Cost of Living
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11/4/2008
After living for more than 3 years in Jackson Hole, WY, my wife and I had to relocate to Rochester/Rochester Hills, Michigan...ostensibly to care of my wife's elderly and ailing parents. Upon relocating we noticed a significant upward spike in general cost of living in the Rochester/Rochester Hills area...as compared to Jackson Hole, WY! We were really shocked to see not only food prices significantly higher in Rochester/Rochester Hills but also just about everything else...especially sky high property taxes...that, in our opinion, really did not provide an "ROI" to citizens...given the poor condition most local roads and infrastructure were in. We also noticed the extensive use of expensive "concrete" on local roads...which (1) typically was not cured properly (2)not poured nor leveled properly, (3) deteriorated more quickly than asphalt but when repairs were needed....ASPHALT was typically used due to the long repair time associated with concrete. The only conclusion we could reach on the extensive use of concrete...was that the RFP process favored concrete contractors for some unknown reason...rather than deciding on the more cost-effective solution of asphalt.
And, while there appears to be a higher concentration of healthcare providers here...healthcare costs across the board are also significantly higer than what we experienced in Jackson Hole, WY...one of the most expensive counties (Teton)in which to live in the entire U.S...due to the unavailability of affordable real estate. So, we have been constantly surprised at the extremely high cost of living here in southeast Michigan. Add to that the increasing unemployment due to increasing layoffs of the Big 3 automakers..and the spiraling dismal economy.
Randolph | Rochester Hills, MI