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I'm sorry that basteagow had such a horrible experience. :/
In regards to Seattle, your mileage may obviously vary.
Texas and I never saw eye to eye. My husband and I moved here 3 years ago from Dallas and would NEVER move back to Texas. We absolutely love it here--the vegetarian friendly choices, the political attitude/leaning, the green/enviro friendliness of the city, the outdoors, the weather (we like the grey and rain), etc.
As far as cost of living goes, some of our expenses went up, while others went down. Because Texas' property taxes are insane, our mortgage went down, even though we paid twice to buy a home. Our car and housing insurance went down, as did our internet service provider cost. Because of the weather and temperate climate, and our electric bills went WAY down (no more $400/month bills for most of the year for A/C). Our food costs went up, but not by a ton. The place we got hit was in down payment for a home and the cost of a home. While our overall mortgage went down, paying $400K for a tiny closet condo sucks. We weren't expecting that.
Seattle folks do tend to keep to themselves, so you have to be willing to start a conversation in order to make friends. That's hard for some folks and not so difficult for others. Do pay attention to the gloom. SADS is a real thing and if you get it, Seattle will probably not be a fun experience for you.
Did I mention the weather is depressing? I didn't know my mood could be affected by something as mundane as the color of the sky—until I moved here. Temperatures are great year-round, sure, but I'd rather it be balls-cold than not see the sun for two weeks in a row. Oh, did I say that it can get pretty hot (90s) in the summer and most housing here is built with no air conditioning? And when you complain about it, the locals will tell you to suck it up because A/C is not environmentally friendly...
I suppose an interesting question to put out there is to ask whether one would prefer the climate of Seattle- without AC in the home- or of Dallas- with AC in the home. I'd certainly pick the former over the latter, but I'm sure some would disagree.
Incidentally, I am positive the mail reason you don't see AC in private residences much in Seattle isn't a desire to be green but rather a desire to save green. Many homeowners and landlords just don't feel the number of warm weeks per year justifies the expense of AC installation.
I suppose an interesting question to put out there is to ask whether one would prefer the climate of Seattle- without AC in the home- or of Dallas- with AC in the home. I'd certainly pick the former over the latter, but I'm sure some would disagree.
Incidentally, I am positive the mail reason you don't see AC in private residences much in Seattle isn't a desire to be green but rather a desire to save green. Many homeowners and landlords just don't feel the number of warm weeks per year justifies the expense of AC installation.
Sure, it's definitely not necessary here (as opposed to in Texas, where some people could actually die without it), but it would be nice to have. For me, having A/C in my car and not in my home feels like I've gone back in time to the third-world country where I grew up. In my particular neighborhood, I'm not even allowed to install window units.
Air conditioning is even missing from many businesses here. My dad was visiting from Argentina back in July, and I decided to take him to a fancy Brazilian steakhouse in Seattle. As soon as we walked up, I knew we were in for an awful experience: the doors were wide open because they had no A/C, and we ate our $120 dinner with sweat dripping down our faces. My dad didn't mind too much because he's used to life being unnecessarily difficult, but I was embarrassed.
I moved from Houston in 2012, but had been attempting to move up here before the recession hit as it was the best fit for where I wanted to live. I'm not a fan of Texas at all. I just don't like hot, humid and flat. I love it up here and the access to the outdoors is definitely the main reason I moved. The scenery is a close second, but I do love also being so close to Canada. There is SO much to do up here if you like the outdoors and exploring. Housing is honestly the biggest cost increase here. Many other things are more expensive too, but it's the biggest increase - especially buying a house. I feel everything else isn't as drastic. Coming from TX, you will save more in electricity (billed every OTHER month) and renter's insurance (half) that it offsets some of the cost ha! Honestly, rents in all major cities are going up and I don't feel it's hugely different unless you want the newest pad. Even in Houston back in 2010, I paid $1000 for a brand new one bedroom not much bigger than my place now in the Galleria area. If you want to live in the heart of ANY major, desirable city today, you are going to pay for it if you rent. Comparatively speaking though, I now live within walking distance of most things while in Houston I had to drive everywhere. I factor that into the cost, which a lot of people forget and take that luxury for advantage. I pay $1195 for a small one-bedroom on top Queen Anne hill (includes parking and w/s/g) and have a nice view across the hill and of the space needle and downtown half the year when the trees lose their leaves. This is NOT the norm though today. I've been here for three years and the landlord hasn't raised the rent drastically over that period (yet!).
People are not as likely to go out of their way to be friends with you here like in Texas, but they are not necessarily rude either. It's more the natives than the transplants who are more passive aggressive and it's more like they are friendly but don't necessarily want to be your friend. Get it? Ha. Anyway, I honestly found TX to be a bit over-bearing sometimes. I like a small friend circle, and felt it was way too easy for that to get huge in TX as everyone seemed to want to be friends with everyone. I wouldn't call myself overly introverted or extroverted and I haven't had a hard time making friends from the beginning. I think it all depends on your personal interests, interactions and opportunities as to who you end up meeting.
I also love the mild year-round weather here. I grew up in the UK, so I'm used to the grey skies. It's generally more cloudy than rainy. Unless it's pouring (usually November), I'm usually out and about. However, the typical summers here are amazing. I say typical, since the past three have definitely been a-typical and I'm not as much of a fan of the heat - but even they are not bad at all compared to TX of course!
I do agree with the lack of AC though. In today's modern society, it does feel very archaic to not have it and the past three summers have been very warm for the PNW. I just don't like not being able to control the climate inside year-round. At least during the rest of the year you can control it via the heat, but I do miss that crisp feel of central AC. I have a portable unit which is not great, but it's something. Honestly, other than the cost of buying a house, that is the only other thing I do dislike about here. However, overall I feel there are more positives for me and there will always be negatives no matter where you live. It's more trying to decide what negatives you can live with.
