[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by CTartist

1) All of CT does not have the same COL as the areas of FFC that are easily accessible to NYC.

2) If you want to live in a quality area of NC or the Carolina's in general it is not as cheap as you think.

Case in point. I am thinking about the Charleston area too for retirement but I want to be near the beaches in a quality town. I am not gong to spend my retirement in a not so nice place just because it's cheap. I know people who have moved to Mount Pleasant SC (near Charleston) and really like it. My brother has been there and he tells me it is really nice too. Guess what, I have been tracking Mount Pleasant and it is getting more expensive each passing month.

Mount Pleasant is slightly more expensive than Branford.
Moderator cut: Link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Guilford and Mount Pleasant are about the same. Madison is slightly more than Mount Pleasant. I do want to get down and see the city of Charleston and I am sure it is a great place but that does not mean it is going to very cheap there.

So, Charlotte is not a quality area? There are beautiful suburbs near CLT where the cost of living is a fraction.

Amazing how people who have zero experience living in both places seem to know what's what.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by ayoskillz

But you can go 20 to 30 mins outside of Raleigh and the median home value drop close to 150 to 175k . And property taxes are a lot lower

https://m.trulia.com/property/322706...leigh-NC-27610. Taxes last year were 1800 .

https://m.trulia.com/property/327011...leigh-NC-27616. Or this one for 250k and taxes were 2100

Finally, someone who has a clue.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by ayoskillz

But you can go 20 to 30 mins outside of Raleigh and the median home value drop close to 150 to 175k . And property taxes are a lot lower

https://m.trulia.com/property/322706...leigh-NC-27610. Taxes last year were 1800 .

https://m.trulia.com/property/327011...leigh-NC-27616. Or this one for 250k and taxes were 2100

Your point is pointless.

I'm not talking about 20-30 miles outside of Raleigh. The OP is asking about the Raleigh metro area itself, so I gave her an answer that pertains to the Raleigh metro area itself.

[ayoskillz]

Originally Posted by nep321

Your point is pointless.

I'm not talking about 20-30 miles outside of Raleigh. The OP is asking about the Raleigh metro area itself, so I gave her an answer that pertains to the Raleigh metro area itself.

Nobody said miles. I said mins.... but even with that being said 20miles outside of Raleigh is still metro raleigh.. Just thought I'll throw that out for those who don't know

[LilyMae521]

OP, you currently work at Yale? You are aware of the college tuition for children of employees benefit at Yale? From your posts, I'm thinking your children are young and your RA position may be fixed duration, but you could probably keep it going, good RAs are in demand there. The tuition benefit is very generous. Good luck whatever you decide.

[LINative]

Originally Posted by CEP_830

Husband and I live in Central CT. We came about 7 years ago and have struggled since (largely in part because we grew our family with two children and the cost of daycare has really kept us from bettering ourselves financially). We are getting tired of being part of the struggling middle class and have been researching new places to live, one of which is the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. Has anyone lived there? Is the "grass" really "greener?" It makes me nervous to move my family but we want a home where payments aren't largely going to taxes, where my girls could be in good public schools and we can visit nice restaurants/outdoors areas nearby, where it is diverse, and where money can go farther than barely getting by. Thoughts?

I do not about the costs so I cannot compare them. But I know numerous people including friends and customers who have moved down there and I do not know a single one of them who has come back.

North Carolina seems to be the in place now although Florida is still popular and occasionally you here about Georgia or South Carolina as well. The main thing that concerns me in your case is the schools down there. In North Carolina, I believe the school districts maybe countywide instead of local like up here in the north. Not sure. Since you have two young children that maybe important.

[LilyMae521]

I've been told that sometimes folks don't come back BC they are unable to afford getting back into the system up here.

[SeaDoo342]

Originally Posted by LilyMae521

I've been told that sometimes folks don't come back BC they are unable to afford getting back into the system up here.

Lol... that's crap

[East of the River]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Anyone who tells you the cost of living of both NC and CT is comparable has never lived in both places. Look back on certain poster's history and you'll see a pattern of obsessively defending CT.

Anyway, I did a temporary assignment in CLT years ago. Great area, up and coming, and I've heard it's only gotten better. That said, I wouldn't move there. Feels like you're on an island hours away from the nearest civilization. Not sure what Raleigh is like, but I'd assume similar.

Cost of living is less than half in NC, without a doubt.

It is indeed cheaper but from central CT to the Research Triangle your no where near 50% cheaper. More like 15% maybe 20%. It also depends on how much you make NC has a flat tax so in general less wealthy people pay more tax in NC then the wealthy with things like the grocery tax as mentioned.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by East of the River

It is indeed cheaper but from central CT to the Research Triangle your no where near 50% cheaper. More like 15% maybe 20%. It also depends on how much you make NC has a flat tax so in general less wealthy people pay more tax in NC then the wealthy with things like the grocery tax as mentioned.

Where are you getting your numbers from - or are you just guessing?

Raleigh is 27% cheaper than New Haven. It's over 40% cheaper than Bridgeport/Stamford. Home prices are half of what they are in greater New Haven, and 1/3 of Bridgeport/Stamford.