From: Brian Phillips (deepbluehalo@earthlink.net)
Date: Tue May 28 2002 - 07:43:43 MDT
James Rogers wrote:
>>...In many
>>States and cities in the US, $25k is the average income, and the
>>uninteresting suburbs there are filled with people of modest means who are
>>doing alright...
>>
>>$15k would be a more valid poverty line for a family of 3 in my opinion.
>>
In our neighborhood, 25k wouldnt cover the rent on a studio
apartment. In Darwin Taxifornia a person with 25k would not
know what to do with all the money. Housing costs are the
big wild card everywhere that I know of. All other costs are
pretty much the same anywhere you go. spike >>
This is mostly true. What I pay in rent for a one-bedroom
in a high-rise in the Maryland suburbs ringing DC is about
the same as my younger brother pays for his mortgage on
a 3-bedroom house with a two car garage.
I have a question for the assembled monkeys!
Does the variance in the price of living mostly reflect market
pressures (i.e. the invisible hand) or is regulation (i.e. more
regulation and codes in the big liberal cities) driving up
costs? Insurance rates etc.?
BTW Spike other things cost differently too, I have noticed
price differences of 20-30% at malls and grocery stores
that always vary from the most affluent side of the County
(which is probably just under Beverly Hills or Manhattan
for sheer swank), and the other malls just down the road.
It's actually proved cost effective to drive some distance
away to the PX. Weird....
regards,
Brian
(monkey needs a raise!)
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