Small Craftsman Cottage in a bedroom community nearby: $611/month (mortgage)

Gas $160/month to travel 40 miles roundtrip per day for work

Electricity $120/month (includes water and trash pickup)

Food-Nice meal out $20, good meal $10, cheap meal $5. Groceries cost about $300/month.

Cable is $50 for median service

Living in the main city isn't really that more money, but I could never have gotten a home of my own with 5 city lots for 85k. The same house in Gainesville would cost $150k.