where is the cheapest place to live
- Thread starter raggie33
- Start date
The only places where it's really cheap to live are out in the middle of nowhere. Big cities where you don't need a car always seem to be expensive. In NYC average houses are over $500,000 and rents for even a studio exceed $1000 a month in most parts. Of course you save money by not needing a car. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
turbodog
Flashaholic
There are places around here where there is good bus access from the apartments to work/shopping.
Former_Mag_User
Enlightened
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Our neighbors sold their house for $500,000 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif and it's only a 2 bedroom house with practically no yard.
Sheesh Ragzz, that's a tough one. Only someone really familiar with your neck of the woods would be able to advise you properly. Like even here in Hawaii where it's just an island and everything looks great and green, ya gotta know how to tell the difference between where the "good" places and "bad" places are, and only someone who has lived here for a while could tell you that. Me, I just go to work and pull up the activity files on wherever I am looking to live (my work files are of course the police calls for service!) and I'll know pretty clearly after that...
PhotonBoy
Flashlight Enthusiast
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- City & State/Province
- Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada http://tinyu
Sounds like you're there already.... heating costs have to be pretty cheap in Georgia. The cheapest place to live is usually closest to public transportation, like buses or subways. If you don't need to own a car or heat your house, you're doing okay.
PlayboyJoeShmoe
Flashaholic
We are trying (and it's still possible) to move up to San Jacinto County, TX from Houston Harris County because it's one of if not the cheapest county in TX as far as ins. taxes, etc.
Still, we won't be walking or bicycling distance from shopping etc. It will take a vehicle.
Still, we won't be walking or bicycling distance from shopping etc. It will take a vehicle.
Flying Turtle
Flashaholic
If you get away from the cities in NC the cost of living is pretty low, but not the best. Public transportation, though, is almost nonexistant. You're probably better off somewhere in Georgia.
Geoff
Geoff
LightChucker
Enlightened
From what I have heard, the Greater Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas area is about as cheap as it gets. Everytime they publish gasoline prices and realestate prices, our area is usually at the low end of the list. For example, recently our gas prices were at about $1.37 to $1.47. In Raytown, where I live, you can buy a nice size house for $100,000 or less.
Of course, there are always trade-offs. I am sure that wages are lower here than in the more expensive parts of the country. We have bus lines, but not very many in the suburbs; and no intercity train service. I think that public transportation is too expensive, because building codes require a certain amount of distance between houses, which keeps the population density low compared to places like NY or LA.
Another difference is that we have almost no taxi service here. You can call for a taxi or limo service to pick you up, but you don't stand on the street and flag one down like in other cities.
Chuck
Of course, there are always trade-offs. I am sure that wages are lower here than in the more expensive parts of the country. We have bus lines, but not very many in the suburbs; and no intercity train service. I think that public transportation is too expensive, because building codes require a certain amount of distance between houses, which keeps the population density low compared to places like NY or LA.
Another difference is that we have almost no taxi service here. You can call for a taxi or limo service to pick you up, but you don't stand on the street and flag one down like in other cities.
Chuck
gessner17
Enlightened
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Des Moines (actually anywhere in Iowa) is cheap and realtivly big for the area, We have a nice newer (8 years old) house and it only cost 100-150k. cost of living is also very cheap. If I remember right, it was rated as one of the cities to have the lowest cost of living to highest pay ratio. But it is entirely too flat here /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon6.gif
The problem with cheap places to live is that they are cheaper because they have higher crime and/or less economic opportunity or occasionally some other major drawback like a location at the end of a runway, etc. Is that going to be a problem for you?
capnal
Enlightened
ok, Raggie
I can tell you this. Back just before Thanksgiving, my wife and I helped a friend of ours move into a rent house. She is going through a divorce and can't afford much. We had move her out of this little garage apartment that she was in for a short period of time. When we were over there, I remember thinking how perfect that place would have been for a single guy.
