How’s The Rent in a Galaxy Far, Far Away?
Have you ever been so deeply immersed into the world of a film, TV show or video game that the boundary between fiction and non-fiction begins to fade? Well, thanks to the research done by Hometree, we now have some insight on the reality of living in the fictional worlds we’ve admired on-screen. Hometree calculated the cost of living in a number of popular fictional universes by researching a few essential variables in each location such as food, housing, transport, personal care and entertainment. They then compared the price of each of these necessities to their average price in the United States and United Kingdom today. So start saving up, because based on the monthly cost of living and the required salary, here are the top 5 most expensive fictional places to live!
#5: Guild Wars 2
You may feel ready to join Destiny’s Edge and take on the Elder Dragons in Tyria, but does your wallet? According to Hometree’s article, the price of creating a house with basic utilities in your home instance and tending to personal care, such as hair styling and buying adequate armour, adds up. Thankfully, most meals in the game tend to be rather affordable, making the total cost of living come out to an approximate $3020 per month, meaning you’d have to make a salary of at least $45,000. Would you call this RPG world home?
#4: Springfield – The Simpsons
Don’t blow it all on donuts and Duff’s over in Springfield! With the cost of buying a standard Simpsons house coming close to $370,865 and health care costs being added on, it’s looking like you’d need a minimum salary of $48,000 to support your $3257 monthly cost of living. Not to worry though, as long as you make better decisions than Homer and keep your weekly meals and drinks at Krusty Burger and Moe’s Tavern under control, your medical bills and food spending should be maintainable! If you need a list of what NOT to do in order to save yourself from repair bills and medical appointments, check out the video below for our pick of the Top 10 Worst Things Homer Simpson Ever Did:
#3: Middle Earth – The Lord of The Rings
Whether you decide to shack up with the Hobbits in The Shire, or somewhere on the outskirts of Middle Earth, this fictional universe created by J.R.R Tolkien which you probably recognize from works like “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”, is the third most expensive place to live on our list. The cost increase is mainly due to some steep real estate prices making housing come in at around $1300 per month, probably on account of some competitive wizard, dwarf, elf and hobbit buyers. That being said, the vivid scenery and landscapes that surround this fictional world make saving up the $50,000 salary you’d need worth it. With alcohol, food and transportation courtesy of Bill the Pony remaining rather cheap, this location seems well within reach.
#2: Skyrim – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
This RPG developed by Bethesda Game Studios is the fifth instalment in “The Elder Scrolls” series and has found its success among the gaming community in its open world layout, allowing the player to roam free within the game world rather than sticking to a constrictive linear plot. This has enabled a greater opportunity for exploration of the fictional game universe and its cities, but whether you’d choose to reside in Windhelm, Riften, Whiterun or another city, the general cost would require a salary of no less than $60,000, with monthly spending coming in at close to $3,800. Skyrim becomes expensive when it comes to space heating, which unless you’re one of the Sons of Snow, will take a $214.20 monthly toll on your wallet in the form of firewood. We also suggest embracing the long hair look because according to Hometree, the only hairdresser around is Galathil “The Face Sculptor†who hides in the Ragged Flagon and charges a whopping $1,500 for an appointment!
#1: The Commonwealth – Fallout 4
Although this administrative division of pre-War Massachusetts is not fiction, the depiction of the Commonwealth in the post-apocalyptic and nuclear decimated world of “Fallout 4” is part of its own unique universe. The cost of living in this war stricken area is the highest on our list, with decent, safe-to-eat food being a pricey find and house heating requiring a heavy $1,606.50 a month. Luckily, finding a place to call home won’t break your bank whether you chose to settle down in Diamond City or in housing units such as the Coastal Cottage, Croup Manor and Fairline Hill Estates, a secluded farm or even a low-maintenance junkyard or wreck. The options are endless and if you aren’t scared off by the potential of living in post-apocalyptic solitude or in great distress as a “Sole Survivor”, all you have to do now is save up the required $4000 a month and earn a salary of $60,000!
Don’t worry, if these fictional locations aren’t your style, we’ve got some very real destinations for you to check out in the video below with our pick of the Top 10 Most Expensive Places to Live
11:27
