Not really. You can find one bedrooms for around $650, if you go digging. If you can find a roommate you can do a two or three bedroom and share the rent and get it down to that price. I've got a three bedroom that I'm paying $980 for, but it's in a crap apartment complex. Generally rent is going to be higher in Oregon because of the huge property taxes that we have. But it's offset by the fact that we have no sales tax.

OK thanks, did not know that about the state, will stick with original destination of Fresno, can do it there for $475 to $495 in a 1 bedroom and not have to share with anyone (already had horrible experience with room mates)

Asheville, NC is a rather liberal area inside a conservative State. There is a vacation rental cabin ran by a transwoman, a trans health initiative (clinic), and from what I've heard a decent sized trans population.  I live in a not so trans friendly area of NC and have considered moving to the Mountains just to be near Asheville...but I'm a beach bum. Not sure where I'll end up yet.

Quote from: vegie271 on May 17, 2013, 09:14:53 PM
OK thanks, did not know that about the state, will stick with original destination of Fresno, can do it there for $475 to $495 in a 1 bedroom and not have to share with anyone (already had horrible experience with room mates)

You can get an apartment in Cali for 500 a month without needing a roommate!? I'm in NY and there is no way we could get away with that (well at least in the city and long island, not sure about upstate.  Seriously, that sounds amazing.

Quote from: Simon on May 17, 2013, 09:58:09 PM
Asheville, NC is a rather liberal area inside a conservative State. There is a vacation rental cabin ran by a transwoman, a trans health initiative (clinic), and from what I've heard a decent sized trans population.  I live in a not so trans friendly area of NC and have considered moving to the Mountains just to be near Asheville...but I'm a beach bum. Not sure where I'll end up yet.

No kidding? This surpises the crap out of me. Go for it Simon, I've been to North Carolina and through Asheville several time and I would rather breath that clean mountain air than the salty corrosive air around the water. I may even take a trip and check it out. Asheville would be almost like home where I come from.

Quote from: LearnedHand on May 16, 2013, 09:03:11 PM
I find Boston to be very LGBT friendly, as well as Northampton, MA. Northampton and the surrounding areas are less expensive than Boston. Boston can be expensive, but it's more affordable if you live right outside the city and commute in.

I also hear there's some kind of an LGBT town or community in Vermont. I am not sure how expensive Vermont is, but I have seen some housing guides and some places look really cheap in comparison to MA and RI.

Yeah Northampton! I absolutely love that town. I would move there if I didn't have to go into Boston so often.

Quote from: learningtolive on May 18, 2013, 08:14:51 AM
You can get an apartment in Cali for 500 a month without needing a roommate!? I'm in NY and there is no way we could get away with that (well at least in the city and long island, not sure about upstate.  Seriously, that sounds amazing.

yes right now I am in Bakersfield and paying $475 and I can move to a much nicer place in a low income great place with internet provided even but I hate it in Kern county (if you read my intro you find out why, been here too long already) I have decided to escape! in my current neighborhood I get bullied just for being an out lesbian! There are at least 3 neighborhoods in Fresno where I can rent for about $500 or less

and I just don't feel safe with a room mate

Quote from: vegie271 on May 18, 2013, 01:59:24 PM
yes right now I am in Bakersfield and paying $475 and I can move to a much nicer place in a low income great place with internet provided even but I hate it in Kern county (if you read my intro you find out why, been here too long already) I have decided to escape! in my current neighborhood I get bullied just for being an out lesbian! There are at least 3 neighborhoods in Fresno where I can rent for about $500 or less

and I just don't feel safe with a room mate

Really, I'm surprised it's so cheap there.  But, good for you!  I agree with your sentiments on a roommate.  Yet, if I stay in NY and need my own place, that will likely be my only option.  Where I live you find studios for around 1,000 a month. It's possible to find an unregistered apartment for less, but they're generally aren't much cheaper.  I could move to cheaper areas in the city, but I want to be safe as well.

Quote from: learningtolive on May 18, 2013, 02:19:53 PM
Really, I'm surprised it's so cheap there.  But, good for you!  I agree with your sentiments on a roommate.  Yet, if I stay in NY and need my own place, that will likely be my only option.  Where I live you find studios for around 1,000 a month. It's possible to find an unregistered apartment for less, but they're generally aren't much cheaper.  I could move to cheaper areas in the city, but I want to be safe as well.

Central California is surprisingly cheap compared to the rest of the state, mainly because it's hotter than hell and there's nothing to do here. It's relatively safe and drama-free, though. I live in Fresno and $500 sounds about right for the low end of the price range.

Vegie271: Feel free to PM me if you have questions about Fresno or need anything when you get here. (Don't want to keep derailing this thread with Cali talk since LTL said she wanted to stay on the East Coast.)