10 Cheapest US Cities to Live In

[audreyh1]

Must be a reason!

10 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Live In - Yahoo! Finance

 

[HighRoller]

After reading your attached link, I hope this doesn't turn into another thread of why do so many folks move to Texas. The last thread like that was so popular it was closed after only 5 days and 7 pages of input. http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/10-reasons-people-are-moving-to-texas-66872.html

 

[Bestwifeever]

And from a link in the OP article, the most expensive places to live, from worst to first:

LA
San Diego
Oakland
Boston
DC
Stamford, CT
San Jose, CA
San Francisco
Honolulu
NYC (from the article: "A T-bone steak from a Manhattan grocer averages $15.52. In Harlingen, Texas,... the same steak goes for $8.34.")

 

[comicbookgujy]

Oakland is on that? That's crazzzzzy!

 

[Bestwifeever]

Oakland is on that? That's crazzzzzy!

Here is what the Most Expensive article says about Oakland (apparently the researchers are really into steaks in this list ): Slide Shows Gallery-Kiplinger

Cost of Living: 35% above average

City Population: 395,817

Median Household Income: $51,144

Median Home Value: $492,200

Like much of California, Oakland is plagued by pricey real estate. Housing expenses are double the national average, a heavy burden considering that household income falls below the U.S. median. A typical Oakland apartment rents for $1,604 versus the national average of $870. Groceries are another burdensome expense, coming in 22.5% above the national average. A T-bone costs 19% more in Oakland than in a typical U.S. city. That’s one of the highest steak prices among the 307 urban areas surveyed.

 

[W2R]

The 10 cheapest cities listed in the article are

10. Idaho Falls, Idaho
9. Conway, Ark.
8. Springfield, Ill.
7. Pueblo, Colo.
6. Wichita Falls, Texas
5. Fayetteville, Ark.
4. Memphis, Tenn.
3. Norman, Okla.
2. McAllen, Texas
1. Harlingen, Texas

Fayetteville, Arkansas, was number two on our personal list of five places for retirement relocation. On paper it sounded like exactly what we wanted. So, we visited it. Fayetteville is a fine place but it just didn't feel like home to us for some reason. Maybe it was the topography, which is very steeply hilly in some parts of town. Maybe it was the town layout, which is spread all over and a little puzzling at first. But anyway, we crossed it off our list.

Which, of course, is completely meaningless since we decided not to move anywhere after all.

 

[Indigo Mule]

One benefit to living in a "most expensive" city is that when you travel, you find yourself exclaiming, "Everything is so cheap!"

 

[Spanky]

One benefit to living in a "most expensive" city is that when you travel, you find yourself exclaiming, "Everything is so cheap!"

Not exactly. Other than cost of housing, you would find that other costs are quite similar among cities in the U.S.

 

[LRDave]

The source wasn't linked, and I am not going to bother to google it, but I call BS on this list.

I just don't believe there aren't other "cities" with populations over 50K in the SE and MW that aren't as cheap or cheaper.

" Council for Community and Economic Research's calculations of living expenses in 307 urban areas...."

 

[audreyh1]

Not exactly. Other than cost of housing, you would find that other costs are quite similar among cities in the U.S.

My experience is that restaurants and groceries are often much higher in the "expensive cities" than in the "regular cities". Often gas/fuel too.

 

[CoolChange]

My experience is that restaurants and groceries are often much higher in the "expensive cities" than in the "regular cities". Often gas/fuel too.

I see this within my city as well: Same item at same grocery chain is priced higher in nicer part of town than I live.

Gas stations also do this and are even easier to notice. I recently saved $0.20 / gallon by driving the five miles from where I noticed I was at 1/8 tank to my neighborhood.

 

[ohyes]

I see this within my city as well: Same item at same grocery chain is priced higher in nicer part of town than I live.

Gas stations also do this and are even easier to notice. I recently saved $0.20 / gallon by driving the five miles from where I noticed I was at 1/8 tank to my neighborhood.

Shows how cheap I am...we live in #9, considering a move to #2 area.

