Why are bigger cities more expensive? (how much, utilities, taxes) - City-Data Forum

City_boi · 10-20-2009, 05:26 PM

It doesn't necessarily have to do with the size, right? I mean, bigger cities are more expensive because they have a higher demand for things due to all the people that what to live there, correct. Does the higher the population automatically mean the higher the cost of living? And what about the population density? Does the more urban (as opposed to spread out suburban) a city is automatically make it more expensive? Doesn't it all boil down to supply and demand? It's just that there is a bigger demand in bigger cities and the urban core is often a very sought after location, making it more expensive and valuable, right? If there were absolutely no demand in Manhattan at all, it could be very cheap, couldn't it? Please help, thanks!

Maabus1999 · 10-20-2009, 05:56 PM

Supply and Demand

Rachael84 · 10-20-2009, 06:57 PM

Yeah, supply and demand. Also, you know that old saying, "You get what you pay for."

Toxic Toast · 10-21-2009, 07:42 AM

Bigger cities are more expensive so all the residents who can afford the high price can sit around and talk about how much more advanced and cultured they are than everyone else.

enigmaingr · 10-21-2009, 08:42 AM

Two things really:

-supply and demand with respect to land
-cost of infrastructure/services, usually in the form of taxes

In the OP's example, if no one wanted to live in Manhattan, housing costs would certainly decrease. However, the remaining people and businesses would still have to pay, through taxes, for all the infrastructure that remained (i.e. subway lines, streets, utilities, ect.). This would still present a considerable expense.

AK123 · 10-21-2009, 02:21 PM

Supply and demand. Hmm. Seems I remember just recently the "most expensive cities" list being posted on here in another thread, and Houston was on it. Maybe some here don't know as much about Houston/Texas as they thought after all. If you're going to say NYC and these other places are more expensive because of desirability, then you can't make exceptions just because you don't like the place you've never really been to anyway.

Not that I agree it's as simple as more expensive = more desirable... not at all. But some in here sure do.

Rachael84 · 10-21-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK123

Supply and demand. Hmm. Seems I remember just recently the "most expensive cities" list being posted on here in another thread, and Houston was on it. Maybe some here don't know as much about Houston/Texas as they thought after all. If you're going to say NYC and these other places are more expensive because of desirability, then you can't make exceptions just because you don't like the place you've never really been to anyway.

Not that I agree it's as simple as more expensive = more desirable... not at all. But some in here sure do.

1. You get what you pay for as far as amenities.

2. Houston is NOT expensive considering the top 10 major cities in this country. People are moving to it because it's one of the cheapest areas of the country; not because it has amazing cultural amenities and world-class entertainment. They move to the biggest cities in the country if they want that.

Moderator cut: two sentences, see comment

machiavelli1 · 10-21-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachael84

1. You get what you pay for as far as amenities.

2. Houston is NOT expensive considering the top 10 major cities in this country. People are moving to it because it's one of the cheapest areas of the country; not because it has amazing cultural amenities and world-class entertainment. They move to the biggest cities in the country if they want that.

Moderator cut: see comment

They are moving there for work and almost all are favorably impressed with the culture and world class entertainment

Rachael84 · 10-21-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machiavelli1

They are moving there for work and almost all are favorably impressed with the culture and world class entertainment

They're mostly moving there because they can't afford the taxes here. World-class....ha..

AK123 · 10-21-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachael84

People are moving to it because it's one of the cheapest areas of the country

Wrong. According to that source.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachael84

not because it has amazing cultural amenities

It has those. At least in the top ten by most sources. It's all been posted on here before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachael84

They move to the biggest cities in the country if they want that.

It's the 4th largest city.

Moderator cut: orphaned