Cost of living comparisons by state in the US

[GandK]

These articles about rent and property tax comparisons cropped up in my news feed over the last few days, and the thread about Alaska and Wyoming prompted me to post them here:

How Much Do You Pay for Rent?

Use This Map to See If You're Paying Too Much in Property Taxes

Any other comparison tools people may need to make decisions about low cost of living areas?

[Ian]

I don't have any additional tools, but thanks for the links and I'm interested in others.

[GandK]

From Pew: The U.S. Income Gap by County

[GandK]

From the National Institute on Retirement Security: 2014 Financial Security Scorecard: a State-by-State Analysis of Economic Pressures Facing Future Retirees (PDF)

[GandK]

National political leanings from Clarity Campaigns: What town matches my politics?

[GandK]

Tiny House map

[BeyondtheWrap]

Here are two links I like to use when comparing Cost of Living:

Cost of Living Index for Selected U.S. Cities http://www.infoplease.com/business/econ ... ities.html

Numbeo - The biggest Internet Database about Cost of Living http://www.numbeo.com/common

[GandK]

Lifehacker: How much $100 is really worth in every state

[GandK]

Where Is Homeownership Within Reach Of The Middle Class And Millennials?

Other comparisons:

Milken Institute -- Best Cities for Successful Aging

Coming Clean: US Renewable Energy, State by State

[GandK]

Natural disasters: The riskiest spots in the U.S. Subheading: What are the chances your home will get damaged by a tornado, hurricane, earthquake or fire?

[jennypenny]

Haha ... northern MS/AL is at the top of DH's list of places to retire.

I'd love to compare this map with a map of the places most likely to see a disruption in basic services (power outage, water shortage, etc). I'm sure one exists. Off to google ...

[theanimal]

JP-Like this one? This is the counties projected to face water supply risk in 2050, due to climate change related issues.



Source-http://www.global-warming-forecasts.com ... limate.php

[jennypenny]

Yes, exactly that. I've been looking for an outage chart, but can only find real-time ones. I'm still looking for an historical chart.

[unno2002]

Cost of living comparison.
http://www.relocationessentials.com/aff ... y/col.aspx
In essence, it purports to be able to compare the cost to maintain the "same" lifestyle between two cities in the US. As an example, I ran a comparison between Yuma, AZ and Tucson, AZ. It indicates that there is would be a 3% "increase" in lifestyle in Tucson, vs Yuma, based on costs for similar living expenses.

[Spartan_Warrior]

Ignoring the political commentary (please), I found the root observation here relevant, and thought of this thread when I read it.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall ... -are-blue/

TL;DR: Politically "red"/conservative states tend to have lower cost of living.

[livinlite]

JP-Like this one? This is the counties projected to face water supply risk in 2050, due to climate change related issues.



Source-http://www.global-warming-forecasts.com ... limate.php

“The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana.”

― Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It

Substitute "thirsty bastards" and seems about right!

[livinlite]

Cost of living comparison.
http://www.relocationessentials.com/aff ... y/col.aspx
In essence, it purports to be able to compare the cost to maintain the "same" lifestyle between two cities in the US. As an example, I ran a comparison between Yuma, AZ and Tucson, AZ. It indicates that there is would be a 3% "increase" in lifestyle in Tucson, vs Yuma, based on costs for similar living expenses.

Having spent some time in Yuma, I'd say the 3% is more than worth it...

[GandK]

Saw these two lists recently and was interested not only in the lists, but in the differences between them:

AARP's Top 10 Best Places To Live (And Retire) Affordably In The U.S.

Gainesville, Georgia
Columbus, Indiana
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Portland, Maine
Ithaca, New York
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Midland, Texas
Winchester, Virginia
Wenatchee, Washington
Cheyenne, Wyoming

Money Magazine's 10 Best Places to Retire on Social Security Alone

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Austin, Texas
Buffalo, New York
Columbia, South Carolina
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jacksonville, Florida
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Spokane, Washington
St. Louis, Missouri
Tucson, Arizona

I would have expected at least some overlap!

It appears as though the latter list seems to be focused on cost of living only, and the ability to cover it with the average American's SS payment. And the former is also focused on other things like whether pensions are taxed in that city and the type of (consumerist?) lifestyle one could live there.

[Chad]

Yeah, those lists should have some overlap. For instance, Pittsburgh is cheap, has good healthcare, and has a lot to do. How Austin, TX, made that list is beyond me. Great city, but it isn't cheap. These lists are always partially created just as space fillers, so they aren't always very detailed.

[GandK]

Which states have the biggest unfunded benefits problems looming (mostly pensions):

Sold Out Futures: A State By State Ranking Based on the Census of Governments

This article is long and somewhat alarmist, but the author combs through several different data sources, which he lists.

TL;DR: think twice before choosing any of these eleven states as your long term retirement destination, because there is a looming tax/political crisis in each one regarding debt load and underfunded pensions: