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I would take all those top ten lists and cost index charts and toss them in the trash. The internet is a great way to gather information but most of it lacks context and perspective. The difference in cost of living in Raleigh and Charlotte is negligible and can easily be offset through your personal lifestyle choices. If you are truly interested in moving to one of those areas you should visit them and give a lot of weight to which area provides you the best employment opportunity in terms of actual job offers.
(Absolutely agree that visiting the area in which you plan to live is to be encouraged. However, it's not always feasible and personal perspectives on forums such as these can be very valuable.)
Also, how about if your work is largely not reliant on location, North_Raleigh_Guy (and others)? Where might you prefer to live?
Location: Sodo Sopa at The Villas above Kenny' s House.
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Originally Posted by DotsOnMyShells
(Absolutely agree that visiting the area in which you plan to live is to be encouraged. However, it's not always feasible and personal perspectives on forums such as these can be very valuable.)
Also, how about if your work is largely not reliant on location, North_Raleigh_Guy (and others)? Where might you prefer to live?
Now or 5 years ago? I'd pick Raleigh now probably Charlotte when originally asked. I'm woefully ignorant of the Charlotte area but from what I've read and heard first hand I'd still prefer here. I do wish we would get on board with designing some sort of rail system which Charlotte has been doing.
I think an individual has more of an effect on his or her COL than a few percentage points this or that way. If you pick less house than you can afford, don't use credit unwisely, shop day-to-day in a responsible manner, make thrifty choices when you can ... it'll have a much bigger impact on your finances than one area over another. And if you are happy with the intangibles of where you move to, you will settle faster and longer, which will be better for your finances too.
In any given week, I might choose to eat leftovers, pick a store brand, do work around my home rather than hire someone, drive an older car, cook from scratch, buy an item of clothing second hand, stay in my neighborhood to conserve gas ... whereas another family down the road that has identical stats might have a much bigger COL.
I also think that that the Triangle's urban metro area is more diverse with the different towns having different pockets of affordability. People moving here can choose Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Apex, Fuquay Varina, Wake Forest, Clayton, Holly Springs, Hillsborough and all the other suburbs I'm forgetting. Oh, Cary too I guess (just kidding, Cary lovers.)
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