Real estate costs are way lower in Vegas than in most areas, even though
prices for housing have risen over past few years after being quite constant for
several years. To buy such a nice brand new house in Pennsylvania no doubt
would have cost us $300,000 or more - here it was $230,000. Lots more bang for
your real estate buck, unless you want a house with a huge yard (most yards are
tiny - which isn't necessarily a bad thing).
Real estate taxes in PA on our $170,000 house - $3200.
Taxes in Vegas on $230,000 house - $2100.
Electric rates are 40% lower than in PA.
The water rates are about 1/8 of PA rates, despite very real water shortage
in Vegas. In PA we never watered the grass but paid $13-16 per month for
water. In Vegas with water for desert landscaping in front yard (we haven't
landscaped the back) we pay only $7-8 per month for water on average. Part of
saving may be due to less dishwashing because we eat out a lot, but we also shower
more due to warmer weather.
Cable rates - same.
Sewer taxes - $250 a year PA, $172 year Vegas
Phone rates - way less for "unlimited metro area" - of course metro area in
Vegas is way smaller.
Trash pickup - $73 for 3 mo in PA; $33 for 3 mo in Vegas
Food - I would say it is about the same in the grocery in both places,
however Vegas has higher sales tax and it is on more items, resulting in higher
total weekly bill.
Food in Restaurants - much cheaper in Vegas with large portions.
Taxes - No State Income Tax.
Sales Tax in NV is 8% (was 6% in Vegas)
Heating bills - much lower in Vegas; Air conditioning in summer higher in
Vegas -- but due to lower electric rates and warmer winter in Vegas, our total
bill for electricity + heating is lower per year in Vegas than in PA. Part of
electric saving may be due to less cooking of dinner meals since we eat out so
much more.
House maintenance - less rain and no snow = no gutters and generally less
exterior house maintenance. We have desert landscaping so have low water bill
and no grass to cut.
Tipping - much higher because we are eating out a lot more - though meals are
"free" we have to tip.
Car costs - sorry I don't know - we don't drive.
Bus costs - much cheaper in Vegas than in PA, plus much better service.
Monthly bus passes and tokens and discount rates for Seniors really lower public
transportation costs.
Extra expenses - Gambling - we gamble more now.
Bonuses - More free movie tickets and free shows and meals out. Lots of free
t-shirts and jackets.
Advice for people building a house - put in maximum insulation and get high
efficiency air conditioning unit.
Article on moving to Las Vegas can be found at my website -
members.aol.com/Gambling E (no www)
···
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By the way, my Science Fiction novel "Pacifica" authored with SF author John
Betancourt is now available for download as an E-book for PC, Palm, Franklin
E-book, etc. Cost is $5.94, less for Fictionwise club members. Direct link
is: http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/mw?t=book&bi=1746&id=17329
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