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Could someone help a non-American to understand? I've read people can stay years in motels, how is that possible? is renting a house in the US that expensive? o
by elboru 9y ago
Could someone help a non-American to understand? I've read people can stay years in motels, how is that possible? is renting a house in the US that expensive? or, is renting a motel that cheap? maybe I'm missing another variable?
In perspective renting a cheap Motel in my city for one month would be the equivalent of renting a fairly big middle class house.
- jordanmoconnor 9y agoIt's not the cost, but the mobility that is necessary for jobs like the one described. He travels (several hours) to the next destination and rests before his shift.
- garethsprice 9y agoMotels in the US can be extremely cheap, maybe $30/night. This makes a month comparable to a low-end apartment - but the advantage is that they are highly transient - as long as you've got $30, you've got a bed for the night. No contract, no lease, etc. Moving into an apartment usually requires a month (or more) deposit, potentially a credit check and employment verification. There's a growing precariat in the US who cannot provide this, so motels provide a solution in a society that operates on free-market principles and has little social safety net. "The Florida Project" is a good film that dives into this part of American society a little bit. As an immigrant who started out in this country near that run down part of the US-192 in Florida, it's spot on.