Anonymous wrote:Our family of 4, including two teenagers and a small mortgage, lives on 120K per year in Bethesda. That's not counting college costs, which come out of a different pot.

When they were younger, we got by on 80K a year. But that was before the pandemic-and tariff-era inflation.

So it depends how many of you are on this income and what your needs are, but one or two people could live on that much in this very area. And indeed, many do!

Exactly. I cannot believe this entire thread. A childless couple with subsidized healthcare can easily afford to live in DC metro or any HCOLA if not insisting on the most premium neighborhoods. Even in nice suburbs of HCOL cities you can find a condo for rent for under 3K that would be comfortable for a couple. And in middle class suburbs you could rent an entire house for 3K.

If 80K is after tax (which is what it sounds like) I seriously don’t understand how people suggest you need to go overseas for greener pastures. It’s over 6600 a month take home money. Finding a rental for 2600 should not be hard for a childless couple not insisting on posh accommodations. Then you have 4K to live on because you aren’t paying $$$$ for private health insurance premiums/deductibles and have no house maintenance costs. If you cannot find a way to live on it comfortably (I assume there is no pressure to save and there is already retirement fund of some sort) then you don’t have your head screwed on right.

The key here is not having to save (it seems like this is the living income after tax) and not having to pay exorbitant rapacious health insurance costs. You can have fairly comfortable life anywhere in the USA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:80k?! Is this a joke? That is not enough money to live comfortably anywhere that is not straight up third world. Like you will be living like a local with no ac and a squat toilet in Eastern Europe/Asia.

OP here. This doesn't sound right. They can spend the full 80k on living expenses. I was thinking if we could find somewhere where you could get a rental for around 2k/mo would work, would adjust higher or lower depending on taxes, whether they'd need a car, etc.

I was expecting suggestions for smaller cities in the midwest, south, and rust belt, maybe midsize cities in Europe? They'd be open to Mexico for sure (one of them speaks Spanish very well) though I'm mildly worried about the heat.

I’m the poster who suggested Mexico.

I lived in Mexico City for a year, and it’s not hot at all because of the altitude. The weather was absolutely lovely - much nicer than DC. Mexico City is a cosmopolitan city with an excellent public transportation system, plenty of cultural events, and incredibly delicious food. I’d move there again in a heartbeat if I wasn’t tied to my job here.

Mexicans don’t want American expats anymore driving up their prices. They are protesting now in Mexico City. Unless you speak the language and look like you will blend it, I honestly would not move anywhere where people are having anti-tourist and anti-expat protests. I am not saying it’s unsafe necessarily or you will be hurt, but it’s because the environment might be unpleasant and you will feel unwelcome. No need to go overseas at all having 80K a year for a childless couple with subsidized healthcare. You can live anywhere in the USA pretty much outside of the most expensive neighborhoods or HCOL cities.

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Anonymous wrote:Pittsburg

Thanks this is a good recommendation. Any particular neighborhoods you'd recommend? In the city or close in suburb?

Do you need good schools?

Are you liberal or conservative?

This is a liberal neighborhood with good schools.

https://www.redfin.com/neighborhood/223211/PA/Pittsburgh/Mount-Lebanon?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=dsa-1627309567575&utm_content=690371919335&utm_campaign=1034074&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NfDBhDyARIsAD-ILeA9SrvO32-4Fb5jKNwUeMW_-52Ex6CrEIRP34ydROc-HIJCVygjCzgaAnKMEALw_wcB

Our family of 4, including two teenagers and a small mortgage, lives on 120K per year in Bethesda. That's not counting college costs, which come out of a different pot.

When they were younger, we got by on 80K a year. But that was before the pandemic-and tariff-era inflation.

So it depends how many of you are on this income and what your needs are, but one or two people could live on that much in this very area. And indeed, many do!

I lived in Manhattan on a 45 salary a few years. Of course I had a tiny 200sf rent stabalized apt in a run down building that was a walkup.

I recall I was making 775 biweely and rent was 775 so rent was 50 percent But I had no cable, internet and only bill was phone and electricity which was tiny as no AC.

