Cost of Living Really That High? (Albuquerque, Las Cruces: best cities, apartment, credit)

[southernjedi]

I live in Austin and have been "pining" for a Santa Fe move now for over 2 years and have to say that Austin maybe even more expensive than SF. For example, you will find very few restaurants (if you like to go out to dine) that charge less than $9 an entree. It's like a rule here. Gas has gone down to $1.97 a gallon in less than a month (if we had a gas crisis, etc. then how come the price dropped so dramatically in the past month? ok, this is just my opinion).

A gallon of milk here has jumped to $4.57 at walmart. I don't mean to be too specific but for those who love to eat chicken, this one is a heartbreaker price wise -- I shopped at the local HEB store (chain grocery stores here in Texas) and found a pound and a half pack of boneless chicken for $8.00. Next to it was "air chilled" chicken $14.00 for about a pound and a half. What the heck is that?! Oh my word. If you use public transportation, express buses are now $1.50 one way and .75 cents regular bus one way. A pint of cream corn at the ever popular Rudy's BBQ is $4.50. I saw a 2/1 "cozy bungalow cottage type" near UT Austin renting for $1,600 a month and selling for.....get this....$489,000, just because it's in a nifty area.

And here is just an example of the real estate market here, and believe me, that house just looks big:

http://austin.craigslist.org/reo/888001404.html


How about them apples?

[Vinegaroon]

I have no idea if this cost of living calculator is accurate, but it sure is fun to run cities on it.

An Austin, Texas move to Fanta Se.

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[Vinegaroon]

Man oh man, I am not moving to Aspen, Colorado. Now that's a high cost of living no matter how you slice eet.

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[southernjedi]

You know, I bet I could ditch my car and walk everywhere (well, most anywhere) in Santa Fe because it's very pedestrian friendly and save a lot of money in the process. Here in Austin, it's horrible. You're walking along in a neighborhood and the sidewalks just end, like they didn't have enough money to finish them. Sometimes you have to risk your life if you take the bus and have to walk home on the street. Just darn pitiful. Geez.

My word, Aspen is waaay too expensive. Give me a teepee or hut in Santa Fe anytime.

[GreatSantaFe]

Yikes southernjedi, you'll find Santa Fe "cheap" compared to those prices you quoted!!! Except for gas (here it's around $2.33 - 2.40/gal), we've got it made compared to Austin!

Like Vinegaroon, I too have lived in towns and cities all over he country and yes, prices for certain things like gas and big ticket items are less in Albuquerque, where you've got 10x the population and a lot more retail competition. And yes, compared to some other places I've lived, prices here seem higher - but then again it might be more a function of time rather than place, in other words I lived in those other places years ago when everything was cheaper. I just got back from trips to Tucson and the Fort Lauderdale area, and I didn't find much of a difference between those places and Santa Fe in terms of restaurants/ supermarkets/gas (although it seemed a bit more expensive in southern Florida).

[rybert]

Originally Posted by southernjedi

I live in Austin and have been "pining" for a Santa Fe move now for over 2 years and have to say that Austin maybe even more expensive than SF. For example, you will find very few restaurants (if you like to go out to dine) that charge less than $9 an entree. It's like a rule here. Gas has gone down to $1.97 a gallon in less than a month (if we had a gas crisis, etc. then how come the price dropped so dramatically in the past month? ok, this is just my opinion).

A gallon of milk here has jumped to $4.57 at walmart. I don't mean to be too specific but for those who love to eat chicken, this one is a heartbreaker price wise -- I shopped at the local HEB store (chain grocery stores here in Texas) and found a pound and a half pack of boneless chicken for $8.00. Next to it was "air chilled" chicken $14.00 for about a pound and a half. What the heck is that?! Oh my word. If you use public transportation, express buses are now $1.50 one way and .75 cents regular bus one way. A pint of cream corn at the ever popular Rudy's BBQ is $4.50. I saw a 2/1 "cozy bungalow cottage type" near UT Austin renting for $1,600 a month and selling for.....get this....$489,000, just because it's in a nifty area.

And here is just an example of the real estate market here, and believe me, that house just looks big:

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUN., 10/26: Hyde Park Craftsman Bungalow


How about them apples?

As far as gas/oil is concerned... the prices are going down because we are using less... supply & demand. They'll go right back through the roof after this global crunch lifts.

[Vinegaroon]

Yeah, the gas is just down momentarily. They will gouge us at the first opportunity.

[rybert]

That too. lol

[VT2NM]

i've been in santa fe for almost a year having moved from vermont. people always ask me "how do you like how expensive it is to live out here?" my response, "Ever spent a winter in Vermont paying for fuel oil to heat your house?" To that they say, "What's fuel oil?" Ugh! Here's what I've found: Natural Gas is what is used for most houses IN Santa Fe which is the fraction of the cost of fuel oil. Electricity runs about 6 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to 13 cents in Vermont. Being your from NC I'll bet your electricity from Duke Power is pretty affordable also, so that may be a wash. My combined electric and natural gas costs run me about 100 bucks a month, where in VT that 100 bucks would be my electric alone. Never mind the two or three hundred a month I'd spend on oil heat.

My brother-in-law lives in Asheville and my step-son lives in Bryson City. Both tell me the price of gasoline is way less, especially given that shortage "y'all" just went through in September.

Comparing Santa Fe to the expensive northeast, I'd say it's overall cheaper provided you're making the same money here as you are there. Ironically, my wife was offered a job back in Asheville that had me looking at comparable rentals to here. I actually found Asheville to be a little more expensive. But then, we needed a house with room for 3 dogs to run.

As for your childcare opportunities, go to craigslist (Santa Fe, obviously) and click on "Gigs" (down at the bottom) and then click "Domestic." I think you'll find plenty of opportunities.

The air is clean, but watch where you live. If you're in a rural area like I am, the dust is overwhelming. Also, a lot of people have a hard time with allergies in the spring and fall. I can't remember what causes the flare-ups, but it can be brutal for some.


My wife and I love it out here and will never go back east. Hope that helps.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by southernjedi

I live in Austin and have been "pining" for a Santa Fe move now for over 2 years....

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUN., 10/26: Hyde Park Craftsman Bungalow


How about them apples?

Key phrase: FSBO. That's just not realistic, and the FSBO (for sale by owner) will find out that the market won't bear what he's asking.

But Austin area prices and property taxes really are out of sight (my sis lives south of Austin, and I get out there from time to time)!