Ideal Places to Live and Cost of Living?

I've noticed that every time I go to the supermarket I end up paying more and more. Seems like every item costs close to $5.00 nowadays!  A decent loaf of bread, a can of coffee.  But I'm sure prices are going up everywhere -- Massachusetts is not cheap.

I've noticed that every time I go to the supermarket I end up paying more and more. Seems like every item costs close to $5.00 nowadays!  A decent loaf of bread, a can of coffee.  But I'm sure prices are going up everywhere -- Massachusetts is not cheap.

I've noticed the same.  It's bordering on the ridiculous.

you should move to NJ!  we just came here from London, and everything seems cheap.  groceries are mysteriously cheaper here than in NC where my parents live?  of courses  houses are a tiny bit more expensive in NJ than NC

I live in a small town (10,000ish, maybe) in a rural area with relatively high-ish rents. I hate big cities and find even the thought of living in Edinburgh (c. 600,000 people) slightly terrifying. That said, I would rather stab myself in the face than ever live in the American Midwest again, no matter how cheap the rents are in southwest Ohio. I hated almost everything about living there, and although I could theoretically get more for my money in terms of living space, I'd spend more in car costs, utilities, property tax, rubbish uplift, insurance and of course, with my pre-existing condition and expensive medications, all of my spare income would go to health care. I'm about to be unemployed, and if I were in the US I would be sh***ing bricks right now.

Ever been to the outback of Ohio, the southeast? I agree with every point you make! (I lived 4 years in the Dayton area). I love woods and hills, I really, really do but natural beauty is the ONLY thing this quadrant of the state has going for it especially someone using a wheelchair. If you are wealthy it acts as a resort and you leave for shopping, medical care, airport, real choices, and so on. Then there are the locals made up of only two classes. People from Cleveland and the East come here and drop out and then the freak stuff takes off. We have every fringe group/commune that the human race has spewed forth. Just plain aggravating and CREEPY.

you should move to NJ!  we just came here from London, and everything seems cheap.  

Really?  NJ?  Wow when my sister lived there (and I in NYC) I thought both NJ and NYC was expensive