Is California living worth the costs and taxes?
California’s seemingly lofty paychecks look relatively run-of-the-mill when considering the state’s costly lifestyle and tax burdens.
The annual “price parity” report from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis gives us a snapshot of relative differences among the 50 states in costs and incomes. My trusty spreadsheet reviewed the latest stats for 2023, which detail how expenses squeeze California’s incomes.
Look, it comes as zero surprise that California is the priciest place to live.
The state’s cost of living is 11.2% higher than the national norm, according to BEA math. After California came New Jersey at 8.2% above average, followed by Hawaii and Washington state at 7.9% and Massachusetts at 7.6%.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/12/20/is-california-living-worth-the-costs-and-taxes/
The answer to the thread title is: yes, absolutely!
I split my time these days between California and Florida, and if one can ignore the assholes that run Florida, the state can be a quite pleasant place to live -- although it is definitely getting more crowded and expensive. But when asked which state I prefer, the answer is always California.
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