No matter where you are in the country, life can be relatively expensive. One place that costs more than almost anywhere else is a big city. Rent, food, and fuel are all more expensive in metropolitan areas.
Now let’s take a look at two places that are relatively close to Spokane but located in two completely different parts of the country – Coeur D’Alene in southern Idaho and the city of Spokane in Washington State. Keep in mind that the information below is largely based on the cost of living in these places as of April 2019.
Rent
If you’re looking for an apartment in Spokane, you’ll need to spend about $1500 a month or $180,000 a year on rent. This is based on the median cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Spokane as of April 2019 ($1500 a month, $18,000 a year). You’ll have to add about 15% to 20% to this cost for utilities, property taxes, and insurance.
Now let’s compare this to what you need to pay in Coeur D’Alene. One-bedroom apartments in the town are about the same price as those in Spokane, but because the cost of living is much lower, you can get by only paying for gas and utilities (about $100 a month). Plus you get to enjoy the beautiful lake and recreational area that this town is known for. You might not want to live in a small town with less than 10,000 residents if you’re looking for big cities’ amenities.
Food
Spokane has one of the most expensive eating habits in America. Restaurants there cost about the same as those in big cities, so you’ll regularly see high-priced menu items like filet mignon and lobster. Grocery stores and supermarkets are pretty expensive places too. If you want to live in Spokane, you’ll spend a fortune on food each week. This cost can add up to thousands of dollars a year, depending on how much you eat out.
On the other hand, Coeur D’Alene has an extremely limited dining scene. It doesn’t even have a real supermarket. Instead, you’ll have to visit one of the few strip malls in the town to find an eatery or café that serves decent food (at least in part). Some restaurants do serve breakfast and lunch, but finding good food at reasonable prices is difficult. We recommend you visit one of the neighboring towns for a foodie night out where you can sample local cuisine and enjoy one of the region’s famous microbrews.
Travel
If you want to travel, you’ll have to pay for the tickets whether you’re going by air or highway. The farther you are going, the more you’ll have to pay. Flying somewhere takes a lot of money, even if it’s just across the country. Driving costs more too. The farther you drive, the more you’ll pay. Luckily, there are more affordable options than you’d think. Some credit cards offer travel perks that make vacations more accessible to the average person. Getting a free night’s stay at a hotel or getting a discounted ticket for gas or parking are just a few of the options that this perk card offers.
One thing to keep in mind if you’re planning on moving to an area with a lower cost of living: housing prices are relatively cheap where you can find them, but the cost of living is much lower than in a big city – so you’ll need to make more money there to survive. This is why it’s important to look at the overall cost of living in a place before making a decision regarding where to live. It’s also important to look at the costs from a longer-term perspective. While living in a smaller city might be more affordable in the short term, the extra costs you’ll incur in the long term can dramatically increase your expenses. Make sure you’re not wasting your time and money by choosing the wrong place.