[Grammar] The cost of living in Vienna is so reasonable

[yi-ing]

Could you please check this sentence? I have problem connecting ideas with "not only ... but also".

The cost of living in Vienna is so reasonable that I can afford to pay it, although not only is not my financial situation so high but sometimes I also have financial difficulties.

 

[Raymott]

"Not only ... but also" connects ideas that are either both negative or both positive.
What do you mean by "my financial situation is high"?

 

[emsr2d2]

And we don't "pay the cost of living". You could start with "The cost of living in Vienna is very reasonable so I can afford it ...".

 

[yi-ing]

What do you mean by "my financial situation is high"?

I want to say that my financial situation level is not high. I am neither rich nor poor.
Do you have any better expression?

"Not only ... but also" connects ideas that are either both negative or both positive.

Is this OK? I have problem in the first part of "not only" .

The cost of living in Vienna is so reasonable that I can afford it, although not only is not my financial situation so high but sometimes I also don't have enough income.

 

[emsr2d2]

We don't describe our financial situations as "high" (or "low").

 

[Raymott]

You can say that you're financially comfortable - though you wouldn't say this if sometimes you didn't have enough income.

No, your sentence is not good.
- It still uses the phrase about your financial situation being high, which we've indicated is not meaningful in English.
- Your use of "not only ... but also" joins one positive and one negative clause.
- You can't say that you can afford a certain lifestyle if sometimes you don't have enough income.

 

[Tdol]

How about something like:

The cost of living in Vienna is not too high for me most of the time, but I do have financial difficulties sometimes.

 

[yi-ing]

We don't describe our financial situations as "high" (or "low").

Could you please tell me what an appropriate phrase is to describe our financial situation?

 

[emsr2d2]

My financial situation is good/great/fantastic/bad/terrible/awful.

 

[andrewg927]

You could say "our finances are decent". It means not abundant but not too stringent.

 

[Tdol]

We're doing OK (financially) would have a similar meaning.