Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hey guys, hoping to get some help here. I've been living in Pittsburgh for almost 1.5 years now and I'm not sure if I want to stay here much longer. I've been considering relocating to Chicago or Charlotte but I'm not sure if either are what I'm looking for, or would even be worth it.
A bit about me: 23 year old male, young professional working in finance. I'm into the pretty typical stuff, sports (football and baseball), running, hiking, indoor rock climbing, food & drink, poker, and swimming (really any activity that involves water). I'm looking for a city that has a lower COL, plentiful nightlife, job and educational opportunities as I plan on going back to school, good for my hobbies, and is friendly to transplants.
Based on my criteria and research I'll list what I've found below, but I'm hoping people could either correct me or provide more insight. If there's any other cities I should consider I'd be open to other suggestions as well.
1. Job / Educational Opportunities: I don't necessarily need financial services companies for this, but large private or Fortune 500 companies. I feel like Chicago is the winner in this one along with educational opportunities. However, Pittsburgh isn't exactly lacking in colleges. Jobs however I feel like they're below average. From what I've seen Charlotte is essentially the opposite of Pittsburgh in terms of jobs / colleges.
2. Nightlife: Pittsburgh punches above its weight in terms of nightlife. With the close to 50 bars and nightclubs in Southside Pittsburgh there's always something going on there. Is there anything similar to this in Chicago or Charlotte? I'll fully admit I haven't grown out of the college vibe yet.
3. Transplant friendly: I'm not sure how the other two cities are, but my experience with Pittsburgh is that it's not too friendly to transplants. It seems like a lot of people grow up and stay here, therefore sticking to their close friend groups from high school and college.
4. Cost of living: Is there really even much of a difference between these cities? Obviously Chicago is going to be slightly more expensive than the others, but for how large it is and what it offers it seems fairly low.
5. Hobbies: Pittsburgh has a ton of hiking / running trails either in the city, or within 30 minutes. Along with a pretty decent beer and food scene, casino right in the city, and a huge sports culture. I'm assuming Charlotte would be more similar to Pittsburgh in terms of outdoors but how's Chicago?
I feel like each of the three cities have a mix of the things I'm looking for, but none of them really check all of my boxes.
Grew up in the Pittsburgh area, lived in central Illinois (Champaign) so I got a bit of a taste of Chicago, have a nephew who works in finance who's lived in both Pgh and Chicago. So, more than a lot of people on CD, I know what I'm talking about WRT these topics.
First of all I suggest you research these questions. A simple Google search can find much of this information, e.g. how many colleges in each city, COL, weather.
Secondly, I'll give you my take on the issues I know about.
1. Lots of colleges in Chicago. Pittsburgh tried to remake itself into a finance center, but it didn't quite work. My nephew thought Chicago was a better place for that.
2. No idea, really, but I've heard there's a lot of nightlife in Chicago. I know nothing about Charlotte, though I have been there.
3. Chicago also has lots of homers, but it's a larger city so you're more likely to find other transplants. Again, not much knowledge about Charlotte.
4. There are many COL calculators on the internet.
5. Chicago is flat, not a hiking area, though it's not too far from some good hiking in Wisconsin. Has a big lake. I don't know about running trails in the city. Big sports scene there too-two MLB baseball teams, NFL football, NBA basketball, NHL hockey. You can look up the rest.
I love all 3 cities. I live in the Charlotte area and visit Chicago and Pittsburgh extensively.
1. Chicago has a lot of colleges. Charlotte and Pittsburgh are opposite in terms of jobs and colleges. Pittsburgh has some great colleges. Charlotte does too, but not to the extent of CHI and PIT. CLT has a strong economy. Financial industries are big here, but there are other industries here too. It was just announced that Honeywell Electronics is moving its corporate headquarters to CLT, creating 700+ jobs with salaries $85k-$355k.
2. Honestly, I can't help much here, in terms of "nightlife". CLT has the Epicenter uptown that has restaurants, bars, movies and NoDa and South End on the edges of uptown. Clearly CHI has a lot. PIT, not sure.
3. CLT has a good share of transplants. You will do fine as long as you're not a jerk, condescending, or rude. But that would go for any place. CLT is really friendly. CHI and PIT have a lot of tight knit neighborhoods that might not be as welcoming, but I've always found the people in those cities very nice.
