What's the Best City for Cheap Downtown Living?

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Philadelphia and Chicago are possible (as another poster mentioned), but you would need a roommate/s.

Philadelphia and Chicago downtowns are not “cheap” to live in. They are simply less expensive than the handful of other cities where it’s practical to live without a car (Boston, NYC, and SF).

[papi-p]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

So DC has the distinction of just one street/corridor defining as "downtown". Rather limiting isn't it? Philadelphia on the other hand gets something to the tune of 30 square blocks. Weird variances...

When someone says "Downtown DC", yeah -- it's ill defined an area where people work (the CBD more or less). That area basically empties out at night. Nobody is hanging out at McPherson Square after dark...

They go up to U Street or Columbia Heights or H Street to party.

I'm pretty sure most every city is the same in this respect. Downtown Philly or Baltimore aren't nightlife capitals either.

[projectmaximus]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Philadelphia and Chicago downtowns are not “cheap” to live in. They are simply less expensive than the handful of other cities where it’s practical to live without a car (Boston, NYC, and SF).

We are replying to the OP. Whether Chicago is cheap to live in or not is debatable as "cheap" is subjective, but it's a bit more definitive to say that a 25 yo can live in a decent vibrant neighborhood on that salary.

Originally Posted by papi-p

I'm pretty sure most every city is the same in this respect. Downtown Philly or Baltimore aren't nightlife capitals either.

OP says "in or near the city center" which definitely allows for more than just downtown. Plus I personally interpret city center alone to be more than just CBD or whatever area might be called "downtown" anyway.