ATOT Detroiters

MBrown

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
5,726
35
91
I just got a job offer with FMC and I am looking at the potential living expenses. I have a few questions.

What sort of area would 1k monthly rent put me in? Good or bad?
What sort of car insurance are you guys paying?
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,448
262
126
It is pretty cheap here unless you want to live downtown. But FMC has most of their building in Dearborn... is that where you're working?

If so, you can get plenty of cheaper housing near there. If you want nice you have to go out a ways.

Overall the housing can range from cheap & ghetto to really nice & over priced, but the cost of goods and 6% tax rate ain't all that bad.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
I lived in Troy/Clawson and loved it. Rent was not bad at all and I was close to all the major stuff.
 

MBrown

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
5,726
35
91
It is pretty cheap here unless you want to live downtown. But FMC has most of their building in Dearborn... is that where you're working?

If so, you can get plenty of cheaper housing near there. If you want nice you have to go out a ways.

Overall the housing can range from cheap & ghetto to really nice & over priced, but the cost of goods and 6% tax rate ain't all that bad.

Yes my job is in Dearborn.
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,448
262
126
As far as $1k/mo, you're looking at areas closely surrounding Detroit and about 1000sqft unless you want an apartment or condo. If you go a little higher (~$1200-$1500) you can get some nice condos about 20-25mins from Detroit.
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,448
262
126
I lived in Troy/Clawson and loved it. Rent was not bad at all and I was close to all the major stuff.

Troy is pretty nice (north of 15mi), but not an ideal commute to Dearborn (personally... at least 30mins prob). You may find the tradeoffs worth it though.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Car insurance is very high here. In 2012 we were ranked third highest in the nation. Choose where you decide to live carefully. Decide how long a commute you want and then ask here about specific areas.
 
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rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Troy is pretty nice (north of 15mi), but not an ideal commute to Dearborn (personally... at least 30mins prob). You may find the tradeoffs worth it though.

Everything is 30 mins over there. Which makes no sense because you do 90 on the freeway?!

Want to go downtown? 30 minutes. Want to go Downriver? 30 minutes. Want to go to Meijer 2 miles away? 30 minutes. I never did figure it out.
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,448
262
126
Car insurance is very high here. In 2012 we were ranked third highest in the nation. Choose where you decide to live carefully. Decide how long a commute you want and then ask here about specific areas.

This is true. I moved a lot closer and my car insurance went way up... like $800/yr (3 vehicles). But the gas / time savings surpassed the increase.
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
How far are you commuting now? What are you comfortable with? How old are you?

If you're hoping to be around a younger crowd, you can easily live in Royal Oak or Ferndale so long as you're good with the 30-45 minute commute.

Downtown Detroit is offering more options every week but you'd be eating out constantly unless you want to drive 30 minutes for groceries or shop at the one Whole Foods downtown. That said, I have a few friends who live down there and there's always something going on.

And yes, as rude guy pointed out, Mexicantown is pretty fucking awesome. :) Lots of Middle Eastern, Mexican, Italian, and Polish ethnic food around here. A few asian places spread throughout the suburbs.
 

MBrown

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
5,726
35
91
How far are you commuting now? What are you comfortable with? How old are you?

If you're hoping to be around a younger crowd, you can easily live in Royal Oak or Ferndale so long as you're good with the 30-45 minute commute.

Downtown Detroit is offering more options every week but you'd be eating out constantly unless you want to drive 30 minutes for groceries or shop at the one Whole Foods downtown. That said, I have a few friends who live down there and there's always something going on.

And yes, as rude guy pointed out, Mexicantown is pretty fucking awesome. :) Lots of Middle Eastern, Mexican, Italian, and Polish ethnic food around here. A few asian places spread throughout the suburbs.

28. Commute is fine with me.
 

midwestfisherman

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2003
3,564
8
81
$1000 per month rent will get you into pretty good digs here. I'd live as close to Dearborn as you could. Traffic in that area sucks.

As far as car insurance, it's definitely higher here in MI. I pay $233 per month for 2 vehicles (full coverage).
 

Jay5

Senior member
Jan 28, 2013
225
0
0
i wouldnt know why anyone would voluntarily move to detroit after the news of the city being bankrupt and it taking 60 minutes to respond to 911 calls,i hope your life insurance is pretty good
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
I'm 25 miles north of downtown and pay $260 for three cars, all full coverage.

$1000 will get you in a lot of places. It really depends on what kind of atmosphere you want to live in.
 

rednas

Senior member
May 26, 2010
298
0
76
i wouldnt know why anyone would voluntarily move to detroit after the news of the city being bankrupt and it taking 60 minutes to respond to 911 calls,i hope your life insurance is pretty good

over 700k people still live in the city of Detroit it cannot be that bad. News loves to sensationalize anything and everything. When I was looking to leave California a year ago Detroit was on my short list of places to move. Had I got a good offer from the area I would have moved there instead of Houston.