apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i just played this game. . . i was in boise idaho for a day and when i got hom ei went on craigslist to see what 900 dollars (what i pay for my 400 sq. ft. apartment in los angeles) would get me there.

a two story 3 bedroom victorian home with a huge yard. . .that is what it would get me.

I moved from SF to SLC 6 years ago. While SLC wins no awards for "lifestyle" in my book (unless you're a parent and/or have no desire for a nightlife). But it does have a few things going for it: The Rocky Mountains, the Escalante National Monument, and the price of realestate.

My 1800 sq foot home cost me 1/5th the price of what's available with an equivalent "look & feel" in SF. And I can my my mortgage with one income and still have enough for summer concerts.

We have a 2,200 sq. ft. 1920 craftsman with a decent city/suburb front and backyard and it cost 158,000 5 years ago in western MA...in Boston it would cost us close to 900,000!!!

We're about to purchase our first house--a 1600sf, 1920s Craftsman on a corner lot. We're paying less than $150k for the house. I'm not crazy about where I live, but I sure like the $500,000 it's saving me!

I often hear from friends and colleagues about what I could get in (fill in the blank, USA) for the same price I paid for my apartment. My answer is always "but it's not in New York, so it's not worth it to me".

It's spelled "Phoenix."

And seriously, it doesn't matter how much the houses cost here, it's still a horrible place to live.

Manhattan has become like Beverly Hills. If you're rich it's a great place to live. If you're not rich -- not so great.

It's the greatest city on earth. I'd rather live in NYC in a smaller place than in Armpit on an acre.

Oh how I know about this! I just bought a 2 bedroom, 1 bath 1200 sq. ft. Edwardian flat in San Francisco for $850k, and I know I could get a massive property in other parts of the US for that, but to me it's absolutely worth the price. I know others disagree (and might even think I'm crazy!), but after growing up in SF, and going to uni and working in London, I could never live outside of the heart of a major city.

I used to live in NYC (back in the 80s!) but I got over it. It is a great city -- and anytime I want to visit it I can -- but I decided there were more important things in life than living in NYC.

Is it the greatest city on earth? No. That would be Chicago or Paris but NYC is a very nice city in its own way. I like architecture and NYC has some great architecture.

Last time I was there we specifically went down to the Wall Street area to see the old Cunard Building. It's still there!

I have an armpit fetish and live in one.

New York smells like an armpit these last couple of days.

ah... NC is so beautiful in so many ways! I have beach when I want it, mountains when I miss them, and a lovely small and affordable place to call home somewhere in the middle. I forget how lucky I am sometimes.

If you ever want to leave NYC, you can buy my house: 2200 sq ft semi-earth bermed, 2 bedroom, 2 bath on nearly 6 acres, partially wooded. Aother amenities: two car garage, large storage barn, passive solar, new roof, all new windows and exterior doors, new furnace, new water heater, central air, built in 1987. All this for about $175,000.

Hi! Long time reader but first time poster here...
Living in Washington D.C., I also look around at what I could buy elsewhere for what I pay in rent, but it's all relative. I have gawked at gorgeous mansions in southwestern virginia and wondered what it would be like to live there, until I find out what the average salery is there....

Yeah, you would get a lot more space, but you would be in Phoenix! What can you even do after 10PM there?

And I will bet that everything you need to survive is NOT within 5 minutes walking distance, like it is here!

New York isn't that ridiculously priced, when you think of the things that we save on: no car note, no car insurance, no gas---$80 a month (unlimited MetroCard) takes me everywhere I need to go.

And the fact that, at any time of night, I can walk outside, see people on the street, find somewhere to go, it is amazing. I have lived in LA, in suburban CT, and Manhattan for 10 years now, and it is the best. The only other place I have been that I could consider living is Paris. Some people are not made for city life, but those who are can see the value that comes with living here (in our tiny, tiny, overpriced apartments!).