Question for people who have moved from High Cost of Living Areas to Low Cost Places

[Buck]

Hi everyone,

I am seriously considering moving from San Diego to South Carolina because all my extended family lives there and my immediate family is moving there at the end of the month.

I want to be near my family and it's just a bonus that all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents live there too.

I've looked at places for rent and they are so cheap compared to what I pay now, but I'm wondering if it's possible to get comparable pay at a job in the new place or not?

It's a bit of a struggle for me here, I only make $14/hr at my job, but I work for a healthcare company and have free medical/dental insurance. But with my take home pay I'm pretty much paying rent, my utilities, and what I need to survive (food).

Would it be difficult for me to move there and ask for the same rate of pay at a similar job since the cost of living is so much lower?

Thanks for the input.

Buck

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Buck

The thing that worries me is moving before finding a job, but also any of my family members would probably let me live for free until I found something. I was unemployed here for 2 years though (about 2.5 years ago I got this job). I don't want to live through that again.

Originally Posted by Buck

No. Never. I'm 28 years old.

I don't see a reason to move without a job in this day and age. Ask for a skype interview if you can't get out there right away for at least the initial interview. If you make it through some cuts, then you might have to fly out. I definitely wouldn't move without a job unless you feel comfortable living with family for what could be an extended time. If you aren't on a deadline to move, don't until you've got a job in hand. Make it known in an interview your intention to move closer to family. Employers like that as it will sound like you are staying long term if you are hired.

You can never appreciate where you live until you've lived somewhere else. I have no idea how anyone could live in one area their entire life. It's very freeing to make a choice and go with it. I think you'd be very happy with this move. Lots of people like that area.

[hometeam]

I packed up my shit and moved to Texas when I was 19. Dont regret it a bit even though I ended up back home in MO years later.

Take a risk. Adventure a little bit. **** San Diego (chargers)

[Bowser]

Is your company able/willing to transfer you, or are you going to start over if you move?

[Buck]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Is your company able/willing to transfer you, or are you going to start over if you move?

My company is only in San Diego. I would need to find a new company.

[Unsmooth-Moment]

I couldn't imagine living out west on that kind of money. Move and try to better your situation.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Buck

Hi everyone,

I am seriously considering moving from San Diego to South Carolina because all my extended family lives there and my immediate family is moving there at the end of the month.

I want to be near my family and it's just a bonus that all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents live there too.

I've looked at places for rent and they are so cheap compared to what I pay now, but I'm wondering if it's possible to get comparable pay at a job in the new place or not?

It's a bit of a struggle for me here, I only make $14/hr at my job, but I work for a healthcare company and have free medical/dental insurance. But with my take home pay I'm pretty much paying rent, my utilities, and what I need to survive (food).

Would it be difficult for me to move there and ask for the same rate of pay at a similar jobsince the cost of living is so much lower?

Thanks for the input.

Buck

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Buck

I think this is my job. I make lower than the Average in San Diego and I make the average that is in Myrtle beach. The problem is that there are 7000 of my job in SD and only like 80 there.

Healthcare support occupations San Diego: 7,025 / $31,674 | Myrtle Beach: 81 / $28,875

Calculated this as my yearly wage: $29,203

So that would translate to roughly $26,600 in Myrtle Beach. But you're right; the bigger problem may be that your job doesn't really exist in Myrtle Beach.

Granted, my numbers are just for the city, and it may be more of a tourist town. There may be more "normal" jobs in the county. But still, jobs in your field will be a lot more scarce in a smaller market like that.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Buck

My company is only in San Diego. I would need to find a new company.

I get aspiring to move up with your current company, but you could get paid more doing skilled labor, or hell, even working in a warehouse, than you do at your place now. 14/hr stretches much further there than in San Diego.

I'd make the move. Re-invent yourself on the east cost.

[hometeam]

Not to shit on your job or anything, but free healthcare for a single person amounts to roughly 150 bucks a month or something, even a modest cost of living decrease should take care of that. That being said, who cares about a shitty 30 grand a year job that leaves you stuck in a rut. You can make that much money at ****ing McDonalds, **** that shitty job, be a man! (but do your due diligence and get yourself a job before you get there~)

[teedubya]

Mrytle Beach is a cool area... It's a tourist town, so you'd be able to find something. At least a waiting take or bartender gig.

If you don't move, you'll rarely have any coin to see any of your family.

Plus, you can look forward to being a Carolina Panthers fan!

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Buck

Myrtle Beach / Conway

You can get a very nice pad for not a lot of money as long as you're willing to drive a little (and not much). I'd strongly recommend you look at a house or a job that you can get to and from without getting on Highway 501. If you spend an afternoon on 501 in the middle of touron season, you will hate your life and everyone you've ever known.

Otherwise, I'd recommend Charleston or Columbia way, way more than the cesspool that is MB. I lived there for three years, and it was OK when it wasn't tourist season, but both of those other cities are leaps and bounds better, IMHO.

[teedubya]

Timothy Donnelly lived there for awhile... I don't remember his CP name, however. Fire Me, maybe?

[Buck]

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

You can get a very nice pad for not a lot of money as long as you're willing to drive a little (and not much). I'd strongly recommend you look at a house or a job that you can get to and from without getting on Highway 501. If you spend an afternoon on 501 in the middle of touron season, you will hate your life and everyone you've ever known.

Otherwise, I'd recommend Charleston or Columbia way, way more than the cesspool that is MB. I lived there for three years, and it was OK when it wasn't tourist season, but both of those other cities are leaps and bounds better, IMHO.

So you're saying Charleston and Columbia are better right?

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Buck

So you're saying Charleston and Columbia are better right?

Easily. Not sure about cost of living, but both are great cities to live in. MB is all about the tourists.

Both are 2.5-3 hours from MB, by the way.

[The Franchise]

Honestly man....start looking for any job out there that is close to what you make now and you're qualified for. That way you can get something going quick while you try and find something in your current field.

Good luck, man.