OK, so, west side of Fort Worth, in the cultural district. Right on a major blvd. that runs right through the heart of everything and even take you into downtown. Raggie, you could get a place like that garage apartment (with no vicious dogs around) for less than $500 a month. You don't drive, but that's not a problem. Within 2 miles either direction, there are assorted grocery stores, drug stores, and even a high end out doors store that sells some Surefire products! Lots of places to eat. The cultural distric means it is in an older and historic part of Fort Worth, and all the museums are close by, some of which are even free to visit. A bike would get you almost everywhere you need to go, but this main blvd. is right on the bus route, also. In fact, our city buses are equiped with bike racks on the front of the bus, so you can take the bus across town (doctor for example), get off, ride your bike around, and then take the bus back.
Phone, water, gas all seem to be about as much as you would pay anywhere else. Bus passes are super cheap.
Now, I know that it is a big step to think that you might just pack up and move to Texas, but I hope I was able to offer some pointers for you. As far as weather goes, we have 2 basic seasons: hot and not so hot. Overall, for most of the year, it is pretty livable.
Oh, there are lots of fun free things to do year round in this city, too.
I can tell you this. Back just before Thanksgiving, my wife and I helped a friend of ours move into a rent house. She is going through a divorce and can't afford much. We had move her out of this little garage apartment that she was in for a short period of time. When we were over there, I remember thinking how perfect that place would have been for a single guy.
OK, so, west side of Fort Worth, in the cultural district. Right on a major blvd. that runs right through the heart of everything and even take you into downtown. Raggie, you could get a place like that garage apartment (with no vicious dogs around) for less than $500 a month. You don't drive, but that's not a problem. Within 2 miles either direction, there are assorted grocery stores, drug stores, and even a high end out doors store that sells some Surefire products! Lots of places to eat. The cultural distric means it is in an older and historic part of Fort Worth, and all the museums are close by, some of which are even free to visit. A bike would get you almost everywhere you need to go, but this main blvd. is right on the bus route, also. In fact, our city buses are equiped with bike racks on the front of the bus, so you can take the bus across town (doctor for example), get off, ride your bike around, and then take the bus back.
Phone, water, gas all seem to be about as much as you would pay anywhere else. Bus passes are super cheap.
Now, I know that it is a big step to think that you might just pack up and move to Texas, but I hope I was able to offer some pointers for you. As far as weather goes, we have 2 basic seasons: hot and not so hot. Overall, for most of the year, it is pretty livable.
Oh, there are lots of fun free things to do year round in this city, too.
raggie33
*the raggedier*
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crime yes. run way no i used to live near air force base. got used to it they did touch and goes a lot.was actuly kinda cool.this house i live in now is so oldd i cant find worst lol.but it does have kinda good roof.but i guess its is 100 year old house
chipper
Newly Enlightened
I don't know were the cheapest is but I can tell you it's definately not here in the UK.
Petrol price is currently at 84.9p per litre, £3.14 per u.s. gallon or roughly $6
Petrol price is currently at 84.9p per litre, £3.14 per u.s. gallon or roughly $6
PlayboyJoeShmoe
Flashaholic
Best of luck to whatever you might decide!!!
Fort Worth sounds nice for someone, just not me! Anything north of Huntsville is just WRONG!
Fort Worth sounds nice for someone, just not me! Anything north of Huntsville is just WRONG!
cratz2
Flashlight Enthusiast
There's a website somewhere that compares relative standards of living. We've lived in the Indianapolis, Indiana area for a long time and I have a friend that lives in Memphis, Tennessee. They both have among the very lowest standard costs of living.
There are areas around Indianapolis (within, say, 50 miles) that property costs are dirt cheap. Of course, if you're building, there will be additional costs if you're not in a housing development. Let me know if you'd like any additional information about the area.
There are areas around Indianapolis (within, say, 50 miles) that property costs are dirt cheap. Of course, if you're building, there will be additional costs if you're not in a housing development. Let me know if you'd like any additional information about the area.