Work gave me free metro card and had no car. So took train everwhere. Work also had a subsidized lunch so ate there every day.

That was a long time ago but flash forward to 2025 my nephew has a $2,000 a month rent stabalized unit and his girlfriend moved in . Cost each 1k a month.

Manhattan can be cheap.

I think the answer is: the vast majority of the world is open to you if you have 80,000 a year to spend, no debts, no need for expensive healthcare spending, and are willing to live in an apartment. Even expensive cities like NYC and SF are quite possible.

Twin Cities if they can handle the cold.

Places I'd consider include Detroit suburbs (Royal Oak, Troy, Birmingham, etc. plus Ann Arbor which isn't really a suburb), nicer parts of Chicago, Grand Rapids, Omaha, Missoula, DC and suburbs, even Honolulu or NYC if you're open to a studio or 1br and don't want a car. A lot comes down to the climate and type of housing you want, and if you want a more urban, suburban, or rural lifestyle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburg

Thanks this is a good recommendation. Any particular neighborhoods you'd recommend? In the city or close in suburb?

for the burbs, Sewickley, Franklin Park, places north of the city

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:80k?! Is this a joke? That is not enough money to live comfortably anywhere that is not straight up third world. Like you will be living like a local with no ac and a squat toilet in Eastern Europe/Asia.

OP here. This doesn't sound right. They can spend the full 80k on living expenses. I was thinking if we could find somewhere where you could get a rental for around 2k/mo would work, would adjust higher or lower depending on taxes, whether they'd need a car, etc.

I was expecting suggestions for smaller cities in the midwest, south, and rust belt, maybe midsize cities in Europe? They'd be open to Mexico for sure (one of them speaks Spanish very well) though I'm mildly worried about the heat.

I’m the poster who suggested Mexico.

I lived in Mexico City for a year, and it’s not hot at all because of the altitude. The weather was absolutely lovely - much nicer than DC. Mexico City is a cosmopolitan city with an excellent public transportation system, plenty of cultural events, and incredibly delicious food. I’d move there again in a heartbeat if I wasn’t tied to my job here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburg

Thanks this is a good recommendation. Any particular neighborhoods you'd recommend? In the city or close in suburb?

Are they city people?

The concept of "close-in suburb" is a little different for Pittsburgh because the "Golden Triangle" (main part of Pittsburgh) is separated from other areas by hills, rivers, and bridges. The nice trendy hipster areas can be priced up. If you want public transport and an urban apartment/small home lifestyle, maybe look at Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. Real estate taxes in Allegheny County can be high. There are gentrifying areas on the fringes of redone areas.

A lot of Pittsburghers live in inexpensive suburbs that are truly suburban and you need to drive everywhere. That's okay but it's hard to know what combo of amenities would appeal to your people. You could look at Monroeville. That's a shopping district with older houses. Maybe Plum which is next to it.

Your people should buy with a plan to age safely. That means a short and flat driveway requiring limited snow removal. And a housing arrangement that won't be a maintenance headache.

The South Hills has a light rail system but I don't think it would be useful for retirees.

Pittsburgh
Kansas City
Columbus
Louisville
San Antonio
Omaha
Tucson
Raleigh
Oklahoma City
Charlotte
from here: https://thefinancekey.com/major-cities-where-a-salary-under-80k-is-sufficient-for-comfortable-living/

that said, There are definitely more places than this. I have relatives who live in 5 of those cities and definitely do so on less than 80K.

My brother lives in Bismarck and lives off of about 60K a year

Anonymous wrote:How about Mexico? Mexico City, Oaxaca, and San Miguel de Allende are beautiful cities with significant expat populations. Your standard of living would be quite high with $80k/year.

San Miguel de Allende is not an inexpensive place to live.

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Anonymous wrote:You need to think about healthcare.

It's not for me and the couple has access to healthcare. They will have a copay through an employer plan but it's reasonable.

Hm.. I would wonder if their insurance pays for medical costs outside the US.

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburg

Thanks this is a good recommendation. Any particular neighborhoods you'd recommend? In the city or close in suburb?