Wow. I think we are going to move to where you came from.
. My monthly expenses here are less than half of what they were in NJ. That is why we moved here. It allows us to save more for retirement.
I guess it all depends on what you are used to. I think part of your problem is that you are far from collecting social security. I could not live here if I did not have my NJ salary. When I retire in a few years we will be fine living on my SS and that of my wife. My savings will be our cushion. I took a little gamble that I will have my current job for at least 3 1/2 more years as I could not live on what they pay around here and would have to move near a big city in another State to afford to live comfortably. Lost half of my retirement money in last two recessions.