On average what is the cost of living where you live?

[suejai]

So from what I'm seeing wages and housing are all over the boardbut groceries seem to be about the same across the country. Except maybe in HI, understandably. I can't believe how much more we pay for groceries up here, although there was a respondant from Eastern Canada and their groceries are about the same as the US responses, although they don't say how many in the family or if they eat out a lot.

I spend about $1100/month, but we don't eat out all that often and I have two teenage boys in the house. When we do eat out the prices are about the same as they are at Disney at a comparable restaurant.

 

[aprilgail2]

: I suppose there aren't many one-income families there.

LOL...noooo most of the time both parents work around here.

 

[Kath2003]

We had a conversation with a family from England while we were at Disney last time about the cost of living etc where you live. Things like what is a decent wage - enough to pay the bills, mortgage, have savings, be able to afford to do things that you want etc. The price of an average house - say 3 bdrms, 2 bth, average city sized lot in a decent neighbourhood. Monthly grocery bill. Price of a movie ticket.

So I am asking the same question here.

This is how it is where I live:

I live in Central Alberta, Canada
Wages: Anywhere from $70,000 to about 90,000 would be decent for a family
Average house: $280,000 to $340,000
Groceries: We spend around $1100/month for a family of four
Movies: $10.95 for an adult ticket

these are,of course, in Canadian dollars

I'm from England so (prices in $US):

Wages: average is about $40,000/year, but a good wage is $50,000-$80,000 for a family of 4.
Average house: where I live a 3BR home would be around $300,000. If I wanted a decent 1BR apartment, I'm looking at $170,000.
Groceries: if you eat well, I'm guessing about $800/month for a family of four.
Movies: Stupidly priced; about $11 a ticket for an adult which is nuts when you can buy the DVD for $11 a few months later (we rarely go).

 

[Uuaww]

St. Croix, USVI.
I am a single male and this is what things cost me
1 bedroom Apt. rent- $1000/month
Groceries- $400-500 a month! (1 gallon of milk is $6)
Gas- $1.79 a gallon (we have Hovensa, the largest oil refinery in the western hemisphere here, so it stays low)
Movie ticket- N/A (don't have a theater)

 

[jax677]

We live in a southwest suburb (frankfort) of Chicago.
I don't know what the average income is but my husband makes in the middle 6 figures.
Our house was $191,000 in 1997, its worth $288,000 or so now. Its a 3 bed/2 1/2 bath home, 2800 sqft. Has a huge yard and not too close to other houses that we feel crowded.
I spend about $500 on groceries a month. More if the girls are home from college.

The best part of this area is we have amazing schools, shopping near, but still have farms around us. In fact we have a farmer who sells his produce.
Gasoline is around $2.75
Movie tickets are $9-$10.

 

[El&Asmom]

We're in the Chicago burbs as well. There is a huge price difference on housing depending on which burb you are in, or what part of Chicago proper you live in. We are in the western suburb of Glen Ellyn. There is a pretty good range even within our town. Mostly starter homes in the low to mid 300s, (small 3bd, 1bath and need work). New construction is almost never less than 900k+. A family home would easily be in the 600-800k range.

Average salary 100+, but that wouldn't get you very far.
We probably spend around $150 a week in groceries.
Haven't been to a movie in ages except for a couple of early shows at the local theater that I think were $7.
I paid $2.69 a gallon for gas yesterday.

 

[OhMari]

It is so expensive that I don't even like breaking it down to see the grand total.

In Rome, our tour guide told me, her family just gave her an apartment or " pad" in the building. She said her whole family of parents, aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins all live in the same building, but in seperate quarters. They get together for meals and such. She said her little apartment in 1996 was $1200 a month. That was 14 years ago, so I'm sure the rent is much higher now. But she said, she wouldn't be able to afford anything else, she stayed living with the family, even though she didn't want too.

 

[aprilgail2]

See now the average income and house prices vary so much here on LI. Some neighborhoods you won't even be able to get a blade of grass for $275,000 or a one bedroom apartment for less than $2000 a month. The COL here is so insane. Wouldn't you agree?

They built some new condos near me and we stopped in today to take a look during their open house. They were one bedroom 2 bathroom condos and they were going for 399,000....but then you have to add on the 260.00 a month maintainance and the property which were not as high as houses in this area but were still running 5400.00 a year...cheaper than a house though!

 

[GeorgeG]

I live in a unique retirement community that is pretty diverse. New homes here range from about $135k (villas) to around $1 million for some of the premier models (how's that for diversity?). Amenity fees are about $135 a month, but I can't even begin to list everything that covers.

There's no real way to know the average income since many live on investments and pensions. I can say that I live better here on a pension and Social Security than I did in New York on a six-figure salary.

Food is another thing that's hard to pin down since most of us eat out a lot in a wide variety of venues.

Movies are $6.25 (more for non-residents).

Much of the surrounding area is mostly minimum wage and housing is probably a lot less (many mobile and manufactured homes), but there are still a lot of nice places.

I like not having a state income tax and property taxes are very low compared to New York. Utilities are very reasonable, but it looks like they will be going up.

 

[Kimberly]

I live in a unique retirement community that is pretty diverse. New homes here range from about $135k (villas) to around $1 million for some of the premier models (how's that for diversity?). Amenity fees are about $135 a month, but I can't even begin to list everything that covers.

There's no real way to know the average income since many live on investments and pensions. I can say that I live better here on a pension and Social Security than I did in New York on a six-figure salary.

