Bit urgent: Cost of living
Apr 19th 2006, 8:15 am
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,578
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by Endeavour2
Apartments.com is great, thanks!
Snowbunny, thanks for that ballpark, that's exactly what I'm looking for.
Reason I don't just want to google because I know if I did that for UK info I'd get a hundred junk sites with bad info along with 1 good one. Except I don't know how to tell the good one
Any takers on the cost of living?
Snowbunny, thanks for that ballpark, that's exactly what I'm looking for.
Reason I don't just want to google because I know if I did that for UK info I'd get a hundred junk sites with bad info along with 1 good one. Except I don't know how to tell the good one
Any takers on the cost of living?
Or at least ... that's the cover.....
Apr 19th 2006, 8:23 am
#17
Arrogant ****
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Not useful for the OP, since it only compares cities within the US, but I found this link very interesting:
http://www.bestplaces.net/col/
...according to that, I would need to be earning 2.2x my current salary if I moved from Dallas to the other center of my industry, San Jose in CA! :scared:
http://www.bestplaces.net/col/
...according to that, I would need to be earning 2.2x my current salary if I moved from Dallas to the other center of my industry, San Jose in CA! :scared:
Apr 19th 2006, 8:25 am
#18
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by dbj1000
...according to that, I would need to be earning 2.2x my current salary if I moved from Dallas to the other center of my industry, San Jose in CA! :scared:
Apr 19th 2006, 8:26 am
#19
Arrogant ****
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
The OP could probably try the free demo of Relocation Assessor, which does international relocation cost of living calculations:
http://www.erieri.co.uk/index.cfm/Fu...gistrationForm
I don't know if it's any good, and I don't know if the free demo will cover the cities in question, but it's worth a try. I'd try it too, if it worked on a Mac
http://www.erieri.co.uk/index.cfm/Fu...gistrationForm
I don't know if it's any good, and I don't know if the free demo will cover the cities in question, but it's worth a try. I'd try it too, if it worked on a Mac
Apr 19th 2006, 8:54 am
#20
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 1,865
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by Endeavour2
Hi guys,
Can someone help me out with the cost of living and salary etc for Redmond/Seattle?
I ideally need a website (or even personal experience is better) that tells me how much renting costs (for example, a decent sized 2 bedroom apartment in a nice area), how much a house costs (for example, a decent sized 4 bedroom in a nice area with garden, garage etc). I also need cost of living information, eg: how much do utility bills cost etc. I know it's all pieces-of-string question but guidelines will help me hugely.
For example, this is the answer I'm looking for if it was a UK question: in the UK in a major city I'd expect to pay £700+ for a decent sized 2 bedroom apartment. Expect £50 per month on electricity, £30 on water, £50 on phone, £50 on cable tv/internet, £xxx on council tax, etc etc etc. Food about £100 per week for 2 people.
It's all to help me answer the "what do you expect your salary to be" question which I've just been asked. I'd like as much info as possible up front so I can guage whether I'm being offered the going rate. Converting a UK salary to US $ is pointless.
Also, does anyone know of a website where I can look up my industry and role and see a ballpark salary range for it?
This is pretty urgent as this has just come out of nowhere! Thanks!
Can someone help me out with the cost of living and salary etc for Redmond/Seattle?
I ideally need a website (or even personal experience is better) that tells me how much renting costs (for example, a decent sized 2 bedroom apartment in a nice area), how much a house costs (for example, a decent sized 4 bedroom in a nice area with garden, garage etc). I also need cost of living information, eg: how much do utility bills cost etc. I know it's all pieces-of-string question but guidelines will help me hugely.
For example, this is the answer I'm looking for if it was a UK question: in the UK in a major city I'd expect to pay £700+ for a decent sized 2 bedroom apartment. Expect £50 per month on electricity, £30 on water, £50 on phone, £50 on cable tv/internet, £xxx on council tax, etc etc etc. Food about £100 per week for 2 people.
It's all to help me answer the "what do you expect your salary to be" question which I've just been asked. I'd like as much info as possible up front so I can guage whether I'm being offered the going rate. Converting a UK salary to US $ is pointless.
Also, does anyone know of a website where I can look up my industry and role and see a ballpark salary range for it?
This is pretty urgent as this has just come out of nowhere! Thanks!
Apr 19th 2006, 9:21 am
#21
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 21
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Thanks everyone, between the replies here and some very useful PM's I've got all the info I need.
Much appreciated!
Celcius - I work in a very niche industry, I haven't actually seen anything comparable advertised (or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place). The monster site suggested previously gave me a very good indication though.
Thanks all.
Oh, one last question. In the USA they use dollars, right?
Much appreciated!
Celcius - I work in a very niche industry, I haven't actually seen anything comparable advertised (or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place). The monster site suggested previously gave me a very good indication though.
Thanks all.
Oh, one last question. In the USA they use dollars, right?
Apr 19th 2006, 9:27 am
#22
Back where I belong!
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne, Oz to Banbury, England to El Mirage, AZ & now back to England!
Posts: 5,989
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by Endeavour2
Thanks everyone, between the replies here and some very useful PM's I've got all the info I need.
Much appreciated!
Celcius - I work in a very niche industry, I haven't actually seen anything comparable advertised (or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place). The monster site suggested previously gave me a very good indication though.
Thanks all.
Oh, one last question. In the USA they use dollars, right?
Much appreciated!
Celcius - I work in a very niche industry, I haven't actually seen anything comparable advertised (or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place). The monster site suggested previously gave me a very good indication though.
Thanks all.
Oh, one last question. In the USA they use dollars, right?
Apr 19th 2006, 9:27 am
#23
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,174
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by Endeavour2
As for credit history, I have an MBNA credit card in the UK with a solid history on it. Am I able to ask them to transfer it to the US? If not, worst case I'll pay cash or the higher rates until I build up a credit rating, I'm not worried about that.
