Ask HN: Cheap places to live with a good intellectual atmosphere?
25 comments
College towns. Usually little dots in the countryside. In the town it’s more expensive (relative to the surrounding area). Then drops off precipitously very quickly. Generally they have the amenities of larger places in a more remote setting at a lower cost.
In late 2020 I left the US (San Francisco) and relocated to Italy. Given the Covid-19 situation, it's a bit hard to determine whether this will be my final destination; however, I'm quite happy with the move so far.
Compared to the same post from 2018, the main difference is of course the Covid-19 situation.
It would be interesting to hear from other HNers what their experience has been, in light of that.
Compared to the same post from 2018, the main difference is of course the Covid-19 situation.
It would be interesting to hear from other HNers what their experience has been, in light of that.
Where in Italy? How have your experience been despite covid?
I think this is quite a broad question as different places exhibits intellectuall prowess for niche things . Depends on the type of knowledge you're seeking or willing to be around . Additional information will help you get better answers
Buenos Aires
Considering almost everything is canceled or remote now, maybe anywhere can have an intellectual atmosphere through virtual experiences.
I didn't vote either way. Virtual sex and virtual coffee don't sound appealing.
But given the alternative, could it be better than nothing? For example, how many guys look at porn if they don't have a girlfriend?
You can have all of the porn, meanwhile...
Research Triangle in NC. Cheaper parts of Northern Virginia.
RTP? Weather? And how about them critters, do you have any appendages remaining after the mosquitoes devoured them?
I grew up in Durham. Nice weather most of the year, although the summers are hot. Mosquitos are annoying, although you get used to them.
The place has a lot to be said for it. Several outstanding universities, a bunch of really great restaurants, a fair amount of culture (e.g. I learned to swing dance there, and they would get like 200 people at their dances, which were always super fun), and a high amount of intellectual stuff going on.
The two downsides, from my point of view: (1) It is very suburban, for the most part you have to get everywhere by car. (2) A bit too laid back for my taste, I enjoy the vibe more in places like Boston or Chicago. But both of these are plusses for many.
The place has a lot to be said for it. Several outstanding universities, a bunch of really great restaurants, a fair amount of culture (e.g. I learned to swing dance there, and they would get like 200 people at their dances, which were always super fun), and a high amount of intellectual stuff going on.
The two downsides, from my point of view: (1) It is very suburban, for the most part you have to get everywhere by car. (2) A bit too laid back for my taste, I enjoy the vibe more in places like Boston or Chicago. But both of these are plusses for many.
20+ years in the RTP area, born and grew up elsewhere in North Carolina. Summer weather from July to September is just terrible. Hot, humid, and mostly unrelenting. Excellent time to go elsewhere.
The rest of the year is often beautiful.
I don't think any of the RTP area is very cheap though. Especially if you have kids and get picky about school districts.
Mosquitoes can be bad but honestly are much worse at dusk than any other time. That said, my kids have done outdoor summer camps locally and bug spray is often the second item mentioned after sunscreen in the "don't forget" lists.
The rest of the year is often beautiful.
I don't think any of the RTP area is very cheap though. Especially if you have kids and get picky about school districts.
Mosquitoes can be bad but honestly are much worse at dusk than any other time. That said, my kids have done outdoor summer camps locally and bug spray is often the second item mentioned after sunscreen in the "don't forget" lists.
The mosquitos in that area are not terrible (lived there for 4 years), if you think they're bad visit some of the northern states in the summer or south Georgia throughout the year. The summer suffered from the end of July into August with high humidity and higher (but not high) temperatures. But outside of that brief period, the weather was pretty nice. The winters are relatively mild with occasional bad snow/ice storms but you don't spend the whole winter in heavy coat and boots.
Sounds like periodic escape is necessary for optimum climate: Southern inverse snowbird (Sweatbird?)
I'll take 2-3 months of heat & humidity to only 2-3 months of nice weather (in PA)
Mexico City/Coyoacan
10 years ago, there was a case to be made for Austin, TX really fitting this bill.
However now with so many moving there from other parts of the country, it's gotten crowded and more expensive. I would no longer consider it "cheap".
However now with so many moving there from other parts of the country, it's gotten crowded and more expensive. I would no longer consider it "cheap".
I already made that mistake.
