Newcomer negotiating Salary, wish to live in Brookline.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

Is it not fair to compare downtowns? Or suburbs either? You can compare aspects of different cities. No idea why you can't do it in this case. Not comparing downtown to a suburb or anything.

I think this is a weak argument.

But yes, Chicago is certainly ridiculous when it comes to tax burden. Still, and this is the point many here are missing, it IS considerably more affordable. I don't want to hear about less salary or whatever. How far your dollar goes elsewhere, in 90% of all US cities, you are a lot better off financially. I understand the point about job availability. But the people on this forum likely don't have to worry about that. Also, people who post here thinking about moving typically are saying "I have a job here if I want it", such as this thread. So I think I'm being pretty fair.

But it's not comparing downtowns. It could be fair to compare a 45 minute trip to downtown in one city to a 45 minute trip to downtown in another, but you didn't. (Even this, though, is not so simple. You may also need to compare the drive to areas other than downtown that are common destinations, such as other employment centers, or sports complexes or areas of activity/shopping.)

You can be 45 minutes to downtown and still be within the city limits in Chicago. Not the case in Boston.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

But it's not comparing downtowns. It could be fair to compare a 45 minute trip to downtown in one city to a 45 minute trip to downtown in another, but you didn't. (Even this, though, is not so simple. You may also need to compare the drive to areas other than downtown that are common destinations, such as other employment centers, or sports complexes or areas of activity/shopping.)

You can be 45 minutes to downtown and still be within the city limits in Chicago. Not the case in Boston.

Yes, I am aware that Chicago is bigger.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

One missing point is the velocity of the price increase in just the last 5 years. Prices have increased about 30% overall. I'm pretty sure 'most' people's salary did not increase 30% and rates are higher than 5 years ago too.

People had always complained it was expensive, that's always been true but right now it's beyond expensive, it's unattainable unless you are in top 5% salary bracket for good school district

Yep, even in our supposedly healthy economy, cost of living is far outpacing wages.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

ND has too little housing. Could easily be corrected. Booming economy doesn't HAVE to lead to insanely high prices. Actually, a truly "booming" economy would have more plentiful everything at ever lower prices. Not sure how a boom is really a boom if nobody can afford much. That's another conversation though.

But I do think that there are plenty of other cities that are better than Boston, depending on who you are. Crummier? Maybe. But sometimes Boston feels too bland and "safe" (ever homogenizing culture) these days.

There are some. Chicago is one. 90% of them are worse, pretty easily, though.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by timberline742

There are some. Chicago is one. 90% of them are worse, pretty easily, though.

I don't really know much about cities in the south or west. I could see those being awful. But I am a fan of most midwestern and east coast major cities.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

I don't really know much about cities in the south or west. I could see those being awful. But I am a fan of most midwestern and east coast major cities.

I guess it also depends on what you call a city. I mean, it's a legal form of government, technically, but lost of people wouldn't consider say, Oshkosh, WI a real city, despite it legally being so.