Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The fact of the matter is the lower cost of living areas in general are either crime ridden, sketchy/trashy AF, sprawled out, lack amenities or all of the above. I want no part of that.
COL is pretty complicated. The stats are based on averages but in reality no two people's COL is exactly the same because we all spend money differently. Different lifestyles call for different things. The key is to align your location with your lifestyle and aspirations.
Purchasing Power Parity measures how far the dollars of people in an area stretches. The Standard is usually NYC.
On the PPP index Houston is number one. Meaning Houston gives the most bang for your buck.
$100 in Purchasing power in NY would be equivalent to $173 in Houston
$$101 in Dubai
$94 in Miami
$89 in Montreal
$88 in Vancouver
$83 in Boise, ID
$80 in Paris FR
$74 in Seoul
$67 in San Juan PR
$43 in Monterrey MX
$37 in Mexico City
$66 in Hong Kong
$53 in Beijing
Havana Cuba's Purchasing Power in comparison to NY is only a buck and 60 cents.
On the slightly similar cost of living index only El Paso and San Antonio has the lowest overall cost of living.
So does this mean Boise is more expensive than nyc?
COL is pretty complicated. The stats are based on averages but in reality no two people's COL is exactly the same because we all spend money differently. Different lifestyles call for different things. The key is to align your location with your lifestyle and aspirations.
This, as cost of living can vary within a city, let alone a metro area or state. This is the case even if the city has a low/average cost of living.
I live in a small city in northeast TN. Relatively low COL.
It's not ghetto, but it's definitely not on the ball with modernity. Aside from new retail, dining, nightlife, the local culture hasn't changed much in two decades.
It depends imo. People definitely want a low COL but that’s not the only thing people are looking for. That’s why Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas do so well since they’re relatively low COL compared to cities their size yet they still offer the amenities of a 6-7+ million person metro.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,610 posts, read 81,316,164 times
Reputation: 57871
I'm with the OP, though probably in the minority. If the cost of living were lower I would not be getting a raise in February of 11%. Since we have been in this house 28 years our mortgage is small, and I'm only driving to work 2 days a week, so this recent inflation has not affected our finances.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
