95k in Seattle, WA vs 85k in St. Louis, MO: Which one is better in terms of savings? (Kansas City: renting, loft)

[marigolds6]

I spent two years in Oregon and really enjoyed how beautiful it was and all the outdoor opportunities. Unfortunately, my wife and I both spent the entire winter seasonally depressed. It simply was not possible for us to stay with the weather there.
Some people will have no issues with the weather in the PNW, but just like here, the weather is not for everyone.

[BoomBoxing]

I read the Portland forum a lot and it seems almost every new transplant is strongly encouraged to do light therapy the first year or two they move there. There is one large thread where someone listed about 6 paragraphs of how much they loved it but they had to move because they had seasonal affective disorder (SAD) really bad.

It's pretty crazy that the weather can have that kind of effect on people but it's obviously very real.

[moorlander]

I think I get that here in January...

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by moorlander

I'd argue that it's many more than 18 days. You are including night time by dividing by 24. If you divide by say, 15 hours of daylight, that's an additional 28 days.

Totally true! It's usually my math not my logic skills that fail me!

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by JohnSmith05

Hi - I have two job offers and I am kind of confused as to which one will help me make larger savings. 98k in seattle or 85k in St. Louis.

I do know that cost of living in St. Louis is pretty low but will it help me make larger savings even in 10K less salary then what I can make in Seattle.

FYI - I will be moving with my wife who is a home maker. We don't have any children yet.


Any help will be greatly appreciated.

STLCardsBlues1989 kindly answered your question.

If you have any other questions regarding St. Louis...and/or St. Louis and Seattle, go ahead and ask. ...if your decision includes many more things than the money mentioned.

[StL2Newhere]

I feel that St Louis is probably a nice place to visit once every year, but I have lived here my entire life and I'm ready for a change. The things I find most important might not be the things you find important (I am looking for an artistically rich community that embraces diversity). I would go to Washington if I were you. St Louis weather is unpredictable and people get freaked out any time the weather changes drastically (which is pretty much every day). Wiki St Louis because the info there is very informative about what to expect.

Go to Washington.

[moorlander]

^ How old are you and what part of town do you reside where diversity is not embraced? No matter where someone lives I'd always suggest moving somewhere else for a while to experience new things. Living here without a car is certainly doable. I have several friends who are carless or who RARELY ever drive.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by StL2Newhere

I feel that St Louis is probably a nice place to visit once every year, but I have lived here my entire life and I'm ready for a change. The things I find most important might not be the things you find important (I am looking for an artistically rich community that embraces diversity). I would go to Washington if I were you. St Louis weather is unpredictable and people get freaked out any time the weather changes drastically (which is pretty much every day). Wiki St Louis because the info there is very informative about what to expect.

Go to Washington.

Leaving the St. Louis area was the only thing that made me realize how fanstastic St. Louis really was.

Definitely get out and live somewhere else for a bit! You might find sooner than you think that you're missing the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, hot summer nights at the Muny, girls who actually like and understand baseball and gooey butter cakes.

[moorlander]

^ and not always sitting in traffic, and a gorgeous condo I can actually afford, and a decent public transit system, and a fun free event almost every weekend, and....

StL certainly isn't perfect but is the art scene really that bad. I have 2 family members (one artist and one quilter) who make good. I was rather impartial to StL when I left, but after spending time in all 4 of the major cities in Texas, I missed gritty old brick beauty.

[aragx6]

No the art scene in St. Louis isn't bad at all. It's no Chicago or NY, but there's plenty going on. There was a thread maybe a month ago by a woman considering moving to the area that detailed a lot of the St. Louis art scene.