Thank you mrman, that was informative. I currently live in Austin and have for the last 36 years and I am contemplating moving (technically back) close to Seattle in a couple of years. I will remember to bring my box fan and portable AC unit.
However hot it is up there it cant compete with my $375 August electric bill, and that's not even the record electric bill for this house.
Guys, how do you spend $300-400 in electricity? I don't know about Austin or Houston, but in Dallas I had dozens of electric companies and plans to choose from (another thing Washington doesn't have, BTW), and my bills were never over $120—and that was in the middle of summer, for a three-bedroom house. I'm just curious if your electric rates are bad, or if you like it extra cool at home, in which case you'll be miserable here when it's 90+ degrees and all you have a is a portable A/C.
Chances are your bills will be much lower here, but not necessarily because energy is inherently cheaper (which it is due to hydroelectric, but not substantially). Rather, you'll likely spend less because the ability to use more energy will be taken away from you: you'll have either no air conditioning or a small portable/window unit, and you'll only be able to afford half as much house. It's like Seattle and fast food: people here love to claim they don't eat fast food, and it's partially true, but largely because the city artificially restricts how many such restaurants are allowed. Just a few months ago we got our first Chick-fil-A in Bellevue, and people went so crazy over it that the city had to make road adjustments and deploy police officers to manage traffic... for a fast food restaurant. Give it to them, and they will eat it like any other American.
Guys, how do you spend $300-400 in electricity? I don't know about Austin or Houston, but in Dallas I had dozens of electric companies and plans to choose from (another thing Washington doesn't have, BTW), and my bills were never over $120—and that was in the middle of summer, for a three-bedroom house. I'm just curious if your electric rates are bad, or if you like it extra cool at home, in which case you'll be miserable here when it's 90+ degrees and all you have a is a portable A/C.
My bills were never THAT high. I also had the choice of provider to choose from (which was actually really annoying having to keep checking and switching constantly for the best deal).
My bill in Houston was around $80-100 a month in the Summer and $40-60 a month the rest of the year for a brand new 650 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. I kept it 70-72 year-round.
In Seattle my bill is $30-50 every other month (so $15-25 a month) the majority of the year. Even using my portable AC in the summer doesn't jack my bill up too much. In the winter (November to February), it is usually $80-100 every other month (so $40-50 a month) for an older (late 80's) 500 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. I keep my place at 70-72 in the winter.
Either way, price and usage is much less here compared to Texas.
My bills were never THAT high. I also had the choice of provider to choose from (which was actually really annoying having to keep checking and switching constantly for the best deal).
My bill in Houston was around $80-100 a month in the Summer and $40-60 a month the rest of the year for a brand new 650 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. I kept it 70-72 year-round.
In Seattle my bill is $30-50 every other month (so $15-25 a month) the majority of the year. Even using my portable AC in the summer doesn't jack my bill up too much. In the winter (November to February), it is usually $80-100 every other month (so $40-50 a month) for an older (late 80's) 500 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. I keep my place at 70-72 in the winter.
Either way, price and usage is much less here compared to Texas.
We just came back to Austin after spending a week at Seattle and Portland area. Before the trip, my wife was not sure whether we should move to Seattle area after our retirement. But, she is tilting to Seattle now. The Soud view from our cottage at Mukilteo is unbelievable. Austin summer is too hot for us. After 30 years in Austin, it is time for us to start the new venture. The lower utility cost at Seattle area should partially offset the higher cost of living in the area.
Guys, how do you spend $300-400 in electricity? I don't know about Austin or Houston, but in Dallas I had dozens of electric companies and plans to choose from (another thing Washington doesn't have, BTW), and my bills were never over $120—and that was in the middle of summer, for a three-bedroom house. I'm just curious if your electric rates are bad, or if you like it extra cool at home, in which case you'll be miserable here when it's 90+ degrees and all you have a is a portable A/C.
A lot of it depends on the size of the place you live in and whether or not it is insulated properly.
Case in point--our house in TX was nearly 3000 sq. ft. and was insulated poorly. Keeping the thermostat on 76 during the summer resulted in $280-$380/month electric bills.
Even here in Seattle with no A/C and not using much heater, our electric bills are about $75-$85 every other month. In the winter, it's about $140. We are gamers and computer users. I work from home. Because computers and electronics use a lot of electricity, we aren't going to see a $30 bill. Just isn't going to happen.
A lot of it depends on the size of the place you live in and whether or not it is insulated properly.
Case in point--our house in TX was nearly 3000 sq. ft. and was insulated poorly. Keeping the thermostat on 76 during the summer resulted in $280-$380/month electric bills.
Even here in Seattle with no A/C and not using much heater, our electric bills are about $75-$85 every other month. In the winter, it's about $140. We are gamers and computer users. I work from home. Because computers and electronics use a lot of electricity, we aren't going to see a $30 bill. Just isn't going to happen.
My situation in a nutshell as well. We have 4 gaming PC's and 2 laptops running constantly and the AC Turned up to 78 degree's which forces me to use a box fan (or just be miserable). We have had several thousand dollars worth of insulation work and window weatherization done by the city. This resulted in a 10% savings on average each month, which could probably be attributed to just cranking up the AC from 75 to 78 which still causes it to run almost constantly in July/August. People in other states really have a hard time grasping how brutal Texas summers can really be.
Of course it could be the monopoly the power company has, sounds like some of you guys got a really good setup for utilities.
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