Inflation..... wow the differance between Washington State and South Carolina is real!!!!

[obsesseddisneyfan]

I am from Washington State. I have been reading about bad inflation but have never really understood it. Yes gas is expensive but my grocery bill is the same. Yes going out is a bit more expensive but it always has been. Items in the stores seem to have gone back to normal.

I am on a family vacation in South Carolina...... The prices are pretty much the same as in Washington State. Gas is cheaper in S. Carolina (by about a $1/gal), food and store supples are the same price (many items that we buy were a buck or two more expensive in South Carolina) . The housing prices are close to what I would pay. Min wage is $7.25 in South Carolina, in Washington State is $16.28 (Seattle is $19.97). Avg public school teacher salary is $43,292 in South Carolina, In Washington it is $62,751. The avg salary in south Carolina is $48,508 in Washington it is $74,719. So the average person in Washington makes 35% more money, the lowest paid jobs in Washington State pay 55% more. The avg teacher in Washington makes 31% more.

What I have just realized is that the percentage of inflation compared to what I make is pretty negligible. Costs were always high here because our min wage was always high. In South Carolina the costs were low and when wages were forced up in COVID (lack of people to work) the costs increased significantly. Those increases made the prices jump much more then in Washington State.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I am from Washington State. I have been reading about bad inflation but have never really understood it. Yes gas is expensive but my grocery bill is the same. Yes going out is a bit more expensive but it always has been. Items in the stores seem to have gone back to normal.

I am on a family vacation in South Carolina...... The prices are pretty much the same as in Washington State. Gas is cheaper in S. Carolina (by about a $1/gal), food and store supples are the same price (many items that we buy were a buck or two more expensive in South Carolina) . The housing prices are close to what I would pay. Min wage is $7.25 in South Carolina, in Washington State is $16.28 (Seattle is $19.97). Avg public school teacher salary is $43,292 in South Carolina, In Washington it is $62,751. The avg salary in south Carolina is $48,508 in Washington it is $74,719. So the average person in Washington makes 35% more money, the lowest paid jobs in Washington State pay 55% more. The avg teacher in Washington makes 31% more.

What I have just realized is that the percentage of inflation compared to what I make is pretty negligible. Costs were always high here because our min wage was always high. In South Carolina the costs were low and when wages were forced up in COVID (lack of people to work) the costs increased significantly. Those increases made the prices jump much more then in Washington State.

Ok

 

[brockash]

I am from Washington State. I have been reading about bad inflation but have never really understood it. Yes gas is expensive but my grocery bill is the same. Yes going out is a bit more expensive but it always has been. Items in the stores seem to have gone back to normal.

I am on a family vacation in South Carolina...... The prices are pretty much the same as in Washington State. Gas is cheaper in S. Carolina (by about a $1/gal), food and store supples are the same price (many items that we buy were a buck or two more expensive in South Carolina) . The housing prices are close to what I would pay. Min wage is $7.25 in South Carolina, in Washington State is $16.28 (Seattle is $19.97). Avg public school teacher salary is $43,292 in South Carolina, In Washington it is $62,751. The avg salary in south Carolina is $48,508 in Washington it is $74,719. So the average person in Washington makes 35% more money, the lowest paid jobs in Washington State pay 55% more. The avg teacher in Washington makes 31% more.

What I have just realized is that the percentage of inflation compared to what I make is pretty negligible. Costs were always high here because our min wage was always high. In South Carolina the costs were low and when wages were forced up in COVID (lack of people to work) the costs increased significantly. Those increases made the prices jump much more then in Washington State.

Just curious what part of SC you're in? I agree the min. wage and wage of teachers etc. seems very low comparebly speaking. We actually just moved to SC (Columbia area) from NY and while gas is cheaper (about 60-75 cents/gallon.) Everything else seems about the same, but the min. wage is so much lower and I'm taking about a 10k paycut (a lil more) as a school counselor here

 

[Douglas Dubh]

Median home price in South Carolina is $388k. In Washington it’s $581k. Taxes are also lower in SC.

 

[MICKIMINI]

If proportionally, prices are just plain higher in one State, apparently that State has no idea how to manage expenses. More tax money in = more money to spend. Who is benefiting? Just sayin'.

 

[Rex1993]

Median home price in South Carolina is $388k. In Washington it’s $581k. Taxes are also lower in SC.

WA has no income tax. What taxes are you referring to?

 

[gmi3804]

Median home price in South Carolina is $388k. In Washington it’s $581k. Taxes are also lower in SC.

But you have to live in South Carolina to take advantage of those costs, so there's that.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

WA has no income tax. What taxes are you referring to?

All other taxes.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Come on down and spend some time in California. You'll think everything is on sale when you go home.
For comparison in my zip code;
Median House price = $1Million ($582/sqft)
Median gas price > $4.35/gal (source; Gas Buddy)
Sales tax (where I live, includes local taxes) = 10.25% (highest in the nation)
Thanks to prop 13 from the 70's property tax is capped, but when you factor in the house price we end up paying about what everyone else pays.
Income tax varies by income, but the bar is set so low just about everyone pays close to the top rate (we are right around 9%)

 

[hhisc16]

I am from Washington State. I have been reading about bad inflation but have never really understood it. Yes gas is expensive but my grocery bill is the same. Yes going out is a bit more expensive but it always has been. Items in the stores seem to have gone back to normal.

