Useful Links

Winemaker · 08-23-2018, 05:09 AM

The last 10 days we spent near Fairfield CA, near Napa, CA. We purchased a large box of assorted veggies/fruits that we picked out and used/cooked with over the course of those 10 days, cost $20.01. The steaks, chicken, pork, seafood all seemed reasonable; now the wine budget, that was a different story.

Offgrid Organic Farmer · 08-23-2018, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound

The above Web site says MD has the highest percentage of millionaire households. Yet, the OP's site says that $100 buys $111.61 in MD, meaning the cost of living is low there.

How to reconcile the seeming contradiction?

I see no contradiction.

Once you are free to move wherever you wish to move, go someplace cheap. Your money will stretch farther in a low COL area.

I live in the state with the highest percentage of retirees. When people see how cheap it is to live here, they migrate here. But generally as retirees.

**Walt34** · 08-24-2018, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound

PS. Answered my own question. The low-cost-of-living area is the rural area far from DC.

Exactly. I used to live near D.C., and grew up there. The COL in MD varies dramatically, from very high in places like Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac, to very low in places like parts of the eastern shore and western MD.

IMATERP · 08-24-2018, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34

Exactly. I used to live near D.C., and grew up there. The COL in MD varies dramatically, from very high in places like Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac, to very low in places like parts of the eastern shore and western MD.

As a former Arlingtonian (NoVA,) I also have to agree. Anything north of Frederick towards Hagerstown and west toward Martinsburg (West Va) skew the COL. By the way, I don't miss that area at all.

I

NYEXPAT · 08-24-2018, 04:55 PM

I was in NYC recently and the cost too go over the VN bridge (3 times) and the GW bridge ( 1 time) was $78.00!

daylatedollarshort · 08-25-2018, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winemaker

The last 10 days we spent near Fairfield CA, near Napa, CA. We purchased a large box of assorted veggies/fruits that we picked out and used/cooked with over the course of those 10 days, cost $20.01. The steaks, chicken, pork, seafood all seemed reasonable; now the wine budget, that was a different story.

Food at the ethnic and outlet markets is amazingly cheap in the area. My August grocery bill will be under $300 for the two of us plus a house guest for most of the month and we eat pretty healthy on that amount. Last week at a local produce mart, I bought 2 pounds of dried dates, 2 pounds of organic strawberries, a pineapple, and two packages of mixed organic greens for $7 total. One pound of dates at the local retail supermarket is $9.

$100 might not go as far here at the supermarkets as other cities but it stretches pretty far at the outlet and ethnic markets. We have relatives that live in a lower cost of living area for housing, but with one grocery store in town that store gets to set near monopoly prices.

audreyh1 · 08-25-2018, 09:41 AM

Wow - our little tip is much cheaper than even the rest of TX. We have noticed over the years. $120-$125!

imoldernu · 08-25-2018, 09:43 AM

Peru, Il.... $100 equals $118.80 semi-rural Il.
73 air miles from Naperville $96.34
.................................................. .......................

And not just a statistical anomaly... Real costs of most things, are lower here.

Household #s Wages $51K vs. $118K

Home value $116K vs. $421K