 

[W2R]

My experience is that restaurants and groceries are often much higher in the "expensive cities" than in the "regular cities". Often gas/fuel too.

+1

Many other items vary in cost by orders of magnitude from place to place. Water is a good example. I never have to pay more than $2.76/month for water, the minimum bill here. Water can cost 10-20 times that much in some locations. Taxes can vary wildly, too, as can insurance. All these differences in cost and many more explain why articles like this are written.

 

[Amethyst]

Since we rarely eat out, the price of restaurant meals means little to us. Who cares if a steak in a restaurant is cheaper someplace. Good beef can be bought almost anyplace.

OTOH, we have noticed that groceries seem to be cheaper in areas where cost of housing is higher....presumably b/c there are more grocery stores, who compete fiercely for customers. For our in-depth, scientific research, we have made comparisons across parts of VA, MD, D.C., WV, PA, NJ, NC, and FL.

Gas does seem to cost less in cheaper areas, which I'd attribute to cheaper rent and overhead for the gas station owners. The exception is that inner city gas stations are always high, even though surrounded by subsidized housing projects. Perhaps the cost of insurance accounts for this.

Amethyst

Amethyst

 

[jollystomper]

Gas does seem to cost less in cheaper areas, which I'd attribute to cheaper rent and overhead for the gas station owners. The exception is that inner city gas stations are always high, even though surrounded by subsidized housing projects. Perhaps the cost of insurance accounts for this.

The land/rent costs as well as higher fees/regulations/zoning issues for gas stations might be bigger factors than insurance. There are a lot more hoops and costs to jump through storing gas underground within a dense city than in a rural area.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

+1

Many other items vary in cost by orders of magnitude from place to place. Water is a good example. I never have to pay more than $2.76/month for water, the minimum bill here. Water can cost 10-20 times that much in some locations. Taxes can vary wildly, too, as can insurance. All these differences in cost and many more explain why articles like this are written.

Yep, and we gave found that once you get past housing, the 800 lb gorilla in the room, the differences are relatively small, depending on your elective lifestyle choices. Lots of exceptions but housing rules (and is often climate-related).

 

[JOHNNIE36]

+1

Many other items vary in cost by orders of magnitude from place to place. Water is a good example. I never have to pay more than $2.76/month for water, the minimum bill here. Water can cost 10-20 times that much in some locations. Taxes can vary wildly, too, as can insurance. All these differences in cost and many more explain why articles like this are written.

Wow, W2R! That water bill really got to me. Wonder why your water is so cheap? Last month my water bill was $102 and my power bill (all electric) was $97. Just two people. I know you are single but I could live with double your bill.

 

[W2R]

Wow, W2R! That water bill really got to me. Wonder why your water is so cheap? Last month my water bill was $102 and my power bill (all electric) was $97. Just two people. I know you are single but I could live with double your bill.

Here's why: We are surrounded by water! We have to have an elaborate drainage system just to keep dry, here in the New Orleans soupbowl. We are in a reclaimed swamp, sandwiched between the Mississippi River and Lake Ponchartrain. When it rains, I call my back yard "Lake W2R", half jokingly (it gets pretty soggy and splashy out there). It rains 60+ inches a year, here, and with our legendary humidity water doesn't evaporate. I don't even own a sprinkler or hose, because like other long time locals, I never water the grass or vegetation. Don't have to.

Also, I am in the suburbs (just barely over the city line), and because of that we have a newer water system that is in better shape than the one in New Orleans proper. That one is broken in many places, nearly disintegrated, and was badly damaged even further by Katrina. So, people in New Orleans proper pay lots more than we do and their water is often pretty unreliable.

 

[REWahoo]

W2, are you billed separately for your sewer service? That's normally rolled into the water bill around here, and can be a substantial portion of that bill.

 

[W2R]

W2, are you billed separately for your sewer service? That's normally rolled into the water bill around here, and can be a substantial portion of that bill.

