Last in Wages Again (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: rentals, homeowners insurance, condo)

[Jammie]

So has everyone read their local paper today yet? We came in as having the lowest wages in the nation again. Sheesh, and I thought were have been making progress.

[BusySocialWorker]

Moving from Colorado I have to say YES the pay cut SUCKS but also my childcare is half the cost, my car insurance is half the cost and its nice not having a state income tax Don't get me wrong - I'd love more $$$$, especially since in reality the housing market in the hills is comp. to the costs in Denver (which is insane with the wages here)!

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by Jammie

So has everyone read their local paper today yet? We came in as having the lowest wages in the nation again. Sheesh, and I thought were have been making progress.

Jammie,

Please provide the link....would like to see the article...

[ElkHunter]

hahahaha They are. When I lived down in South Carolina, the wages were important. When I lived in South Dakota, it weren't so much so. Don't get me wrong, I would like to make the wages that I want. But in South Dakota where I lived, I really didn't need them. Insurance was low, rent was low, it was pretty cheap. Again, don't get me wrong, I want good strong wages, but in SD, I really didn't need them. I got by ok. I'm going to get hammered for this post. hahahaha

[Jammie]

Rico, I'm awful at providing links and half the time it's unfindable when I do post one so I'll just give you the info. It's in yesterday's (Tues) paper. It's the Daily Republic from Mitchell, So. Dak.

Guzzler, I doubt you'll get too much flack about the post. A lot of things here are cheaper then in some areas. Rent and housing in the Hills area isn't cheap anymore so you'd have to watch your cash if you lived out there.

[Jammie]

Guzzler, most of us aren't too materialistic and you seem to match that description quite well, too. I have no dependents anymore and I'm thinking that when you lived here, your situation was probably the same. But in all fairness to citizens of our state who have families to support, it is too bad that we always come in dead last in these reports and in teacher's salaries. Basically everyone's salary. So I did a bit of comparing. I compared two cities that I felt were somewhat similar. I chose Rapid City and Ocala, Fl., both with a population in the area of 60,000. The national average is based on 100% for cost of living. This is a bit of what I found~

Cost of food~Rapid City-105% Ocala-99.8%

Housing~ Rapid City-66% Ocala-72.8%

Rent~Rapid City averaged rent of $91.00 a month higher then Ocala.

Misc.~Rapid City-101.6% Ocala-96%

Utilities~Rapid City-102.6% Ocala-95.9%

I do want to add that the the utility company that we have in our area is one of the highest in the nation at 135%.

In all fairness, after they calculated these things plus other things, the cost of living in Rapid was 88.2 and the cost of living in Ocala was 88.7.

Florida's wages are actually not much higher then our wages. There are other comparisons that I've made in the past that may be surprising. I've done a bit of searching and if I lived in Leon Co. Fla., the cost of a condo would actually be a bit less then it is in So. Dak. The tax rate would also be less then it is here. Homeowners insurance would be the same cost BUT I'm excluding the fact that one would need additional insurance for the canes. I've done a search as to the cost of our car insurance and it'd actually be a few dollars less then it is right here. So it is unfortunate that our cost of clothing, food, utilities, vehicles, etc. match a lot of other places and our wages lag behind.

[ElkHunter]

Jammie,

You are correct. When I was living there, wages weren't important because the minimum wage law was enough to support me. I don't know if I could live there now on the wages they want to pay.

I'm single again, kids are all grown and I threw the wife out, but now days I need a little more then minimum wage. Matter of fact, yesterday I turned down a job for $35 an hour. NOT becuase of the money. Just getting too old to go to places like IRAQ. HAHAHA

[chayaandmikey]

Actually, I am moving to San Antonio from Sioux Falls, and the cost of living in San Antonio is 4.4% less than in Sioux Falls, and the average pay in San Antonio is 3.8% higher than in Sioux Falls, and what does Sioux Falls have to offer..derfinately not a real riverwalk. The apartement rentals in San Antonio are around the same costs, but you have extravagant pools and year-round warm weather. I guess you have to live where you work and work where you live.

[Jammie]

I wish you luck in your move to Tx. They've been having a bit of cool weather down there, but nothing like we're having. Have you gone there often and what is the job situation there? Low unemployment rate like it is here?

[MrMarple]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I wish you luck in your move to Tx. They've been having a bit of cool weather down there, but nothing like we're having. Have you gone there often and what is the job situation there? Low unemployment rate like it is here?

Regarding the low employment rate, I've heard this but can't be certain it's correct. That is, that the unemployment rate is determined by the number of individuals actively collecting unemployment compensation. If this is correct, then anyone who's comp has run out will be back on the employed rolls. Also, those who have given up seeking employment are counted as working, the underemployed, i.e. someone working 10 hours a week for min wage is by SD's definition employed. Basically if you're not getting a comp check you're employed as far as the state of SD is concerned. Is this correct?