[cartercotton91434]

The listing photos are not the lifestyle. separate the monthly budget from the arrival budget. The monthly budget has housing, cars, childcare, utilities, insurance, and activities. The arrival budget has deposits, furniture, movers, repairs, hotel nights, and all the annoying things nobody posts on Instagram. In Seattle & Bellevue, no AC in older homes and Eastside commute are the two categories I would not underestimate. A move can still be financially smart and still feel expensive during the first six months. Coming from Fremont, California, the comparison was never one clean upgrade or downgrade. Some things improved, some got harder, and different family members adjusted at different speeds. That mixed feeling is normal.

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