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Thinking about moving from NYC for cheaper and less crowded living. I've been thinking about Seattle or Chicago. Chicago seems like it has the things I like about NYC like diversity, things to do, but is way more manageable and cheaper. Seattle is one of the softer cities, but I like it too because of the laid back living and nature options. Seattle seems like it's a better fit for me size wise, Chicago is huge, but at the same time Chicago will most likely be more fun for me, as I like more diversity and more entertainment options. That said, Seattle has a much better economy. I'd be looking at local govt jobs like state/city/county and IL has issues with that and not much hiring is going on at the moment, unlike Seattle. Seattle is getting expensive, but it's still cheaper than Chicago, esp suburbs with newer housing and taxes. A healthy choice would be to apply in both cities and go from there, but I don't like the idea of a job solely deciding where I live. Any advice? Any other cities I should look at? I thought about Denver, but I am not a fan of this whole mountain desert setting. Mpls looks cool too, but it seems even more tamer than Seattle.
I live in the Seattle area and usually go to Chicago every year or twice a year and stay for about a month at a time because a good portion of my family lives there. If you are wanting a new, fresh, clean, technologically advanced, 60 degrees, marijuana engulfed society, with a marine feel, the best air quality, freshest food, forests, mountains, and ocean in abundance, and you just don't really care about the rest of America, I would chose Seattle. If you want a hard, real, tangible, big city, hot humid summer, cold dry winter, food plethora society, with endless entertainment options, not isolated, by lake Michigan, classic, and overall has good values, I would chose Chicago. It's a difficult thing to explain, they are cities you should experience for yourself but both very amazing.
I live in the Seattle area and usually go to Chicago every year or twice a year and stay for about a month at a time because a good portion of my family lives there. If you are wanting a new, fresh, clean, technologically advanced, 60 degrees, marijuana engulfed society, with a marine feel, the best air quality, freshest food, forests, mountains, and ocean in abundance, and you just don't really care about the rest of America, I would chose Seattle. If you want a hard, real, tangible, big city, hot humid summer, cold dry winter, food plethora society, with endless entertainment options, not isolated, by lake Michigan, classic, and overall has good values, I would chose Chicago. It's a difficult thing to explain, they are cities you should experience for yourself but both very amazing.
nice info, what u prefer overall? chicago seems more traditional while seattle more hipsterish/liberal
nice info, what u prefer overall? chicago seems more traditional while seattle more hipsterish/liberal
Overall, I'd have to go with Seattle because I like to be by the ocean and it's much more open minded here. But it takes a certain kind of person to live in Seattle, it really isn't for everyone so I would definitely visit first!
nice info, what u prefer overall? chicago seems more traditional while seattle more hipsterish/liberal
Though a smaller percentage of the population, Chicago's hipsters are more diverse, edgier, and quite frankly angrier. You're more likely to find a militant Latino and Black hip hop influence in Chicago's hipster scene for instance. That's mainly from living in a city with a lot more problems though. You gotta have a tolerance for stress living in Chicago, whether it be brutal weather or obscene political corruption. Its like a microism of America, representing all the good and bad of the country. Seattle's hipsters cross into more of the hippie category, similar to Portland. I like Seattle a lot though, jealous of the recreational weed. I think that tension is the biggest difference outside of the physical attributes of the city. I think I'd live in Seattle for a while, but then think I was going too soft.
Chicago is more diverse, for better or worse. The general "feel" I get from people in Seattle is that they're pretty cold, not in an unfriendly way, but they're just more serious. I feel like being invited to parties is easier in Chicago whereas in Seattle, people have their own cliques. It's more like a very subtle snobbishness.
Also, if you're a single guy, I'd suggest moving to Chicago. Unless you're rich and 6-foot-2 with blonde hair and blue eyes, you're probably going to be on the low-end of the dating scale due to the amount of relatively-attractive single guys with high paying jobs here. It's a pretty strange place for people like myself who aren't natives. Nearly all the guys I see here are tall, blonde, are athletic, and have professional jobs (or are at least in the process of getting one). I'm glad I moved here with a girl already because I would imagine that competition for women here is very fierce. From what I've read and heard, this is true. The dating scene is super difficult for guys.
Minneapolis isn't tame. Seattle isn't cheaper than Chicago -- city or suburbs. Seattle's economy is not better than Chicago's.....at least, not using historical standards (it may be better today). Most government jobs will be in/around the State capitol, making some cities more attractive than others in that regard.
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