4 ms·

I'll second this. Homes might be cheaper, but the rest of our bills aren't, and salaries are much lower on average.

dionidium 10y ago
Homes might be cheaper, but the rest of our bills aren't The difference in housing is so huge that it sometimes feels like it swallows everything else. But, make no mistake, everything is cheaper here. Use a tool like this for some comparisons: http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-living-calculator.aspx http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-l...
- Grishnakh 10y ago
  No, it isn't. Walmart or any other nationwide retailer isn't going to give you lower prices on TVs or clothes or groceries because you're in a low cost-of-living area. It all costs the same, nationwide. Same goes for anything online. ISP/telecom costs are not any lower in the midwest. Gasoline is not significantly cheaper. Cars cost the same no matter where you buy them. What else is left? I suppose you can get away with paying someone less to mow your lawn there, but that's about it.
  - flubert 10y ago
    I wonder who can find heat maps for the price of things like milk, bread, electricity, similar to this map for gasoline: http://www.gasbuddy.com/GasPriceMap?z=4 http://www.gasbuddy.com/GasPriceMap?z=4
  - dionidium 10y ago
    Is your contention that Bankrate made all of that up? How about the gas buddy link below (showing a difference of 30%)? You're right about online, obviously, but the evidence for the other stuff is abundant. Edit to add: Of course big retailers set their prices based on the local economy. https://www.quora.com/Does-Wal-Mart-charge-different-prices-for-the-same-item-in-different-stores https://www.quora.com/Does-Wal-Mart-charge-different-prices-...
  - imtringued 10y ago
    The retail employees in the bay area get paid more because they have to pay for the insane rent just like you have to. This obviously results in higher prices for goods purchased in brick and mortar stores.

Homes might be cheaper, but the rest of our bills aren't The difference in housing is so huge that it sometimes feels like it swallows everything else. But, make no mistake, everything is cheaper here. Use a tool like this for some comparisons: http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-living-calculator.aspx http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-l...

Grishnakh 10y ago
No, it isn't. Walmart or any other nationwide retailer isn't going to give you lower prices on TVs or clothes or groceries because you're in a low cost-of-living area. It all costs the same, nationwide. Same goes for anything online. ISP/telecom costs are not any lower in the midwest. Gasoline is not significantly cheaper. Cars cost the same no matter where you buy them. What else is left? I suppose you can get away with paying someone less to mow your lawn there, but that's about it.
- flubert 10y ago
  I wonder who can find heat maps for the price of things like milk, bread, electricity, similar to this map for gasoline: http://www.gasbuddy.com/GasPriceMap?z=4 http://www.gasbuddy.com/GasPriceMap?z=4
- dionidium 10y ago
  Is your contention that Bankrate made all of that up? How about the gas buddy link below (showing a difference of 30%)? You're right about online, obviously, but the evidence for the other stuff is abundant. Edit to add: Of course big retailers set their prices based on the local economy. https://www.quora.com/Does-Wal-Mart-charge-different-prices-for-the-same-item-in-different-stores https://www.quora.com/Does-Wal-Mart-charge-different-prices-...
- imtringued 10y ago
  The retail employees in the bay area get paid more because they have to pay for the insane rent just like you have to. This obviously results in higher prices for goods purchased in brick and mortar stores.