California cheap isn’t Texas cheap: Geographic arbitrage from a local’s perspective

Originally published on Medium

I’m from Texas, the state other Americans move to for a cheaper life. I’m grateful to to them for teaching me that cheap is relative before I started traveling as an adult.

But before I was thankful, I was kinda annoyed at them. They were so excited about living in Texas on that HCOL area’s income. But California cheap isn’t Texas cheap.

But I like to understand people and I don’t like to stay annoyed. So I logically examined the situation: Times are tough where they’re from. Groceries cost more. Housing costs more. Then they get here and are so excited to stretch that dollar farther into splurge and treat-yourself territory.

I get it. Okay, now I’m happy for them. Seriously. That’s not sarcasm.

But the phrase “That’s so cheap!” about something that a local would think twice about buying, heard over and over again? It grates a budget-conscious soul’s ears. And now I think twice about saying it myself.

And lately, I hear or read this phrase repeatedly in connection to travel. Travelers talk about the “cheap” lodging, food, and entertainment options in countries where the cost of living is lower than their home area.

But cheap is relative. To reflect that idea, I decided to say “I can afford this” or “This is affordable” instead of “That’s so cheap”.

And that’s it.

No big epiphany, just a simple observation about the relativity of cheapness. Thanks for reading.