From DFW, TX to SLC (Salt Lake City: car insurance, house, income)

[tlp123]

Anyone here move from Dallas/Ft Worth area, TX to Salt Lake City Metro Area?

Please post your comments/experiences.

Thanks!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I made the opposite move this summer. The climates are radically different, I much prefer that of SLC. However, my grandkids are here so I am "here."

Texas is much more expensive to me. I didn't need a/c in SLC. I had a swamp cooler - much cheaper to run. My gas bill was higher due to more months of heating but gas is cheap. My homeowners is twice what I paid in SLC for a house that I paid less than 1/2 of what my SLC house was appraised for. Car insurance is about the same. Electricity is much higher here. My Medicare Part D payment is higher here. My water, sewer, and garbage bill is twice what it was in SLC. I lived in Sugar House and everything was 3-7 miles away. I am in the suburbs and everything is 5-20 miles away. Gasoline costs about the same but I use more of it. My property tax is about the same on a house appraised at less than 1/2 of the SLC house. I had plenty of mom-and-pop places, small businesses, to go to in SLC. Here it is chain city.

While people are friendly, I have been in this house 2+ months and only 2 neighbors have come over to meet me. In SLC, by this time I knew most of the block.

If it were not for family, I'd be in SLC in a heart-beat. But seeing my grandkids every few days makes it all worthwhile. It also helps to be near my son if I need something I can't do myself, more likely to happen as I age. After re-reading this, I know it sounds negative for Dallas. It's just the economic facts of life.

PS and I had tons of friends, both LDS and non-LDS in SLC.

[tlp123]

Thanks, your reply is appreciated.

You cost of living comments are encouraging. It encourages more optimism to refute my own findings, and to do more research.

One week ago on business, I found regular gasoline for $3.50-$3.79/gal in SLC.

When I got back to DFW, found it here $3.20-$3.09/gal.

Yesterday, I paid $2.97 at COSTCO in Lewisville.

Obviously, because of multiple factors, the cost of healthcare premiums can vary a lot everywhere. Without going into all the details, potential employer did not offer typical PPO/HMO I was accustomed to in Texas, and employee cost of premium was twice what I was paying where I worked in Texas. Did the math, and was surprised at the amount of UT state income tax I would be paying for my potential annual income. Based on earnings here in TX vs. potential earnings in UT, I would be taking home less in UT, even with 10% higher annual salary. Also noticed food was higher in UT. Started to check out a COSTCO on the Saturday I was there, but it was so crowded, I decided not. Was told by a local, Saturday is NOT the time to shop COSTCO in SLC.

Housing looks more affordable in SLC metro area. The scenery and climate was awesome! The dry air wrecked my sinuses though for the week I was there.

Do they salt the roads in the winter, or use metal corrosive chemicals? Thinking not since I didn't see any rusty auto exteriors.

Also, being an ex-professional musician, was wondering how the local music scene is in SLC.

Many thanks again for your reply, I really appreciate it!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Whatever they use on roads is not particularly damaging. I just took my car to the carwash a few times after a big storm if I was out early.

[tlp123]

Originally Posted by tlp123

Anyone here move from Dallas/Ft Worth area, TX to Salt Lake City Metro Area?

Please post your comments/experiences.

Thanks!

To screen name "Ankhharu",

I did not, and will not make the move to SLC.

My wife and I made a drive from Dallas, to SLC taking our time on our terms. We spent a couple of weeks there. Both the drive up and down was beautiful.

After long and careful decision, we decided SLC was not the place for us. We have too many personal and business ties in Texas. At our age, we have nothing to gain in any way by moving to SLC.