ShokWaveRider
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
We hear a lot of folk saying they are moving or have moved to a LCOL area to help with retirement living (Assume General Expenses are lower overall).
Others like their HCOL areas other are happy with the in-between MCOL.
I am curious how folk find each of their choices and how it has worked out for them. Those who have experience more than one would be interesting to hear from. I will start. We live in what we think is a MCOL area in NE Fla. We have previously lived in Canada, Colorado and California, all within very easy access to a big city.
Decent home prices in nice areas are around $400k - $500k, upper middle class homes start at about $550k.
Food costs are average we spend about $400pm for 2.
Home RE taxes are ~1.7% of appraised value.
Our town has about 15,000 people, we are 40 minutes from a big city which has everything.
We have most of the big box store with the exception of Costco and Trader Joes within a 3-5 mile radius. Costco is 45 a minutes drive.
Insurance costs are higher as we are by the coast.
Car, boat and other taxes are very low and not worth mentioning. Sales Tax is 6.5%. There is No State Income Tax.
Electricity and Gas are very reasonable, our monthly bills are always under $175, Water is about $45 a month. HOA is $250 pm and includes Landscaping, Gardening and Gated Entries.
Fire, Police and other necessary services are all within 3 miles.
Healthcare is abundant and no shortages or docs or Specialists, ACA health insurance is very affordable (at least it was up to 2019). There are basically no real wait times to see any provider and there is a great hospital within 3 miles. There is a Mayo Clinic 45 minutes away.
All the above seem very reasonable to us. Our key concern is access to quality affordable healthcare, and we are more than happy with the current arrangement.
We are curious how these compare with LCOL and HCOL areas.
Others like their HCOL areas other are happy with the in-between MCOL.
I am curious how folk find each of their choices and how it has worked out for them. Those who have experience more than one would be interesting to hear from. I will start. We live in what we think is a MCOL area in NE Fla. We have previously lived in Canada, Colorado and California, all within very easy access to a big city.
Decent home prices in nice areas are around $400k - $500k, upper middle class homes start at about $550k.
Food costs are average we spend about $400pm for 2.
Home RE taxes are ~1.7% of appraised value.
Our town has about 15,000 people, we are 40 minutes from a big city which has everything.
We have most of the big box store with the exception of Costco and Trader Joes within a 3-5 mile radius. Costco is 45 a minutes drive.
Insurance costs are higher as we are by the coast.
Car, boat and other taxes are very low and not worth mentioning. Sales Tax is 6.5%. There is No State Income Tax.
Electricity and Gas are very reasonable, our monthly bills are always under $175, Water is about $45 a month. HOA is $250 pm and includes Landscaping, Gardening and Gated Entries.
Fire, Police and other necessary services are all within 3 miles.
Healthcare is abundant and no shortages or docs or Specialists, ACA health insurance is very affordable (at least it was up to 2019). There are basically no real wait times to see any provider and there is a great hospital within 3 miles. There is a Mayo Clinic 45 minutes away.
All the above seem very reasonable to us. Our key concern is access to quality affordable healthcare, and we are more than happy with the current arrangement.
We are curious how these compare with LCOL and HCOL areas.
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