I am on a family vacation in South Carolina...... The prices are pretty much the same as in Washington State. Gas is cheaper in S. Carolina (by about a $1/gal), food and store supples are the same price (many items that we buy were a buck or two more expensive in South Carolina) . The housing prices are close to what I would pay. Min wage is $7.25 in South Carolina, in Washington State is $16.28 (Seattle is $19.97). Avg public school teacher salary is $43,292 in South Carolina, In Washington it is $62,751. The avg salary in south Carolina is $48,508 in Washington it is $74,719. So the average person in Washington makes 35% more money, the lowest paid jobs in Washington State pay 55% more. The avg teacher in Washington makes 31% more.

What I have just realized is that the percentage of inflation compared to what I make is pretty negligible. Costs were always high here because our min wage was always high. In South Carolina the costs were low and when wages were forced up in COVID (lack of people to work) the costs increased significantly. Those increases made the prices jump much more then in Washington State.

I am a public school teacher and DW is public school teacher.
DW is from OR and we both live/work in SC.
If we lived in OR, we would not be able to afford the same lifestyle in SC.

It depends on where you are referencing in SC.
Beach vacation areas are more expensive than other parts of SC.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Yes. It's terrible in South Carolina. Unbearable place to live. Very expensive. Please heed my warning. Stay away from SC! (Please).

 

[tvguy]

Come on down and spend some time in California. You'll think everything is on sale when you go home.
For comparison in my zip code;
Median House price = $1Million ($582/sqft)
Median gas price > $4.35/gal (source; Gas Buddy)
Sales tax (where I live, includes local taxes) = 10.25% (highest in the nation)
Thanks to prop 13 from the 70's property tax is capped, but when you factor in the house price we end up paying about what everyone else pays.
Income tax varies by income, but the bar is set so low just about everyone pays close to the top rate (we are right around 9%)

Yep. Which is why so many people in California retire in other states with lower costs. Their fixed pensions go a lot further.
Neighbor retired from the Air Force, then went to work for the Post Office. Retired and moved to Tennessee. Sold his 1700 square foot tract home on .17 of an acre for $400,000 and bought a brand new, custom 2000 square foot home on 5 acres for $125,000. Even without lower gasoline prices and lower taxes, the $275,000 he banks will go a long long ways.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

But you have to live in South Carolina to take advantage of those costs, so there's that.

You could live in Yakima or Spokane and pay slightly under or slightly over the South Carolina average. Oh wait.... Same problem.

You can buy an average sized home in Dillon, SC for 80 grand where you're only 8 minutes from


Trouble is, only 6,000 people want to live in such a fine place as Dillon.

 

[Genie+]

Apparently the jump to $7.25 an hour broke the state

 

[TCRAIG]

I also live in SC - and have for many years - taxes that are cheaper here are cigarettes, gas and property taxes….other expenses are about the same as most of the US…and you definitely ‘get what you pay for’…especially the schools…and pay is significantly lower for many jobs. State income tax is a bit high (in my opinion) at 7%…especially compared to a no-state tax state and sales tax varies but our area (cheap) it’s 7.5% and applied to pretty much everything but essential food and prescriptions. Housing CAN be cheaper depending on what other state or city you’re comparing to - but not always.

 

[RangerPooh]

We moved from WA to TN 7 years ago. Home prices on my town keep going up, and are slightly lower than what they were in eastern WA. But have gone up since we moved here. Gas is cheaper here. Pay is less. I took at $10k pay cut for the same job as I had in WA.

Cost of living varies geographically. Industry, desirability, crime, etc.

 

[shh]

I keep reading that TN is rising fast....particularly the 'burbs outside Nashville, with home prices skyrocketing beyond what most can afford. Is that hyperbole or can any locals confirm?

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

Just curious what part of SC you're in? I agree the min. wage and wage of teachers etc. seems very low comparebly speaking. We actually just moved to SC (Columbia area) from NY and while gas is cheaper (about 60-75 cents/gallon.) Everything else seems about the same, but the min. wage is so much lower and I'm taking about a 10k paycut (a lil more) as a school counselor here

about 30 min outside Myrtle beach away from the beach. We are in a large house on a river with no one around but alligators. The houses in this area are over a mill with land. The single family home was for sale for $500K. Did not look at the rest of the state. I just bought a triplex just out side of Seattle for 700K so the prices did not see out of line.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

I am a public school teacher and DW is public school teacher.
DW is from OR and we both live/work in SC.
If we lived in OR, we would not be able to afford the same lifestyle in SC.

It depends on where you are referencing in SC.
Beach vacation areas are more expensive than other parts of SC.

I get that. I was just surprised when I went to the store and everything was basically the same, then I saw the help wanted sign offer less then half for the same position. I am about 30 mins from Myrtle beach. Up river (not by the ocean). The property is still expensive. The only thing that I could see that was cheaper was gas.

 

[summerlyangel]

SC native here. Born and raised is eastern very rural, poor SC, but settled in adulthood 2 hrs west, just south of charlotte, but still in SC. Our prices are very expensive compared to salaries and it's really hard for the native population. I have no idea how people are making it on the average salaries of the area. There are tons that moved here and brought their higher salaries and that is who is being catered to. Those not making decent money are living with family members, driving unsafe, uninsured vehicles, visiting food banks, growing their own food, not getting needed repairs, working 2 or 3 jobs, donating plasma, driving for door dash, etc. When I first moved here 25 yrs ago, you could get a small, new starter home for around 90K. Now they don't even build them. Our small, older home has tripled in value since covid. Have our salaries tripled? Or even doubled? Hardly. When I have visited my husband's family in MI and gone to the grocery store, I always notice that their prices are cheaper than ours. Our car/home insurance has also tripled since covid. Grocery bill, etc. Our utilities are higher, but thankfully, not tripled.