Food is another thing that's hard to pin down since most of us eat out a lot in a wide variety of venues.

Movies are $6.25 (more for non-residents).

Much of the surrounding area is mostly minimum wage and housing is probably a lot less (many mobile and manufactured homes), but there are still a lot of nice places.

I like not having a state income tax and property taxes are very low compared to New York. Utilities are very reasonable, but it looks like they will be going up.

Living the life. Enjoy it, you've earned it!

 

[DMickey28]

We live in a southwest suburb (frankfort) of Chicago.
I don't know what the average income is but my husband makes in the middle 6 figures.
Our house was $191,000 in 1997, its worth $288,000 or so now. Its a 3 bed/2 1/2 bath home, 2800 sqft. Has a huge yard and not too close to other houses that we feel crowded.
I spend about $500 on groceries a month. More if the girls are home from college.

The best part of this area is we have amazing schools, shopping near, but still have farms around us. In fact we have a farmer who sells his produce.
Gasoline is around $2.75
Movie tickets are $9-$10.

Middle six figures as in $500K???????

 

[DMickey28]

I just pulled the data from city-data.com for a town that is on our list to move to in NH. Goffstown.

Median income: $70K
Median house value: $253K
Cost of living index: 113.7 (US Average is set at 100)

The town I live in now:
Median Income: $72K
Median House value: $460K
Cost of Living index: 101.4

 

[PatsGirl]

Wow, looking at those Midwest prices I really wish there were an ocean close to there ~ I'd pack up this morning Gotta have my ocean.

Average salary in this area is $60K but that's the year-round folks. Our summer residents make much more than that as this would be their "second home". A 3B/2B house will run you around $400K, monthly rental $1600 or so for the same house. Alot of homes rent winter/summer and you pay $1200/month in the winter and then the same PER WEEK in the summer or you live in a tent It's really hard to afford housing in this area on $60K and heating costs in the winter can be really expensive as well. Personally I survive quite well on less than $50K but my mortgage is very low (and nearly paid off), I drive a 1998 Jeep, and shopping is low on my priorities We do, however, vacation quite a bit.

My town taxes are $2000 on about $400K, food costs $100/week for 2A/1K, gas is $2.50/gallon right now. Movies about $8.

Like I said, I'd like to move to a cheaper area but I need my beach. The goal is to summer in South Carolina (or even here) and winter in St. John

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I live in NYC, and an income of less than $100,000 would make for difficult living due to rents/mortgage costs.

I've lived in NYC for 4 years. I've been making less than half of that in NYC and have no debt. My DH has not been working, and I paid for 4 WDW trips and paid for my masters degree out of pocket since moving here in 2005.

Granted, I have no kids. That would have made it much more difficult...

 

[claudia]

I've lived in NYC for 4 years. I've been making less than half of that in NYC and have no debt. My DH has not been working, and I paid for 4 WDW trips and paid for my masters degree out of pocket since moving here in 2005.

Granted, I have no kids. That would have made it much more difficult...

well it would depend on where in NYC you are living....if you were outside of Manhattan you could probably have done ok on that salary. OH...looked at your tag and saw that you on in the Bronx.....that would make sense then.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

well it would depend on where in NYC you are living....if you were outside of Manhattan you could probably have done ok on that salary. OH...looked at your tag and saw that you on in the Bronx.....that would make sense then.

Yes I am in the Bronx.......but it's still part of NYC.

 

[claudia]

Yes I am in the Bronx.......but it's still part of NYC.

I get the headache...I have a cousin and aunt that live there. I think many people confuse NYC as being Manhattan only and don't understand the cost difference.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I get the headache...I have a cousin and aunt that live there. I think many people confuse NYC as being Manhattan only and don't understand the cost difference.

Yes...and we are moving at the end of this June out of state...there is no way we'd ever be able to afford a (nice) house here and I don't have any desire to raise kids here. Also, working for the Board of Ed has been nothing short of a nightmare so it's time to go! I've appreciated NYC for what it is, but I'm ready to move on!

 

[claudia]

Yes...and we are moving at the end of this June out of state...there is no way we'd ever be able to afford a (nice) house here and I don't have any desire to raise kids here. Also, working for the Board of Ed has been nothing short of a nightmare so it's time to go! I've appreciated NYC for what it is, but I'm ready to move on!

My cousin was a teacher in the Bronx for all of her career, but she did live in Woodside and raised her family there....but she always rented there. Where do you think you will move? We are here for about 5 more years as DH is currently managing the construction of Tower One....but we are counting down until we will also be able to move on. DH makes a good salary, but living on LI most of it goes to living expenses and with DS beginning college in the fall that will eat up the rest of it.....we are really looking forward to relocating. Good luck with your move.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

My cousin was a teacher in the Bronx for all of her career, but she did live in Woodside and raised her family there....but she always rented there. Where do you think you will move? We are here for about 5 more years as DH is currently managing the construction of Tower One....but we are counting down until we will also be able to move on. DH makes a good salary, but living on LI most of it goes to living expenses and with DS beginning college in the fall that will eat up the rest of it.....we are really looking forward to relocating. Good luck with your move.

We are moving to suburban New Orleans. For about the same $ amount per month, we will be able to get a car and the housing is cheaper and far nicer than what we have now. We will have a washer and dryer in our unit!!!

I will be making less but the money can stretch farther down there.

(Trying to bring this back on topic...)