My ATX apartment complex downtown is full of introverted, fearful-avoidant, superficial, dishonest, littering, smoking, experience-devoid, ignorant/uneducated, maskless, yuppies / salespeople / "pretty people." There are a few, token chip-on-their-shoulder, elitist SJWs who believe they're entitled and special too, but they're mostly harmless. It's the general uncoolness that reeks from the tops of the buildings down to the sewers and below. Or it's the dribbles, puddles, and lines of puppy piss from the idiots who don't clean up after their shitting and peeing monsters that they let loose on the hallways rather than take the cookie-cutter mongrels out at regular intervals. It could be the stolen Whole Food carts that clog the hallways, but I don't think they smell that bad, although it does make the place look like a Section 8 flophouse.
The only legit cool people, sorry, person, I've met is a teenager brother from the top floor from the other side of the building. Everyone else is just worthless: immediate upstairs neighbor is an absolute sniveling, spineless, sociopathic, control-freak cretin.. complaining about my music in the middle of the damn day on the weekend, I just turned and shut the door in his stupid face, and cranked it louder.
I would like to move somewhere else ASAP. San Marcos looks cool but I don't exactly call it intellectual.
I prefer somewhere intellectual, socialist, cheaper, and cool, without as much squareness, anti-intellectualism, or academia. Colorado Springs, possibly, but it didn't have time to investigate it thoroughly. I only pray to the various gods that uncool people become flammable so that a lighter can let their god sort them out in heaven, way the fuck away from me.
Santa Fe is chill but not exactly inexpensive or intellectual.
My ATX apartment complex downtown is full of introverted, fearful-avoidant, superficial, dishonest, littering, smoking, experience-devoid, ignorant/uneducated, maskless, yuppies / salespeople / "pretty people." There are a few, token chip-on-their-shoulder, elitist SJWs who believe they're entitled and special too, but they're mostly harmless. It's the general uncoolness that reeks from the tops of the buildings down to the sewers and below. Or it's the dribbles, puddles, and lines of puppy piss from the idiots who don't clean up after their shitting and peeing monsters that they let loose on the hallways rather than take the cookie-cutter mongrels out at regular intervals. It could be the stolen Whole Food carts that clog the hallways, but I don't think they smell that bad, although it does make the place look like a Section 8 flophouse.
The only legit cool people, sorry, person, I've met is a teenager brother from the top floor from the other side of the building. Everyone else is just worthless: immediate upstairs neighbor is an absolute sniveling, spineless, sociopathic, control-freak cretin.. complaining about my music in the middle of the damn day on the weekend, I just turned and shut the door in his stupid face, and cranked it louder.
I would like to move somewhere else ASAP. San Marcos looks cool but I don't exactly call it intellectual.
I prefer somewhere intellectual, socialist, cheaper, and cool, without as much squareness, anti-intellectualism, or academia. Colorado Springs, possibly, but it didn't have time to investigate it thoroughly. I only pray to the various gods that uncool people become flammable so that a lighter can let their god sort them out in heaven, way the fuck away from me.
Santa Fe is chill but not exactly inexpensive or intellectual.
I sure hope you won't move where I live...
I find the description of Colorado Springs as socialist or cheaper odd. Maybe not a recent experience with it? The culture is very libertarian/right-leaning and heavily Evangelical Christian, though perhaps not as pervasive as in the US South. That Focus on the Family is headquartered here means that that shouldn't come as a surprise, along with the heavy military presence in the area (Schriever, Peterson, Cheyenne, USAFA, etc.) and a lot of retired military which brings back a generally more conservative and Christian culture. With respect to costs, housing prices are going up like crazy. In one year my home has gone up by nearly 20% in "value" (obvious sign of a bubble to me, maybe I can profit off of it if it lasts long enough). It's also becoming increasingly suburban as the population grows and ranches sell off to become housing developments.
Everywhere you go, there you are.
If you don't mind US small towns and rural life, there are many lovely college towns dotted around upstate New York, Vermont, and Maine that are cheap. And I'm sure there's plenty more across the South, Midwest and Great North.
Mexico City is also definitely a contender - amazing creative energy there.
It really depends on what you mean by "intellectual," I think.
Mexico City is also definitely a contender - amazing creative energy there.
It really depends on what you mean by "intellectual," I think.
[0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18164189