Considering job offer in Wentzville (St. Louis, Aurora: apartment, insurance, to buy)

[Chi_Bull_23]

I am a young professional in Chicago right now, and am considering a job offer in Wentzville that definitely has a realistic long term career potential, but in the short run I don't know if makes sense b/c I'm trying to figure out a cost of living differential adjusted for automobile expenses. Plus, I doubt that I would enjoy living in that area (I am VERY liberal) or not.

I don't own a car right now, and if I were to take that job, then not only would I have to find an apartment and relocate, but I would also have to buy a car and I'm trying to figure out a baseline for cost-of-living because you have to budget for gas (I know Wentzville is in sprawl area which means lots of miles on the car), insurance, fixing the thing when it breaks in addition to the financing/monthly payment, etc.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[sixtwobaldguy]

Gas is around 2.50$ a gallon. Wentzville is in the middle of nowhere, I'd guess 20 miles or more outside the city. Very boring, very small, and unless you like "the country lifestyle" not likely your cup of tea.

[indecisive]

I live in wentzville, I have also lived in Toronto and Chicago. you cant compare these places. Wentzville is an up and coming place - definitely a place for families - not for singles. You wont find a nice apartment in wentzville, you'll have to look in winghaven or o'fallon- both nice places and a few miles away. St. Louis is definitely more affordable than Chicago. Yes, you cant live without a car in st. louis - for the most part. You could live in ucity and commute to wentzville - you'd be going against traffic.

[Fishtacos]

I'd also recommend U. City....You are still pretty close to the city from there on weeknights/weekends. U.City itself has a nightlife scene, liberal, diverse, etc...and your commute wouldn't be that bad. Wentzville is "out there" a bit. Based on what info you gave...I would also recommend U.City, or in that range of area, 10 miles or so from downtown, highway drive or side street drive. And not that bad of a drive for a commute to your work.

Other recommendations would be closer in to the city, thus longer commute, but anything is doable based on what you can tolerate.

St. Louis is MUCH less cheaper than Chicago and Toronto...not even close.

[jojojohnson76]

Wentzville. Uck. Go urban!

[Djeep]

...is very family oriented, and politically somewhat conservative. Fairly inexpensive housing too. You could commute there from the U City area, or STL city, going against traffic (for 30-45 minutes each way). But a lot of the liberalsI know would be bothered by burning all that fossil fuel. Plus check out the I-64 reconstruction project, which may add some time to that commute. Kind of like living on the lakefront and commuting to Aurora every day, without the mass transit option.

[aragx6]

No way would that commute take as long as lakefront to Aurora. That takes over 1 1/2 even on a good day. The Wentzville commute really wuldn't be anywhere near that bad. Someone else said about 30-45 minutes- that's dead on. I'd be really surprised if it took you over 45 minutes. Very few people in St. Louis reverse commute. You'd have clear highway - esp. after you get out past 270.