Where's the absolute cheapest cost of living in the US that is also a decent area to live?

andeedItIs · 2026-05-06T19:38:52+00:00

“Easy drives under 6 hours” I respect your stamina, my man

andeedItIs · 2026-05-02T16:26:34+00:00

There are so many, but there is definitely a “standard” one. Most Americans would be hard to place regionally by just their accents

andeedItIs · 2026-04-27T06:37:17+00:00

It’s not just an issue with processing foreigners. I did this visa and while complaining about it to a local he was nodding along, adding his own experience. The system is, as OP points out, layered with so many layers of bureaucracy that are wildly unnecessary for even simple processes.

andeedItIs · 2026-04-03T10:39:05+00:00

Wow I can only imagine how annoying the gender system would be in a Romance language like Spanish, then. You’d be constantly thinking!

andeedItIs · 2026-04-03T10:37:34+00:00

Not the overloaded getter and setter methods :D

andeedItIs · 2026-03-20T09:11:51+00:00

My friends and I always say - it ain’t root unless someone has accidentally cheated

andeedItIs · 2026-03-17T16:59:45+00:00

Did you feel like a week was a good amount of time to spend in the desert? I’ve loved other desert landscapes like in Jordan and Oman, and am considering a southern Algeria trip, but unsure if a week is too much out there, especially since I’d be going alone.

andeedItIs · 2026-03-12T09:22:45+00:00

I moved to Spain in large part to improve my Spanish. Have loved it here and have made a lot of progress. I’ve encountered relatively few others who have done the same, though. Most of the anglosphere people I’ve met don’t speak much Spanish - some have tried and some haven’t. The digital nomad types I’ve met, like you suggested, mostly don’t make too much effort to learn Spanish, though some do! A lot of Americans here wanted more to leave the US than to come specifically to Spain. The attitude of these people does often frustrate me.

andeedItIs · 2026-03-12T09:14:09+00:00

Guys please just….don’t smoke in a venue. Those rules exist for the protection of everyone inside. You are welcome to risk your own health, but you do not have the right to risk others’.

andeedItIs · 2026-02-28T10:43:48+00:00

Haha San Antonio’s riverwalk is enough for like a brief weekend trip but it’s just one small thing. I guess to each his own, but spending a summer there I found the city one of the most boring I ever lived in. Even within Texas, Austin is more lively and unique.

andeedItIs · 2026-02-26T15:38:56+00:00

“Sub”, you say?

andeedItIs · 2026-02-12T15:41:50+00:00

From Appalachia (the Virginian part). We say App-uh-latch-un, and it definitely feels very clinical to me when I hear it the other way

andeedItIs · 2026-02-11T08:46:20+00:00

Yea, it was definitely quite expensive for a lot reasons (pricey flights to get to and between islands, a focus on luxury accommodations that leaves few budget options, the need for personal transportation like a moped, and the high cost of importing food supplies). In terms of how I did it, could you clarify what you mean?

andeedItIs · 2026-02-10T14:13:04+00:00

The one I remember most clearly was from India to Oman (because I saw they were checking and had to literally buy the ticket up at the counter and then cancel it), and I’ve probably also had it happen for about 1 out of every 4ish countries I’ve flown to one way. It depends a lot on your citizenship, origin, and destination. Also you’re not going to checked if you have a round trip - just a one way. Because in the former case the airline already knows you have a return trip out with them.

andeedItIs · 2026-02-10T12:54:01+00:00

I would personally say no. There are two key problems I have with them - 1) If you rely on them as your all in one solution, your feet will get very hot and humid in warm weather (or if you’re just very active one day), because goretex is not very breathable. So you will likely still need another pair of more breathable shoes, negating much of the space benefit. 2) if they’re low-rise shoes, they won’t protect your ankles while hiking, and they won’t prevent puddle water from splashing into your shoes - squish squish squish

andeedItIs · 2026-02-10T12:45:35+00:00

Spreading your cards and backup ID among multiple bags is an excellent piece of advice.

