UkWinds5353

Hi

I would appreciate if I could get some feedback on your thoughts about a situation a friend needs help with.The person in question is thinking about moving from a northeastern state to the west coast but is concern about the cost of living difference in comparison to his current location.Currently he makes about $35K yearly.If he moves out west to either southern california or to the Seattle area chances are his income will stay the same.

He lives in north NJ but I'm not sure if california or seattle is more, or less expensive, so I don't really know what to tell him. New Jersey is extremely expensive to live but the question is, do you think southern california or seattle area is less expensive in terms of food,utility bills,rent for modest studio apartment ect? He would like to complete his degree on the west coast.Would you recommend California or Washington state for a person with a meager income?
Thanks for your advice.

Ray

let him do his own research

http://www.city-data.com/

Mummy in the foothills

I'm in an inexpensive part of California, and that wage would be fine for a single person in a studio apartment, but it would still be tight if he wanted to do much outside of work.

scrubbedexpat097

Don't go so far west, stop in Texas.


Everyone knows everything is cheaper and bigger in Texas

ScousePete

www.bestplaces.net

guitarmaan

I wrote a long post and lost it

Oh well. My main point was Southern California never had the reputation of a cheap place to live. And following my own investigations of the area I can confirm the rep is well deserved! Look North or look elsewhere.

Sally Redux

The title of your thread seems puzzling.

Ichigo-chan

Sounds like a loser to me!

Anian

Seattle isn't cheap, Cali isn't cheap. If you want cheap then the midwest and south are the best options, away from the major cities.

The real issue is on what they intend to do with their money. Oregon might be a good compromise since it has no sales tax and income tax would be low for such an income.

Noorah101

I cannot imagine anyone living in the big cities of CA or WA (for example, not LA, not San Diego, not San Francisco, not Seattle) on only $35K a year.

Perhaps some small, rural, town in one of those states would be OK.

Rene

Sally Redux

It sounds like this person may be a student. PhD students where my husband works get about $40,000 I believe, but they can access subsidised housing.

sir_eccles

It happens. You either end up living in the worst scum sucking dodgy part of town in the city that hasn't been over-run by hipsters and gentrified yet and/or you end up sharing accommodation with other professionals who are all wondering why they are still in rubbish shared accommodation in their 30s.

It's at that point you decide to move out of NYC/LA/where-ever for somewhere cheaper...