Miami Fl the 17th most expensive city to live in???? (Fort Lauderdale: homeowners insurance, unemployment)

[Outofthematrix]

The most surprising appearance on the list of most expensive places to live is Detroit. Even though it's plagued by unemployment of 16.7 percent, utilities are expensive. Electricity costs an average of $243.56 a month, compared to a mere $141.64 in Atlanta.
Miami is like 17th on the list,how is this possible?



The ten most expensive cities on the list are:

1. New York City
2. San Francisco
3. San Jose
4. Los Angeles
5. Washington DC
6. San Diego
7. Boston
8. Philadelphia
9. Seattle
10. Baltimore

How can miami not be in the top ten? and Philadelphia number 8th???

The link
Full List: America's Costliest Cities - Forbes.com

[Chelito23]

Who knows, but thoese lists and surveys are a dime a dozen. Regardless of what that one says this month, it is common knowledge that Miami is extremely over priced and is basically a rip off when you are trying to make the most out of your money.

My guess if that Miami has a lot of "residents" the are wealthy, who don't even live here (investors, jet setters, etc.) which skew the numbers...and then you also have a large undoumented population which may not be represented on the lower end, once again skewing numbers.

[StilltheSame]

Miami isnt as expensive at it would first appear. SFL becomes costly because of:
1. gas and car maintenance
2, Car insurance
3. Utility bills
4. property insurance and taxes.

When it comes to food and basic items (including housing) its really not that bad.

[Outofthematrix]

Yea but what you named,is pretty much key important things...........

[StilltheSame]

Outofthematrix,
I totallyagree - the things that are so expensive in SFL are completely extraneous. My point is that its not the basics that is costing so much (food and housing) its these additional intangibles like insurance and utilities. So you can move and pay comparable housing, more for food, pay state income taxes but take public transportation, pay less for homeowners insurance, utilities, property taxes and come out way ahead financially. We are paying 1/2 literally 1/2 of what we paid for our car insurance and almost 1/3 of what we paid for electricity. You end up saving so much its a no-brainer.

[Outofthematrix]

Yea I mean they say living up north is more expensive,but I used tell them,yea its more expensive,but we can afford it,because jobs pay us better,living up north

[StilltheSame]

Originally Posted by Outofthematrix

Yea I mean they say living up north is more expensive,but I used tell them,yea its more expensive,but we can afford it,because jobs pay us better,living up north

Add in the savings for private schools because they can go to public schools and its a bonanza!

[♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥]

Originally Posted by Outofthematrix

Miami is like 17th on the list,how is this possible?

Well I do think many of those cities are more expensive(NYC, Boston, anything in CA) but I'm not sure about the criteria used. I would like one that only includes housing, gas, taxes, insurance and utilities. Groceries, HBC/HBA prices are rather constant if you are a smart shopper, and health costs shouldn't be there as most people have insurance.

[somebodymiami]

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL $52,500 $57,900 10.27% 11.00% pshh the medium pay in miami dade is like 45k a year. unless it went up.

[Bjorn_Ironside32]

Crap list.
Miami should be #3 atleast.