Chicago or NYC
Out of context: Reply #68
- Started
- Last post
- 79 Responses
- seventys0
I've lived in both cities, and am currently back in Chicago. Many of the points people have made here are valid but here's my personal take:
1. Cost of living:
You are right to be wary of this. Depending on which part of New York you live, the cost of living is SUBSTANTIALLY higher than Chicago. The further away you live from the heart of Manhattan the cheaper it will be, but why in God's name would you want to move to New York if you're not really in the heart of the city. Living in Hoboken, NJ is NOT the same as living in New York. I don't care what those bride and tunnel people say. They aren't getting the full New York experience. Also, Brooklyn is very different and distinct in its character and lifestyle than Manhattan. If you like the pace of Brooklyn, then you can get the same experience in Chicago. If you want the fast paced life of Manhattan, then live in Manhattan proper.As a corollary to this point, if you decide that where you actually want to live in Manhattan, then the cost of living difference is around 30% higher than Chicago. So here's some quick math. If you get offered $80K in Chicago, but $100K in New York, from a pure numbers standpoint, it makes more sense to go with the Chicago offer. Why? Because the effective dollar amount that you're receiving when the cost of living is calculated is $70K in New York when compared to Chicago.
Also, while it's true that you can live further out from the heart of NYC to save money, you're also having to commute more. Never underestimate the value of your time.
And as for space, you get far more space for the same amount of money in Chicago. If you don't want to feel like you're living in a sardine can, then Chicago has far more value for you.
2. Opportunities for growth and career advancement:
If part of your decision-making is impacted by how this move will affect your career, then I would say the following. New York is unparalleled when it comes to access to opportunities. There's way more world-class agencies and a large community of talented people to learn and grown from. With that said, it is also very competitive. There's equally just that many more people all trying to make a name for themselves. There's more opportunities but also more people competing with you for them.3. Weather
Chicago's winters are much worse than New York's. Of that, there's no question. But that's really just 3 months out of the year. If you want to work and live somewhere for the weather, then you should go to places like Miami or Los Angeles. New York gets a slight edge here, because of their relatively milder winters.4. People and Community
People in Chicago are MUCH friendlier than New Yorkers. I don't know what people are talking about. There's just no comparison between jaded, irascible East Coasters and Midwesterners. Don't get me wrong. New Yorkers have good people too, but there's also a ton of douche bags. Take Wall Street assholes, for example, or pretentious would-be artists, OR self-important hipsters. There's a ton of those folks in New York. Far less in Chicago.5. Culture and other intangibles
New York has some of the best events, concerts, ceremonies, etc. The sheer number of things that you can do in any given week is overwhelming. There's no shortage of things to explore and do. On this point, I would give this to New York.6. Food and restaurants
I personally found the restaurant scene in New York to be over-hyped. The really great places tend to have long lines and waits. The best places in Chicago also have waiting lists, but it's not nearly as bad, in my personal opinion. Also, the food is equally world-class. Chicagoans like to eat, especially when they're trying to pack on some fat for those cold winters. For me, this is a wash.7. Lifestyle and pace
This is purely a matter of personal preference. New York is the city that never sleeps. If you absolutely want to live in a place where there's always something open, then New York is the city for you. However, there really isn't that many places open 24 hours. Bodegas, food cars, and diners, yes. But really, the pickings get slim right around 3am.8. Natural environment and surroundings
New York is a concrete jungle. There's a dearth of parks outside of Central Park. Their waters are muddy and polluted. You have far more forests, open spaces, and parks in Chicago. For complete urbanites, this doesn't matter, but if you like seeing green where you live, then Chicago is a better choice. Chicago's Lake Michigan is beautiful and great to spend time on. I doubt the same can be said of the East or Hudson River. There are beaches, but you have schlep to them.9. Transportation:
Chicago has a pretty good public transportation system. It's nowhere near of ubiquitous as New York, but it is feasible to live in Chicago without a car, depending on where you live. The way that I would phrase it is like this. You can have a car in Chicago and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. However, to have a car in New York is an absolute luxury. You have to spend a lot more money to maintain and keep a car. I personally like having the ability to drive when I want to. In New York, that is hardly an option. But after a while, you may find yourself adapting to a car-less lifestyle.10. Crime:
Someone mentioned crime in this post so I will briefly address it here. Chicago's crime rate is very sensationalized. The worst crimes occur in the poorer neighborhoods as you might imagine. To me, New York is a slightly more dangerous place to live. But this all depends on WHERE you live.11. Diversity:
Chicago has decent ethnic and culture diversity, but New York is a true melting pot. If you want to be exposed to people of all stripes, then New York is definitely better on that count. Chicago tends to be more white and stratified.