When people lament the rising cost of living, others scoff and tell them they should move someplace cheaper.
While geoarbitrage is a great way to save money, it’s unrealistic for most people. Here are the top reasons why telling someone to move garners eye rolls.
Moving is Expensive
The people who say you should just move if you can’t afford to live obviously never paid for a move. If someone can’t afford rent, how will they afford a moving truck, a downpayment on a new apartment, or take time off to move?
Need To Stay Where the Jobs Are
Low cost of living locales often lack jobs. Sure, you could move from San Francisco to Oklahoma, but could you find a job as a software architect there, or will you be working retail?
Family
Family support is essential in tough economic times. Young parents need grandparents to help watch the kids, and middle-aged people need to stick close to care for ailing parents.
Moving might not save money if you must pay for childcare in your new area.
Politics
Many fear moving to a cheaper state due to the political climate in today’s tumultuous world. People would rather pay extra to live in states that protect their human rights.
Climate
Cheaper places have awful climates. Some folks have medical conditions making winter unbearable, and others can’t stand the heat.
Medical Care
Big, expensive cities also have the best access to medical care. People with health issues can’t move to cheaper places, which would make accessing care much more challenging.
Infrastructure
Places with more people tend to have more infrastructure to support them. Public transportation allows people to live without a car, and many neighborhoods have grocery stores within walking distance.
Rural areas are the cheapest, but you need a car for nearly everything.
Things To Do
Big cities burst with activity. There are things to do every weekend. Cities host free events at parks and beaches. Stores, restaurants, and venues line the streets, and there’s tons of opportunity to fill your time.
Trouble Fitting In
The majority of affordable places are small towns with tight-knit communities. Everyone grew up together and knew everyone else, making it exceedingly difficult for an outsider to fit in and make friends.
It’s even more complicated if that outsider looks different or has different values.
Change is Scary
As the saying goes, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know. It takes courage to pack up and leave everything you know behind. You never know if it will work out or not.
“Move Someplace Cheaper” Isn’t the Answer
Telling someone to move someplace cheaper is an easy way to dismiss their concerns and blame them for the dystopian world they live in. Instead, lets look for solutions that actually help people, like raising the minimum wage, exploring UBI, offering universal health and childcare, or fixing the housing crisis.
We can find solutions if we stop blaming each other and start working towards real results.
Source: Reddit