How much per hour would entice you to move to the boonies?

[headhonchoII]

As a family, you have a lot more concerns. Taipei City is really expensive compared to the rest of the country. You get to live in a crappy run down gongyu, expensive parking if you need a car, no elevator. The best places like Da'an park or Tianmu impossible to live nearby unless you are rolling in cash. You'll never be able to afford to buy a house in Taipei city on a teacher's wages.

Or you could live in the outskirts in a new place with twice the ping,security, parking, garbage disposal for the same or half the price. Or you could live in a house in the countryside with a semblance of nature and fresh air and a yard for the kids. You can actually buy your own house, even if you are a teacher. You can afford to own and run a car which is really handy when you have kids and you can get around the island proper.

[Super Hans]

I agree with HH. The question is reversed for me:

How much per hour would entice me to live in the city?

[Abacus]

I think, if you're married with kids, it could be quite nice not to live in the city. If you're single it's likely to be hell on earth and no amount of money would stop you from losing your mind.

Everyone's situation is different but this sums it up for me. I like visiting the countryside/towns but there is no way that I want to live out there.

[Ducked]

+ 1 for the contra-urban revolution.

I'm sort of in the sticks (though within easy range of Tainan), so a more relevant question for me would be:-

"How much would it take to entice you to live in the Big Smoke?"

The answer, (admittedly based on a single Academica Sinica interview) is:-

"Quite a lot more than I am likely to be offered".

I get paid peanuts, but would need to be paid coconuts (or at least walnuts) to break even in Taipei.

[Belgian Pie]

You're lucky they give 600 ... in the sticks 450 would normal ... after all the parents will overload you with many food stuffs and gifts ...

[Enigma]

Hey Belgium;
I didnt choose. I work for free. Retirement keeps me healed and if I had to go to the boonys, I do it for free and get a free chicken once in a while. Wife unit not withstanding.

[Pingdong]

i took 150 less than normal precisely because I wouldn't live in the city I think this kind of thing is going to depend on people. i drive along mountains, rivers and roads of flame trees and flowers. sometimes i ride on the burm overlooking more mountains and a big river. i can walk and be at a waterfall swimming with no people or roads.

for me, that is worth the loss of 20k a month and the freeing up of a lot of stress and aggravation of driving in cities. Money money, but sometimes we need to take a cut and let our heart sink back down into our chest for a few.

[SillyWilly]

i took 150 less than normal precisely because I wouldn't live in the city I think this kind of thing is going to depend on people. i drive along mountains, rivers and roads of flame trees and flowers. sometimes i ride on the burm overlooking more mountains and a big river. i can walk and be at a waterfall swimming with no people or roads.

for me, that is worth the loss of 20k a month and the freeing up of a lot of stress and aggravation of driving in cities. Money money, but sometimes we need to take a cut and let our heart sink back down into our chest for a few.

You're right. In the end it's up to the individual. The majority of individuals, however, prefer city life to rural life.

[douglas@taichungpaws.org]

I think if you want to entice someone to move from the city to the countryside, you would need to offer other incentives, such as free housing, help with getting a scooter or other form of transportation, free Chinese lessons, or paid vacations. The reason why many foreign residents don't move to the countryside is that they fell isolated and unable to get basic supplies. It's not just about money.