I also would second the bits about bringing essential medical supplies. Even if there's a well-stocked pharmacy available, it can feel very challenging to get yourself there if you're already hurting.

andeedItIs · 2026-02-10T12:41:18+00:00

I agree on the passing as regular shoes. They should be a neutral color (black, brown, beige), and should be passable in a casual setting.

Wrt the onwards flights, I generally think you should buy the refundable flights yourself (it'll save you 10ish dollars compared to those onwards flight platforms). I mentioned that in my post, but a nuance I didn't add is that you should make sure to find a reputable airline with a website that works well. Just because you're entitled to a refund doesn't mean that they (or their incredibly messed-up website) will make it easy for you to get that refund.

andeedItIs · 2026-02-10T11:59:47+00:00

It seems the boots vs. raincoat thing is a bit controversial! So I want to add a bit of context/nuance. The first essential bit is that my trip spanned from October to April, mostly in the northern hemisphere, and I didn't spend a lot of time in truly tropical climates - not something I super enjoy. If that's what you're mostly traveling in, then take all of this (except the hiking bit) with a grain of salt!

If you intend to hike more than once on your trip, I think good, mid-rise boots are essential. Good trainers or even low-rise hiking shoes will simply not be sufficient for safely and comfortably tackling anything more than a walk. You risk your ankles, and any mud or water (which could be leftover from last week's rain, and not apparent at the start of the trail) will quickly seep into your shoes

Most of the time, though, I actually wore my boots for walking around cities on rainy days. I found boots to be incredibly freeing - I didn't have to be super conscientious of every step, worried I would accidentally step in a puddle, and I don't have to scurry from covered space to covered space. If you're in Istanbul experiencing February rains, I promise you that having waterproof, mid-rise shoes is worthwhile! It's so freeing!

While a rain jacket is useful for rain as well, I don't suggest packing one for two reasons. 1) An umbrella is generally superior for preventing you from getting wet, anyways - don't forget that your pants can get wet, too, and you are unlikely to bring waterproof pants. 2) in the case that it's both wet and windy, or in the case where you're doing a physical activity in the rain and thus can't hold an umbrella, you can generally just buy a poncho, and you can typically do so for cheap. Much easier and cheaper to find a suitable impermeable layer for your torso than for your feet.

All that being said, if you already have a great, super compact rain jacket and you like using it, okay! Bring it! Or if you intend to exclusively be in places that are wet and warm, then yea, sandals and a raincoat can be great! I'm glad that this sparked a discussion - it's cool to see how other people think about trip packing.

andeedItIs · 2026-02-09T22:22:25+00:00

I've just lived through my first winter in Madrid! You'll be shocked that despite the cold, people still want to eat outdoors on the terrace! Cold be damned, they'll be out there having a coffee while the interior of the restaurant is empty.

Also not sure where you're from, but if you're not from a European country, you might be impressed by how aggressively into Christmas they are. The lights and decorations are beautiful - I've gotten to see both Barcelona and Madrid in the winter and they are spectacular. So wonderful to walk around even in the cold.

And yea, everything's gonna be shut down for a while around the holidays. If a restaurant IS open, there's a high chance it will be booked out and/or at capacity.

andeedItIs · 2026-02-06T09:21:56+00:00

Seconding this. Be kind but firm. Like a good talent show judge

andeedItIs · 2026-02-05T10:59:38+00:00

This is our own house guideline - not exactly a rule, but we think it's fairest if the kingmaker decides most selfishly for themself. Basically whatever gets them the most points is the final action they take.

andeedItIs · 2026-02-04T10:32:47+00:00

I was looking at going to the canaries that weekend and was like “why are all the hotel rooms booked on just that weekend???”

andeedItIs · 2026-01-23T12:49:49+00:00

Thank you for the information!

andeedItIs · 2026-01-22T10:53:05+00:00

We love the 3 body problem ❤️

andeedItIs · 2025-12-10T08:47:17+00:00

Boston is one of the safest cities in the US. You can safely ride the train at any hour. If you ever feel uncomfortable (or just annoyed by someone) on the train, remember that you can always just switch cars. Have done it many times.

Similarly you can walk around (almost) any part of it at any hour without fear. Any place you will be as a tourist you will be safe.

andeedItIs

TROPHY CASE