Chicago vs ATL vs NY Vs SF- Which City should I move to???

Question

Hi y'all

Ok i need some help from some clued up individuals, the more details the better.

Me: 24, Single female, lucky enough to be moving to America from the UK with my current firm, an IT consultancy company, with offices in the places listed above.

Info required- Which city is best in terms of:

-meeting people my age

-paying as little tax as possible therefore having more take home pay

-standard of living

-house prices(altho i'll be renting initially)

-entertainment

-best neighborhoods

-great transport links.

I've visited all these areas with the exception of san fran but alot of ppl have been tellin me SF is nice but expensive. I know expensive being from London town!

I cant decide altho i'll leaning more towards chi town and ATL at the moment.

Try not to be biased ;)

Thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

San Francisco is not a good choice, way to expensive to live and there is the income tax. Not to mention the mayor has let the town run rampant.  

Answer 2

You are naming large cities with gangs and high urban crime rates. Don't forget, Americans like their guns and most city teens know how to obtain them.

Research the statistics. Don't take public transportation. Live outside a metropolitan area. Atlanta might be your best bet.

Answer 3

i think you are looking for the land of OZ

Answer 4

The taxes and cost of living in Chicago, San Francisco and NYC will kill you.  Atlanta is by far the most affordable of these 4.  The weather in Atlanta is better and you're an easy commute from the beach.

You can buy 4 houses in Atlanta for the cost of 1 in San Francisco, and NYC.... 2 in Atlanta for the cost of 1 in Chicago.

Atlanta is actually quite "trendy" and a lot of IT firms are locating there due to the cost of living and quality of life.  The suburb of Buckhead has a great club scene.  Georgia Tech University is located there and has a huge student population.

By the way, I'm retired form the US Navy.  I lived in the San Francisco Bay area 3 years and the Chicago area 2 years while on active duty.  I live near Atlanta now.  My brother works for a large IT company in NYC.

Answer 5

Well I lived in Los angeles and Atlanta plus i spent a good chunk of time in NY for work,

at 24 San francisco is the place to be after that i would pick NY and then Chicago last Atlanta...

Taxes, Atlanta but the roads are small and crappy so you get what you pay for,

Standard of living, San francisco

House prices, Atlanta

Entertainment, New york then San Fran

best Neighborhoods, New york then San fran

Transport, New york then San fran

I was mugged twice in ATL and never in LA or SFO Californians are way more educated and the cost of living will be comparable (a bit cheaper) than london you would find Southerners slow and uninteresting (come one ppl you know thats true) NY is an amazing city but it takes a special kind of person to live there and taxes are high.

on and all i would say San Fran is the way to go.

Answer 6

Out of those four I would definitely pick Atlanta.  San Francisco and New York are full of freaks and Chicago is extremely violent.

Answer 7

atlanta would probably be the cheapest place to live amongst the 4. i love california, SF bay area to be exact because of the weather. it is the reason why cali is quite pricey. SF's cost of living is quite high, rent is about $1,600 for a studio or 1 bedroom living space. but if you're single, its an amazing place to be, so many resto's, parks, beaches nearby. coming from london, SF or NY won't be too expensive for you.

Answer 8

Atlanta is friendlier. The biggest downside is the heat and humidity.