Yes... Here's what is on the bill:

water: $2.76
sewer: $2.07
garbage: $13.89
mosquito control: $1.72
park maintenance: $1.36
Louisiana state admin fee: $1.60
Total: $23.40

Actually we are only billed every other month, so we are billed for twice this much; these are the monthly amounts.

 

[haha]

OTOH, we have noticed that groceries seem to be cheaper in areas where cost of housing is higher....presumably b/c there are more grocery stores, who compete fiercely for customers. For our in-depth, scientific research, we have made comparisons across parts of VA, MD, D.C., WV, PA, NJ, NC, and FL.

Amethyst

I think this is true when comparing a solidly middle class suburb to a more marginal one. Partly this is due to occupancy costs, partly shrinkage, and perhaps mostly the mix of products carried there.

It is definitely not true in cities where in-city housing is considerably more expensive on average than suburban housing. Every large chain store that I know of within 1 mile of the city core prices higher than the same store 4 or 5 miles out. There is a new Target almost dead center Seattle downtown. Its prices are higher than a Target 4 or so miles away. Rent downtown is expensive, and it can be expensive to recruit and keep adequate workers.

City or very close in neighborhoods favored by well off people may not even have the base supermarket chains- only Whole Foods, and other very high end stores with high end products like Jamon Iberico at $69.95/#, or black cod at $25/#, etc.

As far as eating out not being important, perhaps it is not to you, but it is a very important use of leisure to very many urban people, and in relatively expensive cities it costs plenty. No issue for me, as I just journal some funds over from my charity account to my sidewalk café account when I run short.

Ha

 

[FIREd]

Yep, and we gave found that once you get past housing, the 800 lb gorilla in the room, the differences are relatively small, depending on your elective lifestyle choices. Lots of exceptions but housing rules (and is often climate-related).

Moving from a cheap southern city to the Bay Area, that has been my experience also. Housing is much, much more expensive. But in general, our other bills have not changed that much.

I do think however that moving to a more expensive area could invite some lifestyle creep due to the wealth effect. After living here for a year, a $200 dinner out is not shocking anymore. I see so many Ferraris and Bentleys that buying a Benz would seem entirely reasonable. And expensive weekends in Napa are pretty much non-events. So if you let it, your expenses could definitely explode.

 

[HFWR]

As far as eating out not being important, perhaps it is not to you, but it is a very important use of leisure to very many urban people, and in relatively expensive cities it costs plenty. No issue for me, as I just journal some funds over from my charity account to my sidewalk café account when I run short.

Ha

Haha, Ha!

 

[ERD50]

City or very close in neighborhoods favored by well off people may not even have the base supermarket chains- only Whole Foods, and other very high end stores with high end products like Jamon Iberico at $69.95/#, or black cod at $25/#, etc.

Ha

Yep, sometimes when we are in Chicago for a w/e, we end up walking through the near north side with multi-million condos in the area, and stop by a local market/deli for a light lunch. Lunch is actually not so high priced, and very good, and a pleasant little seating area - but then it's not a full service restaurant either, just soup/sandwich (but very nicely prepared). But then we walk though the market/butcher, and OMG! Everything is the highest quality, with prices that seem even higher. Sticker shock for the average person.

I guess that might be one definition of 'rich' for me - shopping for some groceries there, and not even batting an eye. Maybe it's only the 'help' that shop there?

-ERD50

 

[haha]

Yep, sometimes when we are in Chicago for a w/e, we end up walking through the near north side with multi-million condos in the area, and stop by a local market/deli for a light lunch. Lunch is actually not so high priced, and very good, and a pleasant little seating area - but then it's not a full service restaurant either, just soup/sandwich (but very nicely prepared). But then we walk though the market/butcher, and OMG! Everything is the highest quality, with prices that seem even higher. Sticker shock for the average person.

I guess that might be one definition of 'rich' for me - shopping for some groceries there, and not even batting an eye. Maybe it's only the 'help' that shop there?

-ERD50

Oh yeah, I =forgot to mention- dry aged US prime beef, a strip or rib steak $25/pound. Do not ever buy this, it will ruin you for supermarket beef for the rest of your life

Ha