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Which has a cheaper cost of living? job opportunities? more fun for a single guy in his late 20s like myself? I'm sure both have it all but which one has the edge you think?
Phoenix might have a slight advantage but Atlanta has a lot of things going for it too.
I don't know how Atlanta compares with the cost of living but I think Phoenix has the more fun things or is closer to the fun activity than Atlanta is.
Phoenix has all four professional sports franchises, is a huge spring training mecca, and is a prime location for golf and college championship bowl games.
Phoenix has a nice mix of big city fun and outdoor recreational activities, lots of mountain hiking trails, two major zoos, close to Sedona, Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas.
Atlanta might have the advantage on job opportunities and transportation, it is home to more large companies and has a larger airport than Phoenix's. Both cities have miles upon miles of wide freeways, and Atlanta seems to have a larger downtown.
I think most people would agree Phoenix has a better climate, despite the summers, but Atlanta's summers are hot and humid, Phoenix is hot and dry except in July and August.
I've visited both cities. I was hoping Phoenix had the edge. I guess I am trying to convince myself to move to Phoenix. I like hot weather. I can live with the desert dry over the southeastern humid. I still put Atlanta in the mix because I was born and enjoy visiting there. Atlanta wouldn't be such a big move because I live in South Carolina. That being said, something is making me still lean towards Phoenix. I still wonder what's the better trade off... move far away but enjoy the climate, scenery, southwestern culture VS. moving not so far away but still dealing with what I consider negatives like in the humidity, around Georgia Bulldog fans (haha kidding... sort of. I went to University of the South Carolina.) and just the whole Bible thumping mentality. I don't mind religion. It's just that it's too overwhelming in the South sometimes. Just don't put it in my face is all I'm trying to say. Oh well. Decisions decisions. Thank you to all that posted btw.
I've visited both cities. I was hoping Phoenix had the edge. I guess I am trying to convince myself to move to Phoenix. I like hot weather. I can live with the desert dry over the southeastern humid. I still put Atlanta in the mix because I was born and enjoy visiting there. Atlanta wouldn't be such a big move because I live in South Carolina. That being said, something is making me still lean towards Phoenix. I still wonder what's the better trade off... move far away but enjoy the climate, scenery, southwestern culture VS. moving not so far away but still dealing with what I consider negatives like in the humidity, around Georgia Bulldog fans (haha kidding... sort of. I went to University of the South Carolina.) and just the whole Bible thumping mentality. I don't mind religion. It's just that it's too overwhelming in the South sometimes. Just don't put it in my face is all I'm trying to say. Oh well. Decisions decisions. Thank you to all that posted btw.
Is the bible beating mentality really strong in Atlanta? I cant see that being true since its a large city of 6M and pulling in foreign immigrants at a fast pace. In fact I'll go as far as to saying I highly doubt it, I haven't been to Atlanta before but was just in Dallas a few weeks ago and while there were lots of churches I had no problems with bible worshipers.
I haven't been to Atlanta so I cant comment about it but I don't think you'll miss anything by choosing to live there besides the beach. I know Phoenix and it's a lot better of a city than given credit for on this forum, it's relatively safe, beautiful mountain scenery, close to Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, and Tucson for fast getaways and a weekend distance to LA, San Diego, even Las Vegas. Closest beaches are in Mexico at the Gulf of California about 215 miles from Phoenix and the beaches are nice. I don't think Phoenix will give you the same job opportunities as Atlanta but as a big city its coming along and for your age has the nightlife, amenities, and activities if you need them.
Ehhh the religion stuff isn't that bad I suppose. I was just knit picking. It's not a "problem" I would say, but it can be annoying. Anyways... not that important. I'm really interested in Phoenix the more I keep thinking about it. Now it's time to start looking it what parts of Phoenix to narrow down. Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, Mesa etc etc. This is so confusing haha.
Is the bible beating mentality really strong in Atlanta? I cant see that being true since its a large city of 6M and pulling in foreign immigrants at a fast pace. In fact I'll go as far as to saying I highly doubt it, I haven't been to Atlanta before but was just in Dallas a few weeks ago and while there were lots of churches I had no problems with bible worshipers.
