Considering a move down south.

[Anybodyhome]

There is a common misconception that the overall cost of living is cheaper here than up north. The reality is while you can definitely save some money on a residence- rental or buying- there are other costs of living that are more expensive here. Depending on your utility situation, often times gas and electric is more expensive here than up north. Groceries are more expensive here as well. And although I'm no expert, I've had a couple of pharmacists tell me that prescription drugs are more expensive in the south than most other parts of the country... I have no idea how that works, but...

[cookinbrak]

I'm constantly amazed that people think that Charlotte is some Mecca.

Given what you do for a living, the fact that there's a movie studio in Wilmington is all the answer you need. Add in the beach and all of the women at UNCW, it's pretty easy to figure out.

Not to mention that the food is better here.

[cookinbrak]

[PhillyB]

1 hour ago, cookinbrak said:

I'm constantly amazed that people think that Charlotte is some Mecca.

Given what you do for a living, the fact that there's a movie studio in Wilmington is all the answer you need. Add in the beach and all of the women at UNCW, it's pretty easy to figure out.

Not to mention that the food is better here.

mccrory gutted the state's film industry, but there are still prospects down that way if you look hard enough. much of the industry shifted to georgia after the incentives were yanked, so atlanta is currently a very, very, very good spot to be if you're trying to break into the industry, and it's got nowhere to go but up.

[Still Brooklyn]

On 12/28/2016 at 8:40 AM, Dex said:

Hey everyone, I live in Connecticut and the cost of living here is outrageous. I'd like to explore the possibility of moving to a state that is more affordable. Am I dreaming here or is this a realistic possibility. It just seems like a daunting task to literally pick up, leave and start over. Has anyone experienced this before and have any tips/advice? Anything would be appreciated. Thanks.

It's very possible. I up and left Charlotte for Brooklyn in 2011. It takes planning, research, and prep ... but you'll get to where you want to go and will be settled in sooner than you think. Go for it. Job is the first thing to look into of course.

[thefuzz]

21 hours ago, Anybodyhome said:

There is a common misconception that the overall cost of living is cheaper here than up north. The reality is while you can definitely save some money on a residence- rental or buying- there are other costs of living that are more expensive here. Depending on your utility situation, often times gas and electric is more expensive here than up north. Groceries are more expensive here as well. And although I'm no expert, I've had a couple of pharmacists tell me that prescription drugs are more expensive in the south than most other parts of the country... I have no idea how that works, but...

I do a ton of research about this exact thing, and I couldn't disagree more.

Almost every single thing in NC is cheaper than CT....by a large margin.

[thefuzz]

To the OP, I would look for places that have tons of weddings.....Asheville, Wilmington, etc....if you want to live in NC.

In SC, Charleston is the only place I would look, but it's damn expensive, and since you aren't "from there" you will struggle to fit in.

Atlanta is a non starter, but there is a ton of film there right now.

The only places in FL that I would consider would be the keys....maybe maybe parts of the west coast.

I'm a coastal guy, and prefer to only live near the water...but if there was somewhere other than ILM for me in NC, it would be RDU.  Sorry, but CLT does nothing for me.  Not near the water, not in the mountains....but tons of jobs and things to do though.

[Anybodyhome]

2 hours ago, thefuzz said:

I do a ton of research about this exact thing, and I couldn't disagree more.

Almost every single thing in NC is cheaper than CT....by a large margin.

I didn't specify CT. My wife's parents, 3 uncles/families all relocated to Brunswick County within the last 8 years from Northern NJ, just outside NYC, and all of them have told me their utility bills were lower, groceries were lower, homeowners insurance was lower.......

[pantherphan96]

http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/cost-of-living/

[thefuzz]

1 hour ago, Anybodyhome said:

I didn't specify CT. My wife's parents, 3 uncles/families all relocated to Brunswick County within the last 8 years from Northern NJ, just outside NYC, and all of them have told me their utility bills were lower, groceries were lower, homeowners insurance was lower.......

Homeowners insurance is the only thing that would be lower, as they are near the coast and are paying "wind and hail" insurance.  Not sure how on Earth the utilities could be lower, unless they are separating them.  Say....water may be higher as they are now on city water and sewer vs. well and septic...but that doesn't make up for the ridiculous heating cost they incur in the winter up there.

I literally just spoke to a couple relocating here from Port Jeff NY, and they were paying over 20k per year just for property insurance.  $500-600 per month in the winter for fuel oil, and their power bills were still much higher than what they would pay here.

We can agree to disagree, but the only thing that I have encountered from folks coming from up there that is cheaper is the homeowners insurance.  The rest is considerably higher.

 

[Still Brooklyn]

For me, power is the same as it was in Charlotte. Cable is the same. Groceries are the same. I don't have a car so no gas, registration, insurance, etc. Health insurance is a tad higher. Nightlife is the same. Restaurants are more. Rent is more. But I get paid a lot more here.

 

So no, the metropolitan South is not some wonderland of savings.

[Anybodyhome]

1 hour ago, thefuzz said:

Homeowners insurance is the only thing that would be lower, as they are near the coast and are paying "wind and hail" insurance.  Not sure how on Earth the utilities could be lower, unless they are separating them.  Say....water may be higher as they are now on city water and sewer vs. well and septic...but that doesn't make up for the ridiculous heating cost they incur in the winter up there.

I literally just spoke to a couple relocating here from Port Jeff NY, and they were paying over 20k per year just for property insurance.  $500-600 per month in the winter for fuel oil, and their power bills were still much higher than what they would pay here.

We can agree to disagree, but the only thing that I have encountered from folks coming from up there that is cheaper is the homeowners insurance.  The rest is considerably higher.

 

My Mom-in-law spent 35 years working for Shop Rite in the grocery business and when she tells me groceries are cheaper in NJ than they are here, I'll likely believe her. 

Most homes in coastal NC are all electric, which is a helluva lot more expensive than fuel oil and that $500-600 a month is ludicrous. I lived in Maine for a couple winters and spent that much for a full tank and it lasted all winter.  

And when is the last time you priced NC homeowner insurance (which includes flood) if you live on the east side of the ICW?

But we'll disagree, no probs. 

 

[Davidson Deac II]

On 12/28/2016 at 9:29 AM, Dex said:

Thanks cookin! A job transfer isn't possible for me so I'll have to do some searching but it's impossible to buy a house up here and with the average rent for a one bed room poo being close to $1000 a month renting isn't an option either. I'm sure I'd miss the certain things about CT but the cost of living won't be one of those. What are some cities I should look at?

If a grand a month is to pricey for you, then you should probably avoid Charlotte, Raleigh, etc...  If you don't mind driving, the outlying areas are cheaper and overall better.  

[Davidson Deac II]

19 hours ago, thefuzz said:

Homeowners insurance is the only thing that would be lower, as they are near the coast and are paying "wind and hail" insurance.  Not sure how on Earth the utilities could be lower, unless they are separating them.  Say....water may be higher as they are now on city water and sewer vs. well and septic...but that doesn't make up for the ridiculous heating cost they incur in the winter up there.

I literally just spoke to a couple relocating here from Port Jeff NY, and they were paying over 20k per year just for property insurance.  $500-600 per month in the winter for fuel oil, and their power bills were still much higher than what they would pay here.

We can agree to disagree, but the only thing that I have encountered from folks coming from up there that is cheaper is the homeowners insurance.  The rest is considerably higher.

 

20 grand a year? Wow, I could add up all my homeowners insurance bills for the last 10 years, and they wouldn't add up to 20 grand.