We seriously contemplated moving several years ago and looked into mid-Atlantic states or further north in New England. We’ve lived in many states, including one with supposedly great tax benefits in retirement, but terrible quality of life regarding services, overdevelopment and infrastructure. And the people are nasty. And I can say that because it used to be my childhood home. Couldn’t pay me to return!

We were quickly dissuaded from a move anywhere else when we tallied up all the trade offs, most of which can’t be quantified so easily in $ on a spreadsheet (forgoing a blue state, quality of our local town, library, community amenities, natural setting, healthcare, etc). A real estate commission alone to sell our home would immediately wipe out a good chunk of property tax savings over a decade or so by going to a smaller home elsewhere. That new place would then likely have other costs we’re not paying for now, like water/sewer, HA fees or big school district taxes or other fees. The less expensive places also had egregious zoning, potential fracking and mining issues and their own share of onerous problems.

The only way it would make a huge savings for us - considering money over all other criteria - is to go even more rural, smaller, off grid, and take our chances on never needing ongoing medical care or a nearby grocery/post office, or maybe just leaving the country. I suppose it’s our Plan B or C if things get more dire.

For now, we’ve simply cut way back on everything (even pre pandemic) but still have our home life minus stuff we didn’t need anyway, and don’t suffer the upheaval of another move. Really weigh at the factors you’d be giving up that money can’t buy in the other cheaper place. I’ve had a lot more money, and not, and found that my wellbeing ended up better when living frugally in the right place.