THIS is what I have been talking about... if you want to move to WA look at this :) (Seattle: renting, house)

[mrslovettstailor]

MoneyRates rankings are based on their analysis of what you have left to spend, after adjusting for paying your state taxes and dealing with the comparative cost of buying groceries and keeping a roof over your head, among other things.
Based on that analysis, where are the best and worst places to make a living?

The best, according to MoneyRates, is ...
1. Illinois: The adjusted average income is $41,987, thanks to reasonably high average wages, relatively low state income taxes and a reasonable cost of living.
2. Washington (state): The cost of living is higher than average, but so is the average wage and the state imposes no income tax. Adjusted average income: $41,456.
3. Texas: Also benefits from no state income tax. Adjusted average income: $41,427
4. Virginia: $41,120
5. Delaware: $39,105
6. Massachusetts: $38,665
7. Georgia: $38,228
8. Tennessee: $38,038
9. Colorado: $38,020
10. Minnesota: $37,721

This is one of the things I have been talking about when I have said COL doesn't seem any higher than anywhere else. But also I have noticed that groceries, fuel and property taxes seem to be right on with where I live in Michigan so its probably even better for me personally than this article implies, though if you come from someplace that is dirt cheap in the middle of nowhere it might not be so much. Anyway... if you want to read the whole article its here best-worst-states-make-living-moneywatch: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

[StealthRabbit]

OK, Fine, then come to WA.

I would tend to check and re-check the data sources for this determination and compare to your lifestyle. I will assure you this was not based on those who are self-employed or employers. Or those who have a burdensome B&O, Use, Excise, Real or personal property WA tax assessment. I spend 10x my food budget on property taxes alone. AND once you have no income WA loses its attraction REAL fast.

For $3500 less 'average income' I would choose TN or Colorado and get a couple hundred additional sunny days / yr. BUT... I would first check the data source, I doubt if it is applicable to my spending habits or stage in life.

YMMV

[mrslovettstailor]

I owned a home in Midland Mi, a not so big town. It was 185,000.00 I paid 12,000+ a year in taxes and it was set to go up before I moved. From what I have seen people list on here for WA taxes that is more than comparable, even much higher than some areas. Our Fuel and Food are the same, MI is also not kind to small business owners. So I will take the no income tax and be totally happy.

[mrslovettstailor]

And my opinion really wasn't based on their DATA either, it just shows how they got to that fact which is how I got to it as well when I was budgeting for the upcoming year. And as I said COL was pretty much the same from what I saw when I was in WA, so I am confident they are for once actually correct

I am renting for the first year so I won't have to deal with property taxes for once, which will be nice. I have had my fill on getting scalped for those... I am self-employed however so we will see if there is much of a difference in that when I get there I guess, but that no income taxes really does make up for alot. Many people may not think so but if your used to having to pay it believe me it is a VERY nice break.

[Hemlock140]

The difference between #1 and #10 amounts to $355/month. That's really insignificant when you compare non-monetary factors such as
availability of things you enjoy, where family and friends are, scenery,
crime, vulnerability to natural disasters, and yes, weather. Rather than "Best" and "Worst" places to make a living it should be most and least cost effective places to live.

[Sobefobik]

Originally Posted by mrslovettstailor

And my opinion really wasn't based on their DATA either, it just shows how they got to that fact which is how I got to it as well when I was budgeting for the upcoming year. And as I said COL was pretty much the same from what I saw when I was in WA, so I am confident they are for once actually correct

I am renting for the first year so I won't have to deal with property taxes for once, which will be nice. I have had my fill on getting scalped for those... I am self-employed however so we will see if there is much of a difference in that when I get there I guess, but that no income taxes really does make up for alot. Many people may not think so but if your used to having to pay it believe me it is a VERY nice break.

Income taxes can be ridiculous. When I lived in Oregon I was paying out so much money. Oregon has one of the highest income taxes, if not the highest. I think it's at or near 10%!

Fortunately (I guess) I'm near the poverty level, so I'm not paying a huge amount in self employment taxes, but I hear it is VERY high for some people making more money. I don't own a house, but $12,000 a year in property taxes seems very high. Do people in Washington pay that much?

[seattlecoming]

2. Washington (state): The cost of living is higher than average, but so is the average wage and the state imposes no income tax. Adjusted average income: $41,456.

So much truth in this. Many people are so scared of moving to a state where the cost of living is more expensive but there are many other factors to consider. I moved here from Arid-zona where it was less expensive but only in certain areas. Water bills and summer utility bills kept eating away at my bank account because of the searing heat and dryness. I don't have those expenses here- Mother Nature has blessed Washington with a cool damp climate and takes care of all that for us. Besides that I was able to start a career path in Washington after being unemployed in Arid-zona for too long and no hopes of ever increasing my earning potential there. By the way, I noticed Arizona is not on that top 10 list. No surprise there.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by mrslovettstailor

2. Washington (state): The cost of living is higher than average, but so is the average wage and the state imposes no income tax. Adjusted average income: $41,456.


This is one of the things I have been talking about when I have said COL doesn't seem any higher than anywhere else.

Except you're saying COL "doesn't seem higher than anywhere else"... it says so right there in the red: "The cost of living is higher than average". Bit contradictory there.

[mrslovettstailor]

Originally Posted by Sobefobik

Income taxes can be ridiculous. When I lived in Oregon I was paying out so much money. Oregon has one of the highest income taxes, if not the highest. I think it's at or near 10%!

Fortunately (I guess) I'm near the poverty level, so I'm not paying a huge amount in self employment taxes, but I hear it is VERY high for some people making more money. I don't own a house, but $12,000 a year in property taxes seems very high. Do people in Washington pay that much?

I saw a few people mention between 8-10k and they were in large cities, so I was REALLY surprised. I expected it to be much higher as I figured that was where alot of WAs COL was coming from. I imagine areas of Seattle are probably much higher than that though, big cities are always expensive.

[mrslovettstailor]

Originally Posted by seattlecoming

So much truth in this. Many people are so scared of moving to a state where the cost of living is more expensive but there are many other factors to consider. I moved here from Arid-zona where it was less expensive but only in certain areas. Water bills and summer utility bills kept eating away at my bank account because of the searing heat and dryness. I don't have those expenses here- Mother Nature has blessed Washington with a cool damp climate and takes care of all that for us. Besides that I was able to start a career path in Washington after being unemployed in Arid-zona for too long and no hopes of ever increasing my earning potential there. By the way, I noticed Arizona is not on that top 10 list. No surprise there.

Congrats on your new career path Sometimes you just HAVE to take the jump! That is part of my reason for moving as well, though most of my business is online I am going to expand some of my designs into areas of Seattle and up to Victoria.

I totally agree about taking everything into consideration. Here in lovely fridgid Michigan our heating bill runs about $300-400 a month and then add on electric of between $150-250 a month. Slap on central air in the summer and you are running close to that 12 months a year. The heating/electric in the house we are renting in Port Angeles runs between $100-150 a month so it will be like XMAS EVERY MONTH whohoo!!

Fuel here is $4 a gallon just like out there and we have almost NO public transportation and we have to drive long distances to get to anything from where I am at. So I will save ALOT of fuel sticking mostly to PA which pretty much has all that I need.

And again NO INCOME TAX