Housing may be down, but costs are still high!!!
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8/30/2009
Any town in Orange County, Calif. has many positives...most do not even need to shared, because everyone knows it is a fabulous place to live.
Now to the negatives...Traffic is awful, the freeways are huge and many and they are way, way over crowded. Still, I would put up with them for the benefits of sunny Southern Calif.
The cost of living is the killer...even with the housing slump, the cost of living is well above the national average, and that makes it an expensive State...cheaper in the South then the North.
At home food for two..Low $500./High $600. If you entertain much, add more.
Eating out is expensive...Coffee shop $10.00 per person, mid range restaurant $30.00 to $40.00 per person (wine or cocktails extra) Five star will run $50.00 & up. Even bar food that use to be a bargin has gone up and up...two glasses of wine and bar food for one runs $30.00 with tip.
Utilities vary so Much!!! But here is an average for a 2,000 Sq.Ft. house.
Gas $40.00, Electric w/air conditioning $225.00, Water/Trash $115.00
Ins.w/earthquake $800,000. house...$750.00 per year.
Labor: Gardner once a week 10,000 Sq.ft. lot (mow and blow) $75.00 per. mo.
House cleaning help (6 Hours) $60.00 per day
Rent a two bedroom, two bath small condo or house $2,000 to $4,000.
Buying a house???? All over the map with the foreclousers. Still higher then most other areas of the country except New York and Main.
Medical-Dental...I hope you have Insurance!! (I have no idea of cost for an uninsured person.)
Gasoline...lots of tax, over $3.00 a gallon!!!
Propety Tax...not too bad, figure a little over 1% of assesed value.
Personl Grooming..Men can get a haircut from $11.00 up to $25.00
Women...$50.00 haircut,$45.00 roots, $120.00 highlights, $30.00 wash & blow dry.....Pedicure $40.00, manacure $20.00
Herculisa | San Carlos, CA