Is Chicago seen as a low(er) cost alternative to East/West Coast living? (Winnetka: best city, rental)

[JohnCU]

I noticed the reverse/converse situation at University of Chicago. A lot of east coasters attend U of C and almost all of them arrive here with the "NYC and Boston are the only truly cosmopolitan/cultured cities in the U.S. and the entire Midwest including Chicago is hickville" attitude. After being in Chicago for 2-4 years most will grudgingly concede that it is a pretty cool place and comparable to NYC/Boston, but most of them still take east coast jobs. Very few stay in Chicago.

[jdiddy]

I don't think I've ever met anyone who moved here here from the Northeast that didn't find Chicago to be a great, affordable place with a much lower douchebag quotient than back east.

That isn't to say that they necessarily think Chicago is better. It depends how much you value living in a place that's affordable with generally friendlier people over the attributes that NYC or Boston trump Chicago.

[MassVt]

....that Chicago seems to be overlooked as a destination by coastal people, and that there are people who consider it to be in "flyover territory". But's that's their loss, and some have discovered, that, yes, you should spend some time in Chicago, and that it's actually a real city with real people, and then they're surprised that they wind up enjoying it.

Even as I type this, I'm finding fewer reasons to stay here in Boston. I can almost feel the pendulum swinging over to Lake Michigan as I type.

[gabry76]

No matter how much I love Chicago with all the things it has to offer, there's no doubt in my mind that if I were a millionaire or if NYC or Southern California were a lot much cheaper, I would rather live in either of the two, maybe a summer loft in Manhattan and a winter beach house in Malibu.
But for now I stick to Chicago and can't complaint!

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by MassVt

....that Chicago seems to be overlooked as a destination by coastal people, and that there are people who consider it to be in "flyover territory". But's that's their loss, and some have discovered, that, yes, you should spend some time in Chicago, and that it's actually a real city with real people, and then they're surprised that they wind up enjoying it.

Even as I type this, I'm finding fewer reasons to stay here in Boston. I can almost feel the pendulum swinging over to Lake Michigan as I type.

Getting close to deciding?

[Lookout Kid]

Boston is great too! Personally, you can't go wrong with Boston, NYC, or Chicago if you are a city person...

[MassVt]

...this summer, and then I'll consider everything. I don't have a time limit, but there's no sense in dragging this out forever. I can keep track of things on-line too, both here in New England and in Chicago.

In probably exaggerated the "flyover" image of the Midwest that NEasterners have; many DO acknowledge Chicago, but seldom mention anything else.I guess that Indianapolis, St. Louis, Minn-SP, Detroit, etc are not common topics of conversation. Besides, the East Coast has its own problem children--ever been to Baltimore, the Poster Child for Run-Down Cities? I don't think that it's an accident that 2 major TV crime series (The Wire, Homicide) were based on Baltimore. It has a few decent parts, but I wouldn't recommend it, on the whole.

On the whole, I like visiting NYC, but living there is a whole 'nother story. Trying to fight the crowds in Times Square on a hot summer day is enough to make me search for greener pastures. Even Central Park probably has tens of thousands of people in it at any given time. All this makes me appreciate both Boston and Chicago even more.

[justalicious6989]

all big city life is great
each city has its own to offer
I currently live in Chicago, Southside.
but i would in a heart beat leave this city to move to NYC
its time for some change!
Chicago is just loosing its touch as another city slapped next to a lake

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by justalicious6989

all big city life is great
each city has its own to offer
I currently live in Chicago, Southside.
but i would in a heart beat leave this city to move to NYC
its time for some change!
Chicago is just loosing its touch as another city slapped next to a lake

Ok bye.

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by JohnCU

I noticed the reverse/converse situation at University of Chicago. A lot of east coasters attend U of C and almost all of them arrive here with the "NYC and Boston are the only truly cosmopolitan/cultured cities in the U.S. and the entire Midwest including Chicago is hickville" attitude. After being in Chicago for 2-4 years most will grudgingly concede that it is a pretty cool place and comparable to NYC/Boston, but most of them still take east coast jobs. Very few stay in Chicago.

That is a little strange and funny considering that Boston is really small compare to Chicago. Boston is 575,000-600,000 strong compare to Chicago 2.9- 3 million. If that the case then, Boston will feel like the hicktown. I swear Boston is full of themselves; that little city. Consider the most major midwest cities are larger than Boston when comparing the city alone, not the metro. Boston only feel cosmopolitan because of its metro and not the city its self. Like seriously, what do Boston have that Chicago don't have. In my opinion Chicago have more and better ethnic neighborhoods. I bet Boston don't have no Humboldt park, Pilsen/Little Village, or even a Little India/Devon Ave. It is a little annoying when small east coast cities like Boston call Chicago flyover country, when the only thing that can top Chicago in the east coast is NYC, while the rest of them are just second tier/token cities for NYC. I'm sorry I sound a little harsh, but some of these east and west coast cities need to put in there place.