I haven't been to Atlanta so I cant comment about it but I don't think you'll miss anything by choosing to live there besides the beach. I know Phoenix and it's a lot better of a city than given credit for on this forum, it's relatively safe, beautiful mountain scenery, close to Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, and Tucson for fast getaways and a weekend distance to LA, San Diego, even Las Vegas. Closest beaches are in Mexico at the Gulf of California about 215 miles from Phoenix and the beaches are nice. I don't think Phoenix will give you the same job opportunities as Atlanta but as a big city its coming along and for your age has the nightlife, amenities, and activities if you need them.
Atlanta is the most liberal large city in the south, has a bit less bibleness than Dallas I would imagine. 12.8% of Atlanta is gay putting it only behind San Francisco in terms of percentage population.
outside is pretty bad though in GA/AL/SC, bad in this case meaning the worst in the country up there with maybe wyoming/nebraska or something.... so regionally can be and make quick outside the metro get aways sub 2 hours not that appealing, in the city, no.
You are basically looking at trips to Asheville, or Charlotte to get anywhere else mildly liberal under a 4 hour drive. Pretty much the rest of the entire states of SC/GA/AL/TN/NC are strongly conservative.
Lots of strong conservatives dislike Atlanta b/c it's the "big city" there.
Miami is 650 miles away, so is Washington DC.
vs somewhere like you in the bay area, the outside areas are often more liberal for far distances than the core of the city itself.
It's definitely not like small town south. When you get out of it sure... but you'll deal with other problems in Phoenix also.
Atlanta is the most liberal large city in the south, has a bit less bibleness than Dallas I would imagine.
outside is pretty bad though in GA/AL/SC... so regionally can be and make quick outside the metro get aways sub 2 hours not that appealing, in the city, no.
You are basically looking at trips to Asheville or Charlotte to get anywhere else mildly liberal.
vs somewhere like you in the bay area, the outside areas are often more liberal for far distances than the core of the city itself.
It's definitely not like small town south. When you get out of it sure... but you'll deal with other problems in Phoenix also.
I didn't meet many bible beaters in Dallas, if any at all in my week there. Most part it was your typical big city on a rolling hills prairie. I liked this recent visit, lots of nice areas near Victory Park, Deep Ellum, etc and the city didn't feel anywhere close to as conservative as this forum suggests and this coming from an ultra liberal like myself. The city itself was liberal but the suburbs around Fort Worth were very conservative and I did meet some bible enthusiasts in Fort Worth.
I have no problems with Phoenix, I actually like the place and my only gripe with it is obviously the politics and that it lacks streetlife. It reminds me of a San Jose on steroids because the metro is double the size of San Jose but the cities function the same way in relation to their suburbs. It has culture, museums, theaters, etc the things a big city should have but the nightlife, fashion, shopping, life, etc is more concentrated in Scottsdale than Phoenix itself. I cant complain though, I've never been one to look at city boundaries and go off of that. One other thing that disturbs me is the lack of life on the streets but I felt the same way in Miami, Dallas, and Houston.
TBH I'll pass on Charlotte. I didn't even know it was a city up until a couple of months ago and from the Wikipedia, Google maps, picture searches I've done it looks like a snoozefest, no offense. Asheville I have heard of and it looks pretty and I would visit for only 1 reason and that's scenery, otherwise I loathe going to small towns. Just hate them.
Close to medium sized cities like Tucson. Close to scenic small towns like Sedona, Prescott, and Flagstaff. The latter (resort) small town having very good skiing options in the winter. Close to inspiring beauty like the Grand Canyon, Oyster Creek Canyon, Petrified forest, etc.
Like I said, I've never been to Atlanta before and I want to visit it soon so I cant talk about it but I have been to Phoenix. IMO it has good scenery, amenities, is a big city, etc and its near even greater scenery, greater vacation destinations, greater nightlife places, etc. It encompasses good regional cuisine, delicious Mexican food and has variety in other American cuisine and ethnic food just as all big cities do. You wont lack from Phoenix, just don't go expecting it to be Berkeley California on politics.
outside is pretty bad though in GA/AL/SC, bad in this case meaning the worst in the country up there with maybe wyoming/nebraska or something.... so regionally can be and make quick outside the metro get aways sub 2 hours not that appealing, in the city, no.
You are basically looking at trips to Asheville, or Charlotte to get anywhere else mildly liberal under a 4 hour drive. Pretty much the rest of the entire states of SC/GA/AL/TN/NC are strongly conservative.
The Triangle in NC is pretty liberal also. Other cities in these states, like Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Columbia, Charleston, and Savannah, don't fit the "strongly conservative" label; they are more moderate to slightly left-leaning.
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