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sf_ethan moving

Moving from Pittsburgh to Charleston next month

Hey folks, Rent is about $1,632/month for a decent place. Poverty rate is 6.3%, which is pretty low. Median household income is $90,038, which feels pretty solid for the area. Average temperature is around 67°F, so the weather is moderate. The city has invested a lot in new development. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The weather takes some getting used to. Should I be concerned? Thanks for reading. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
45 upvotes

5 Replies

Austin E.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a teacher who relocated here from Houston about 2 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.

Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
- Diverse dining options

Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Far from beaches/mountains

Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is challenging.

Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Happy to answer more specific questions..
38 upvotes
Thomas Lee
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
15 upvotes
Harper Phillips
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a chef, 55, moved here 10 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Cedar Grove and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The food scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- East: More affordable, family-friendly.

**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.

**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Denver, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$150K here.

**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
14 upvotes
columbus_ava
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
3 upvotes
Santiago P.
Moved here from San Diego about 14 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to job market but Definitely worth checking out..
2 upvotes
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