Houston - High Salary Vs Low Cost Of Living (Center: health insurance, house)

[Big Dirty]

To compare Houston to Charlotte, NC:
Apt in a nice area-Hou$1,500/Cha $1,200
Auto Ins-Hou$225/Cha $160
Electricity-Hou$350/Cha $75
Cheap Meal-Hou$5/Cha $8

[EM1956]

If you're paying 225.00 for auto insurance, either your record is not so good or you're being ripped off.

I pay 175.00 for 3 people on 2 vehicles, each with full coverage. (and one of the persons is under 25)

[Big Dirty]

Originally Posted by EM1956

If you're paying 225.00 for auto insurance, either your record is not so good or you're being ripped off.

I pay 175.00 for 3 people on 2 vehicles, each with full coverage. (and one of the persons is under 25)

I have an Infiniti and my wife has been driving in the USA for less than 5 years. This is also actually with Safeco, other companies charge much more.

[chris_ut]

$225 per month?! I pay $70/month for full coverage on the wife's mini-van and basic coverage for my pickup truck.

[sevfiv]

If I paid $1,500 for rent (no equity), $225 for car insurance, and $350 for electricity monthly, I'd probably ***** a brick!

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by studiobtm

Grunn:

Your post tells me you have never stepped foot in Europe - well maybe eastern Europe and even that doesn't hold true much anymore. I completely agree with EM1965.

I'm a programmer and my wages here are just as good as anywhere else in the country. Cost of living is WAY lower than than most large US cities. The weather, access to work, and the low expense is why I live here.

Weather is one of the worst in Houston. Commute can be long and stuck in rush hour.

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by ejonestexas

Want to save money? I only buy stuff on ebay. In fact bought christmas presents on ebay and had the person wrap the presents and mail to my family out of state. The only thing you need to buy close is food, unless you cant wait for it.

Do you trust folks on Ebay? Can't try it out? Money back guarantee?

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by Big Dirty

To compare Houston to Charlotte, NC:
Apt in a nice area-Hou$1,500/Cha $1,200
Auto Ins-Hou$225/Cha $160
Electricity-Hou$350/Cha $75
Cheap Meal-Hou$5/Cha $8

$1,500 for a 1 bed in Houston, nice area? I disagree with it. You can get it under a $1,000

Auto Ins pretty much depends on your history. I pay less then $100 a month for full coverage.

Electricity, 7.5 kwh. Less then $100 in Summer times.
Meal is about the same everywhere.

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by EM1956

If you're paying 225.00 for auto insurance, either your record is not so good or you're being ripped off.

I pay 175.00 for 3 people on 2 vehicles, each with full coverage. (and one of the persons is under 25)

True.

[FlyDrive100b]

I think the above poster is not telling the truth about texas's cost of living.

The average Texan pays $.13 per kilowatt hour due to deregulation not $.07 because of it,

I don't think the above poster really pays that low unless he/she is in a regulated utility area, or maybe utilities got lower due to the run up in prices.

Auto insurance is debatable and depends on history, car, deductibles, etc. Lack of state income tax doesn't mean anything, they get you in other ways.

Texas homeowner insurance and property taxes are among the nation's highest - even higher than California, although California is hard to measure due to prop 13 and new v. older homes, its much higher than the national average.


What about transportation costs, the author is simply pointing out what it costs to live a more professional style, close to the city center, with amenities, since tax dollars subsidize this in other countries , he is right on with the claim.