4. In terms of Buying Power (cost of living vs average annual salaries), with the national average index being 100, PIT is 73.27, CLT 91.29, and CHI 112.89. In other words, you get more bang for your buck in PIT and CLT than you do CHI. But all 3 score in the "affordable" range. Once an area gets above 33% (an index score of 133 or higher) of the national average, they're no longer considered affordable.
5. I like all 3 cities. CHI is great, but pretty flat. Not sure just how extensive the outdoor activities are. But considering all recreational assets, CHI has more just by its sheer size. All 4 major league sport are here (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) and Six Flags. Pittsburgh has some nice hills, parks. There's a good bit to do. NFL, MLB, Kennywood Theme Park. CLT has a lot of outdoor activities. I live 5 minutes from Crowders Mnt. State Park. It's 5100 acres and has great rock climbing and a great trail system. In west CLT there's the 700 acre U.S. National Whitewater Center. It's an outdoor enthusiasts Disney World, lol. There's not another place like it in the nation. It has an artificial whitewater rapids river that can adjust rapids difficulty (the Olympic Kayaking team trains here), lots of climbing walls of all sizes, zip lines, 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, kayaking and canoeing on the Catawba River, a beautiful restaurant and pro shop. There are a good number of parks and greenways in CLT. Also, NFL, NBA, Carowinds Theme Park, etc.
Sorry if I rambled, lol. Good luck wherever you end up!
It's going to be hard to find a city that has a lower COL than Pittsburgh and offers as much, but I feel like you could enjoy Chicago if Pittsburgh really isn't your thing anymore and you want a city with great universities and that scene and a strong job market. It also has a low COL compared to other large cities in the north. Unlike Charlotte, Chicago also offers casinos in the area with one not too far from O'Hare (ironically called the Rivers Casino just like in Pittsburgh) and others across the state line in Indiana. Just curious, but is it the transplant thing or something else that is having you consider leaving Pittsburgh? As a native and resident, I think it can be too cliquey at times myself, but there are certain spots where transplants will fare better with meeting others.
It's going to be hard to find a city that has a lower COL than Pittsburgh and offers as much, but I feel like you could enjoy Chicago if Pittsburgh really isn't your thing anymore and you want a city with great universities and that scene and a strong job market. It also has a low COL compared to other large cities in the north. Unlike Charlotte, Chicago also offers casinos in the area with one not too far from O'Hare (ironically called the Rivers Casino just like in Pittsburgh) and others across the state line in Indiana. Just curious, but is it the transplant thing or something else that is having you consider leaving Pittsburgh? As a native and resident, I think it can be too cliquey at times myself, but there are certain spots where transplants will fare better with meeting others.
I'd rather be in either Chicago or Charlotte. The major difference is obviously the weather. If you're down for a miserable winter every year, head to Chicago. If you want warmer, humid weather within driving distance to Atlanta/Raleigh/Wilmington/Savannah, I'd choose Charlotte.
I'd rather be in either Chicago or Charlotte. The major difference is obviously the weather. If you're down for a miserable winter every year, head to Chicago. If you want warmer, humid weather within driving distance to Atlanta/Raleigh/Wilmington/Savannah, I'd choose Charlotte.
Life long and old enough (73) Chicagoan here. So I do have experience on my side. You get a wtf on the highlighted, MrJones. Plenty of Chicago winters are quite mild. No matter what outsiders might think, we don't go into any sort of deep freeze in the waning days of November, not to emerge until the first ball is thrown out at the Cub or Sox home opener.
Chicago snow fall is hardly in the top group of cities measured in both # of snow days or how much snow we get. Brutal temperatures don't usually last that long...and, quite frankly, we are more subject to them in January than throughout the rest of the winter.
We Chicagoans hardly hibernate in the winter (although I must admit that, unlike this year, our Bears do)....we are out and about much of the winter, with "being out" not being in a brutal setting.
I say this would complete honestly: I far prefer a Chicago winter to a Miami, Houston, or Phoenix summer....and find it much more survivable.
I grew up in NC and lived in Chicago for my 20s... it was a terrific place to be. OTOH, I really could not recommend Charlotte to a young person just starting out.
On the recreation front, the activities you enjoy are probably going to be shaped by what's on offer -- and Pittsburgh has an embarrassment of riches on the outdoors front. Neither Chicago nor Charlotte have mountains on their doorstep, but Chicago does have sailing, beaches, and plenty of indoor activities.
Have you considered Philadelphia? Larger financial/corporate sector and plenty of great universities right downtown, and still a pretty good bargain for a 23-year-old.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
