Houston vs Raleigh - bird in hand, two in the bush scenario (Charlotte: rental car, rental)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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Pay isn't as great, but cost of living is less there is less, less traffic/big city issues, closer to my wife's family and has much better retirement benefits (pension and matching of the TRP?401k?).
Thoughts?
Having recently moved from Texas the only part of the COL that will be lower will be your auto insurance and electricity. The income tax with the addition of sales tax in NC will be greater than the property tax and sales tax in TX. Housing is definitely more expensive in the Triangle area.
The one thing that is great about NC is the plethora of outdoor activities all year long. And I can't forget how beautiful it is here!
JetBlue quick and easy (and often cheap) flights to the NYC from RDU. Also, the airport is super easy to get to from most places in the Triangle, as is navigating it once there.
Well personally I choose raleigh...I had the option to move to Houston with my current company too, but I couldn't stand houston. That summer heat is no joke - 100 degrees + for days at a time with grueling humidity, a real lack of trees, a LOT of concrete, huge freeways lots of traffic...big city amenities and growing insanely quickly, though. Raleigh is cooler, green as hell, nicer highways, hilly, trees eery where, not nearly as crowded but still does have some decent city amenities for sure. The whole metro area - Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and all their burbs make up roughly 2 million people - less than Houston city proper. Keep that in mind.
Personally, I'd choose Raleigh over Houston as well. I like smaller cities. Luckily my wife basically open to anything as long as it provides better medical care than what we currently have, access to a bigger airport (Raleigh is larger than what we currently have, but not as large as Houston, but does provide direct flights to NYC which is a big plus for her).
Everyone's description of Raleigh likes more into what I'd like and it does fulfill what we are looking for.
Just hoping I get the opportunity to choose Raleigh over Houston.
Pay isn't as great, but cost of living is less there is less
Thoughts?
The cost of living in Raleigh is considered basically the same as the cost of living in Houston, slightly more expensive even by some estimators. Just want to make sure you have your facts right, and you aren't expecting this area to be cheaper than it is.
I've lived in Houston. There are certain things I loved about it (the food scene! the fantastic cultural amenities), but the traffic is nightmare and climate is harsh as hell. Especially with wanting to be closer to the NE, I would definitely recommend giving Raleigh a strong look.
The cost of living in Raleigh is considered basically the same as the cost of living in Houston, slightly more expensive even by some estimators. Just want to make sure you have your facts right, and you aren't expecting this area to be cheaper than it is.
I've lived in Houston. There are certain things I loved about it (the food scene! the fantastic cultural amenities), but the traffic is nightmare and climate is harsh as hell. Especially with wanting to be closer to the NE, I would definitely recommend giving Raleigh a strong look.
My info is ONLY anecdotal, but I find this hard to believe. A house in a decent neighborhood in Houston has got to be more than a comparable ITB house in Raleigh, and where-as Raleigh has very few unsafe areas, Houston has some really rough areas.
Seems like you've done the homework, and know what you are talking about, but from my perspective, it seems hard to believe.
About the food scene: YES! Houston has great food. I visited there for 10+ years before I realized that they have more than Papadeaux and Papacitos (chains). I guess it's like Cary, for many it seems they only have chains, but I've had some of the best meals ever in Houston. I'm headed there again in a couple weeks, and stoked (only) about the food.
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