If you can afford it, the SF Bay Area is the greatest place in the world (San Diego: apartment, university)

[mini_cute]

Originally Posted by sav858

I don't think it was even analyzed for that list, the author just assumed it was left off because it was low it seems. I am actually genuinely curious, I actually had a tough time finding lists with it on it but I don't think because its COL is low but rather it just wasn't analyzed.

I did come across this:
https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index

I am glad you are at least genuinely curious, as I am.

I am skeptical about that list you provided because of the methodology they used to gather data. They rely on visitor entered data and so its rankings are only as good as the number of people who actually visit the site and enter data for each city. "What makes us unique is that we collect the prices that we use to calculate our cost of living index from visitors like you. Naturally, the more data entered, the more accurate the index and the calculations will be."

I trust the rankings from Mercer more because they are a professional global consulting firm and have been ranking COL for a long time. Here is the list they have for 2015:

https://www.imercer.com/uploads/GM/c...654/index.html

Tokyo is 11th most expensive for COL. SF is 37th most expensive.

Interestingly, Tokyo dropped 4 places from 2014. While SF jumped up 37 places. If it keeps going at that rate, it will surpass Tokyo.

NYC is the most expensive American city on the list at #16.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by Bisaro TMF

Living in a "Safe" area of Houston is like living in Walnut Creek or Pleasant Hill. That's how big and spread out that city is. All the safer area's are miles outside of the city So comparing it to small compact cities like Oakland or SF makes no sense. Houston is 600 Square miles compared to Oakland which is only like 80.

Don't you live in SF? You're calling those houses small which are all probably bigger than your house. Also how large of a house do you want? What's the obsession with 4000+ Square foot homes when you only have 1-4 people living with you? That is a complete waste of space. That Houston Heat is not just regular heat. You say that but unless you've spent actual time in it, you don't understand.

Not true, there are safe areas within Houston as well and if you go to the surrounding cities, your money goes VERY far, unlike here where you still get crap even way out in Brentwood.

I live in SF and I think SF is way over-valued, but I can understand people making housing sacrifices to live in an urban city like SF. However, it's become so expensive that there are many other urban cities that are more worth it. What makes the Bay Area pretty unique is you can drive an hour out and still have to make housing sacrifices while still paying a crap load of money.

It's not just about house size, it's about quality and location. You proved it here, $450,000 buys you an old ugly home way out in no man's land, while $450k,000 and even much less can buy you a nice place in/near the city center.

I've lived in multiple cities in Florida, as well Australia and a few other cities. I know what hot/humid summers feel like. I spent this summer in Asia, which makes humidity in the South seem like child's play. I absolutely hate the cold, I hate the fog, I find it depressing and literally painful when it's cold outside. When I lived in Florida and Australia, I actually looked forward to summer because it meant pool and beach weather and other water activities. Plus, virtually every single home has air conditioning unlike here where the weather is cool almost year-round and then when we finally get our 30 days of summer, I'm dying inside my home at night because virtually no homes have air conditioning.

With that being said, there are plenty of other cities besides Houston, where your money goes a long way and in my opinion offer a better standard of living than here, ESPECIALLY Brentwood. Geez, $450k to buy an old ugly home and still live out in the middle of nowhere is crazy in my eyes, but when the average home in SF is $1.2 million what choice do people here have?!

[k374]

don't care much for the Bay area...sorry, far far far from the best place in the world. Southern California is INFINITELY better than the Bay area which is my opinion.

It's funny when people post ridiculous stuff like this. You would have to pay me money to leave SoCal and move to the Bay area.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by k374

don't care much for the Bay area...sorry, far far far from the best place in the world. Southern California is INFINITELY better than the Bay area which is my opinion.

It's funny when people post ridiculous stuff like this. You would have to pay me money to leave SoCal and move to the Bay area.

I would also choose SoCal, especially parts of Orange County and San Diego.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by mini_cute

I am glad you are at least genuinely curious, as I am.

I am skeptical about that list you provided because of the methodology they used to gather data. They rely on visitor entered data and so its rankings are only as good as the number of people who actually visit the site and enter data for each city. "What makes us unique is that we collect the prices that we use to calculate our cost of living index from visitors like you. Naturally, the more data entered, the more accurate the index and the calculations will be."

I trust the rankings from Mercer more because they are a professional global consulting firm and have been ranking COL for a long time. Here is the list they have for 2015:

https://www.imercer.com/uploads/GM/c...654/index.html

Tokyo is 11th most expensive for COL. SF is 37th most expensive.

Interestingly, Tokyo dropped 4 places from 2014. While SF jumped up 37 places. If it keeps going at that rate, it will surpass Tokyo.

NYC is the most expensive American city on the list at #16.

Yeah but then you see these cities in 3rd world countries of Africa listed above SF. And this list varies so much more than the other one you linked to. Just so many different methodologies when it comes to lists of international cities like this.

One thing I'm a bit more interested is the metropolitan area as a whole because while SF city isn't out of this world crazy expensive, I really think it's the extremely expensive suburban areas that set the Bay Area apart nationally and likely internationally. I'm guessing it's even harder to find a report/list like that though.

[Stephen1110]

Originally Posted by k374

It's funny when people post ridiculous stuff like this. You would have to pay me money to leave SoCal and move to the Bay area.

probably because you would need the money in order to afford relocation to the Bay Area.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Here's what 1.5MM gets you in one of the best suburbs within a reasonable commute of Manhattan, again, compare to Marin prices.
131 Hampton Road, Garden City, NY For Sale | Trulia.com

That's a really nice house in a great neighborhood with a fantastic half acre lot and its less than 20 miles from mid-town Manhattan. Compare to Cupertino in the same price range. Bay area suburbs are insanely overpriced compared to NYC suburbs.

Example 1 Cupertino, CA For Sale | Trulia.com

Example 2 Cupertino, CA For Sale | Trulia.com

[sav858]

Basically you're paying La Jolla prices to live in Cupertino, Sunnyvale, etc... I get the proximity to jobs and all but still; small lots, small/avg size homes, very average/bland looking community, etc.. It's kind of comical in a way.

[k374]

Originally Posted by Stephen1110

probably because you would need the money in order to afford relocation to the Bay Area.

In which case it would be a LOT of money, perhaps equivalent to winning a lottery because that is the kind of money you need to move there these days...

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Dean Trails

Now if only your opinion counts why should the rest of us even bother.

No, just you neednt bother because your post added nothing but perpetuated yet another unnecessary tangent started by Sav858 of course.

Here's a thought. Refute a point I made instead of acting 'likealady' going off the deep end.