A homeowner in Fairfield County, Connecticut, posted a question on Reddit asking if anyone had moved to a lower cost-of-living state and regretted it. The original poster described living in a $1.2 million home with a $900 monthly heating bill and $3,500 in annual home insurance costs.
Many responses warned that cheaper does not always mean better. One top comment stated, "Low COL [states] are low COL for a reason." Another person wrote, "Absolutely. From SoCal to TX. Don't recommend it," adding, "I don’t miss the state per se, I miss the outdoor, diverse lifestyle and open-minded community. Tx is nothing to get excited about." A different user reported, "Moved from DC to Maryland and save almost 6% annually on income taxes alone. Do it."
Healthcare emerged as a significant concern. One individual who moved to Idaho said they had to be medically flown to Phoenix after a brain tumor diagnosis, stating, "I’ll never take access to top hospitals for granted again." Another warned, "I know two people that moved to low cost areas and died of treatable issues because the wait for emergency care was too long."
Others expressed regret over cultural and social changes. A person who left California for Tennessee said, "People here do not have any interest in people from the outside. Most got married at 21 and popped out kids. The hatred for being an outsider increased after COVID."
Even affordability had caveats. One person who moved to a rural area noted, "Our house/land is cheaper, but our car insurance skyrocketed because there are so many accidents. We also have to drive further to go anywhere, so more gas and auto maintenance."
Some shared positive experiences, particularly those who kept high-paying remote jobs. One person said, "Moved from NYC to Tampa in 2013. I’m a multimillionaire now because of real estate." Another found balance in a medium-cost area, writing, "I live in South Jersey outside Philadelphia. I probably pay a fraction of what OP does but still have most of the conveniences and access for big events."
The discussion highlighted that moving to a cheaper state might reduce bills but can involve unexpected sacrifices. As one participant remarked, "Like so many things in life, you get what you pay for."