Budgeting you Money when you live in an Expensive City

The cost of living in a city increases almost everyday. With just the average rent of a two room New York City apartment costing more than $4,000, no wonder more people than ever are budgeting their money and looking for more inexpensive ways to live. Cities become even more expensive if you are traveling to locations around the city that you need to get transportation to. The cost of a cab can become very expensive if you are sitting in traffic, but by owning a car in the city it can be just as expensive with the high costs of gasoline and the amount of traffic in the city.

One way that people all over the country who live in the city are budgeting their money is by taking public transportation. Public transportation is available in every city whether it is through train, boat, or through riding an underground subway. You can buy relatively low weekly passes to all public transportation in the city, and the great part about it is that it virtually pays for itself because when you live in the city, you virtually have to travel to get anywhere. With more and more people migrating to live in the city public transportation is becoming much more accepted than it once was, and besides it saving money it also helps the environment by cutting down on the huge carbon footprint that cities put on the environment. There is no better time than now to begin using public transportation.

Another way people can use Budgeting as a tool to live in an expensive city is by shopping at fruit markets and at thrift shops. The costs of clothing and goods there are much lower there than at expensive stores. Also, with new trends moving towards vintage clothing there is no time like the present to being shopping at thrift shops and vintage clothing stores. As far as buying groceries and fruit it is also much more inexpensive shopping on the side of the road, most of the groceries there are farmed right outside the city which is the reason why they are so inexpensive. Just make sure to carefully check out the location that you are purchasing the goods from before buying them just to make sure it is safe.

Many people who live in the city live above or right next to a pizza place or a restaurant. This is one of the ways that people spend the most money while living in the city. They cave in to how easy it is to just walk downstairs and grab food instead of cooking a meal for themselves. There are many advantages to cooking for yourself at home in a city. The first one is it will help while budgeting your money, but it is also make your diet much healthier by cooking instead of ordering takeout every night.

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Most Expensive Cities to Live in

While some people may be looking for some of the most affordable areas, others may be tempted by pricier metropolitan areas. There are plenty of places around the country that are considered expensive to live in for the average person, but some of these cities may be perfect fits for you, as they are often centers for commerce and culture. Keep in mind that just because the city is one of the more expensive to live in, you may not have to price it out of your budget. There could be deals lying around that make it possible to bring your moving boxes to one of these places.

New York City
The Big Apple is thought of by many as an expensive city, and living costs can be higher than most other places. Much of this is due to the high cost of living in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. An average home in Manhattan costs more than $1.3 million, according to the Cost of Living Index from ACCRA. Brooklyn is just under $1 million, while Queens is higher than $630,000. If you are planning to get a haircut in one of these three boroughs, you could be spending around $20.

Boston
While not as expensive as New York City, Boston can still be a high-cost place to live. A haircut in the city averages more than $15, according to the Cost of Living Index from ACCRA. Also, the median home price in the city is nearly $460,000. Despite this, there are still affordable sections of town, and renting is popular among many in the city. Areas such as Dorchester and Allston may be good spots for those who plan to rent, but don't want to break the bank.

San Francisco
The Silicon Valley area is a world center for the tech industry, and this has made it quite popular for many people to move to the area. One city that has seen an influx of interest is San Francisco, and this shows up in the local home prices. The median home sales price in the city is more than $746,000, according to Zillow. This can make some areas of the city quite expensive. The demand is high to move to this city, and much of the same is true for nearby areas such as San Jose.

Honolulu
This may not be as much of a surprise as some of the other cities on the list, but it can be quite pricey to live in Honolulu. The capital of Hawaii is one of the more expensive cities in the country, and despite major issues during the economic downturn, home prices remain elevated. It can cost more than $430,000 for a home in the city, according to Zillow. However, the high price of living in the city has a good trade-off, as it is quite temperate in Hawaii, and there is always plenty to do.

Washington, D.C.
The nation's capital is also a city with a high cost of living. Those who live in the District deal with prices similar to parts of New York City and Boston. The average haircut will set you back more than $16, according to the Cost of Living Index from ACCRA. Home prices approach a median of $750,000 in this area, as well. Like many of the cities on this list, renting is a popular option for some, which can be a good way to better afford the city. There are also many places outside of the city that are not as pricey, and commuting is possible.

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