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.
That's right, some things do offset others. Gasoline here is about 50 cents more per gallon than California, but as you said we would most likely need to drive more there. Partially, just because there is more to do and it's a bit more spread out. But, it's one of those things that depends on the individual to some extent. We have a friend here who lives outside of town and drives as many miles in a month as we do in a year. We live in town, so that's a factor. The same thing would apply in California.
Going by memory, I think internet and phone were similar to here and house insurance was less there. We have to pay for hurricane insurance here, so that's what makes it more. The property taxes are really low here. What we pay in a year here would be about what we would pay per month in California. That's a very big difference.
I think the way we live is a bigger factor than where we live, although there are some costs that can tip the scale. Like high property taxes or high heating or air conditioning bills. Hawaii definitely has some pluses. For instance, the amount we spend on clothing. I wear sleeveless shirts, capris, and flip flops and my husband wears t-shirts and shorts. That's pretty much it. We spend next to nothing on clothes. Another thing is that we don't have to heat our home. None of the houses even have heaters except for some at higher elevations where it can get down in the 50's, or I think maybe even in the 40's.
One of our concerns about this island is the poor medical care. When it comes to medical care this is anything, but paradise. But, that's another topic.
I'm game also - would love to live there, at least, I think I would love it - who knows how I'd feel after a bit.
Yeah, it's hard to say. There are definitely nice things about here that you would enjoy, but there is a downside for sure. Some people love it and others can't wait to get back to the mainland. I can see both sides.
there are lots of cheap rural areas around but living in nyc now and having a home in the poconos i see the best and worst of both.
limited medical choices and facilities are a major issue.. lack of public transportation is a problem when you need it. everything requires long drives to buy anything.
in an emergency help is ofton quite a ways off...
if you decide to work many areas have next to no real jobs
traveling is very trying at times, i know by us most roads are 1 lane. in an emergency grandma can be out for a drive and a long line of cars back up behind her.
living in some of these rural areas has a price and dont forget with no traffic the poconos are 2 hours to our nyc home so we arent that rural but thec daily life has the concerns of above...
When i visited new england their fall was like our winter basically.Being that my parents are from the northeast and i saty there at times;no way I could take the winters especailly now that I am older.
My pension is not taxed at 20%. But when you combine federal taxes and state taxes, for part of the total the projected number is 20% or so. It all depends on how much your income is combining your SS, your pension, and any investments together. 85% of my SS is taxed at about 13%. 100% of my pension is taxed at about 13%. Since I'm drawing on ss, I don't hVE TO PAY SS TAXES.
MY STATE TAX IS abou 6%. 13% + 6% is about 20% give or take. The toal comes closer to 18% of my total retirement income.
If you have a pretty low retirment income, you mgith not have to pay anything. I have a pretty good teacher pension after 40 years of working as an educator, and pretty good SS, and osme inventments.
You do live in a high tax state. IN pa, neither SS or nor any state pension is taxed at all. And even for me still working the PA TAX is only 2.8% compared to more than 6% in Maine.
It is what it is.
Zarathu
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.