Apr 19th 2006, 10:05 am
#24
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 15
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
From what Ive been told Seattle is a bit less than Los Angeles so heres a basic of roughly what I was paying monthly. (In dollars)
Rent (2 bedroomed apartment)-900
Gas-20 (summer)/45 (winter)
Electric-45 (winter) 75(summer...air conditioner)
Phone-50
Internet/TV-75 (I used Charter Cable for both...dont get dial up)
Car-Hyundai accent-250
Insurance-100
Gas is currently around $3 a gallon (I believe in UK it works out to about double that)
Grocery shopping
I wont go through everything I bought, but for myself and my daughter, just the basics, full meal once a day, snacks, breakfast, toiletries etc I could spend around 80-120 every 2 weeks and then have to buy things like bread (2.50) milk(gallon-2.50) sodas (1.50 for a 2 litre)
Vodka-Smirnoff around $10 for .75l
Scotch-Grants around $12 for .75l
Ciggies-$4
Starbucks-$4.80 for a vente peppermint mocha with whipped cream at 180 degrees or $4.20 for a vente vanilla bean frappacino with an add shot and caramel sauce with whipped cream (I miss my Starbucks !!!)
Hope that helped.
Rent (2 bedroomed apartment)-900
Gas-20 (summer)/45 (winter)
Electric-45 (winter) 75(summer...air conditioner)
Phone-50
Internet/TV-75 (I used Charter Cable for both...dont get dial up)
Car-Hyundai accent-250
Insurance-100
Gas is currently around $3 a gallon (I believe in UK it works out to about double that)
Grocery shopping
I wont go through everything I bought, but for myself and my daughter, just the basics, full meal once a day, snacks, breakfast, toiletries etc I could spend around 80-120 every 2 weeks and then have to buy things like bread (2.50) milk(gallon-2.50) sodas (1.50 for a 2 litre)
Vodka-Smirnoff around $10 for .75l
Scotch-Grants around $12 for .75l
Ciggies-$4
Starbucks-$4.80 for a vente peppermint mocha with whipped cream at 180 degrees or $4.20 for a vente vanilla bean frappacino with an add shot and caramel sauce with whipped cream (I miss my Starbucks !!!)
Hope that helped.
Apr 19th 2006, 10:09 am
#25
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by Elvira
Expect to pay $2.67 for a tall latte. And $2.49 for a BigMac.
Apr 19th 2006, 10:10 am
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: The Big Apple
Posts: 1,834
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by Bob
Won't make a dick of difference I'm afraid, and MBNA no longer exist, it's technically Legacy, till Oct, then BoA
I think they did do the reciprocal thing but never found it?
Get an Amex before you come over - they will transfer to a US card and with carefull planning you will have gold plated credit in 12 months - this is the fastest way of doing so!
Apr 19th 2006, 10:12 am
#27
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by gruffbrown
Socks are $6 for 5 pairs at Walmart.
Apr 19th 2006, 10:12 am
#28
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by gruffbrown
Socks are $6 for 5 pairs at Walmart.
Apr 19th 2006, 10:13 am
#29
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by Big D
Get an Amex before you come over - they will transfer to a US card and with carefull planning you will have gold plated credit in 12 months - this is the fastest way of doing so!
Apr 19th 2006, 10:16 am
#30
Back where I belong!
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne, Oz to Banbury, England to El Mirage, AZ & now back to England!
Posts: 5,989
Re: Bit urgent: Cost of living
Originally Posted by bodelo
From what Ive been told Seattle is a bit less than Los Angeles so heres a basic of roughly what I was paying monthly. (In dollars)
Rent (2 bedroomed apartment)-900
Gas-20 (summer)/45 (winter)
Electric-45 (winter) 75(summer...air conditioner)
Phone-50
Internet/TV-75 (I used Charter Cable for both...dont get dial up)
Car-Hyundai accent-250
Insurance-100
Gas is currently around $3 a gallon (I believe in UK it works out to about double that)
Grocery shopping
I wont go through everything I bought, but for myself and my daughter, just the basics, full meal once a day, snacks, breakfast, toiletries etc I could spend around 80-120 every 2 weeks and then have to buy things like bread (2.50) milk(gallon-2.50) sodas (1.50 for a 2 litre)
Vodka-Smirnoff around $10 for .75l
Scotch-Grants around $12 for .75l
Ciggies-$4
Starbucks-$4.80 for a vente peppermint mocha with whipped cream at 180 degrees or $4.20 for a vente vanilla bean frappacino with an add shot and caramel sauce with whipped cream (I miss my Starbucks !!!)
Hope that helped.
Rent (2 bedroomed apartment)-900
Gas-20 (summer)/45 (winter)
Electric-45 (winter) 75(summer...air conditioner)
Phone-50
Internet/TV-75 (I used Charter Cable for both...dont get dial up)
Car-Hyundai accent-250
Insurance-100
Gas is currently around $3 a gallon (I believe in UK it works out to about double that)
Grocery shopping
I wont go through everything I bought, but for myself and my daughter, just the basics, full meal once a day, snacks, breakfast, toiletries etc I could spend around 80-120 every 2 weeks and then have to buy things like bread (2.50) milk(gallon-2.50) sodas (1.50 for a 2 litre)
Vodka-Smirnoff around $10 for .75l
Scotch-Grants around $12 for .75l
Ciggies-$4
Starbucks-$4.80 for a vente peppermint mocha with whipped cream at 180 degrees or $4.20 for a vente vanilla bean frappacino with an add shot and caramel sauce with whipped cream (I miss my Starbucks !!!)
Hope that helped.
