to make a good living there.

[goodgirl49]

Originally Posted by guylocke

Where does this number even come from?? The OP does not mention any price-ranges or anything. Was it just a random example?

Truemann77 mentioned this figure.

[Katiana]

$2000 sounds pretty low for two people for anywhere frankly. The University of Colorado figures living expenses of $1400/mo for one person, including everything but health insurance. This figure also exclude tuition. (Per my DD who is living on student loans.) While it doesn't cost twice as much for two people, it's not true that "two can live as cheaply as one".