I’ve lived here for years and years and I’m sure you’ve all seen rent and food prices going up, now sure, that’s a country wide thing but Illinois has one of the highest tax rates in the country. Me and my girlfriend are just trying to get our lives together and even while working a stable, okay paying job were struggling a lot. Does anyone who has been in a similar situation know if there’s a state not too far away that would be better for us? My girlfriend is trying to get into the theater management business so closer to an urban area is better but I have no such restrictions.
Any help is appreciated
Illinois is literally surrounded by cheaper states. Louisville, KY, St. Louis, MO, Evansville, IN are urban areas nearby that regularly make national “Best Cost Of Living vs Quality of Life” lists
Might look into those, we were also looking at Wisconsin but we’re not sure yet
Most people that I have known that have left the state had a rude awakening about taxes in other places. Unfortunately though illinois has a very regressive tax structure so the less you make the more it might be better to go someplace else. Overall though we have low income tax outside of states that have none because its flat. I don’t know anyone who has had a successful move who did not have a job lined up that made the move sensible. Everyone I know who tried moving and finding a job in the lower cost area because its to expensive here has come back.
One thing people never count on is all the stuff your taxes pay for, that you end up paying for in other ways. Things like trash collection, sewer, water, library services, snow plows, etc. You move away and either you pay yourself or you do without.
Wait, Where are you living in Illinois that you don’t have to pay for those things? I have to pay separately for all those services except snow plow.
some have item taxes to like your television and car and such.
There are plenty of nearby states that qualify, the problem is most of them are not politically viable if you’ve lived in Illinois for years. I landed here because western Indiana was just too MAGA for me, for example. Indiana is a lovely state, and I’d gotten quite used to calling it home and tolerating the morons rolling coal and such. But then the pandemic hit, and every time I tried to wear a mask in public someone managed to make a big deal out of it.
Honestly? Not a deal breaker, I love pissing off maga hats, and working in customer service for years? Telling entitled folk to suck it is my life blood.
Besides, my vote is still my vote, no one can take that away
Nice. Then I would highly rec Vigo County, IN. Col is very low, esp rent. Fiber available in a surprisingly large footprint and not just on major streets for biz.
Will DM a couple WFH pos that I know exist or will fairly soon. Lots of hiring on interesting/unique factors candidate brings to table, very little hiring based on degrees/years experience, at that level.
Was first time I ever felt like someone was actively listening to my interview answers and paying attn and I’ve been working 25 years.
Just move to a rural area, any city is going to be similar.
Food and housing prices aren’t based on anything besides what people will pay. In a state with high taxes, people can pay less, so prices are lower.
State to state doesn’t matter near as much as urban or rural.
Like I said my girlfriend is in theater Management, so if there isn’t a venue nearby she can work at, we basically lose half our income
The main part is we both want out of this state, rural is an option but not in illinois
Right…
That’s why city’s are expensive, that’s where a lot of jobs are…
The main part is we both want out of this state, rural is an option but not in illinois
Then that’s what you should have said. Michigan/Wisconsin would probably be your best bet that’s close, but without knowing anything about you besides your girlfriend is in theater management and you don’t like taxes…
You’re probably not going to get many recommendations that would be more tailored to you than just googling it yourself.
Asking where is a good place to move isn’t some rare question no one is asking. Hell, there’s multiple annual rankings that gather real world data, and some that even focus on the Midwest.
That would be where you should start.
I literally wrote it in the title my man, and yeah I’m aware of Google. I prefer community opinions and so that’s what I search for, no need to get salty
