Cheapest Place to Live on the Coast in the United States

Aerial view of coastal city.

Soothing sea breezes and the serenity of the sound of ocean tides beckon many to take up dwelling in coastal towns and cities throughout the United States. While finding an affordable place to live on the coast is not impossible; as a general rule, there is no such thing as "cheap" coastal soil in which to plant your roots. Your perspective, living standards and a number of factors determine whether a place on the coast is cheap.

Defining Cheap

Cheap is a relative term. If you are loaded financially, a nice Spanish Colonial, perched on a cliff with panoramic views of the Pacific in the posh community of La Jolla, north of San Diego, is a deal at a median home cost of more than $1.4 million, as of 2009. A modest home in Lubec, Maine, on the rugged Eastern Seaboard at a median home value of $88,550 is more likely within reach of the vast majority.

Factors

Wages, unemployment rate, cost of insurance, taxes and utility costs are factors to consider when determining if a coastal location is an affordable place to live. For example, Wilmington, North Carolina, has a total retail tax of 7.75 percent, and real estate and personal property taxes are calculated at $0.3325 (per $100 valuation), according to the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

Comparisons

Charleston, South Carolina, and the South Texas coastal town of Corpus Christi run just about neck and neck when it comes to being some of the more affordable coastal areas in which to live. The average home cost in Charleston Metro is about $266,000, compared with Corpus Christi's average home values at $230,000. There is about a $100 difference in rent averages and food costs appear to be lower in Corpus Christi. However, energy costs are higher in Charleston.

Pacific Northwest Region

Mukilteo, Washington, made CNNMoney's Top 10 Best Places in 2009. With a population of a little more than 20,000, this west coast town has a median family income of $107,097 and average home costs of $422,400, which, relatively speaking, is cheap for a place on the coast.

Living in Florida

According to the "U.S. News and World Report" article "Best Places to Live 2009," by Luke Mullins, the historical city of St. Augustine, Florida, takes the ninth position as one of the top 10 best places to live. The list was based on strong economy, low cost of living and fun things to do. The median home cost is about $230,000. Property taxes are $22.77 (per $1,000 valuation) and the cost of living is about 7.40 percent higher than the United States average.

References

• Wilmington Chamber
• CNNMoney: Best Places to Live
• USNews: Best Places to Live 2009

Resources

• GreatRetirementSpots.com