People, who either prefer, forces or chose to live in the city, usually used to street noise and many various sirens. They are also used to see other buildings, city skylines in their windows, rather then natural objects like trees, mountains or lakes, most of the time. 

 

Cost of living in the city forces many people to chose viewless residences rather that thinking about beauty of surroundings. Why? Because 99% of the time people, who live in the city as renters are working overtime to afford minimal size apartments. And they do not have time to think about view from the window, also 99% of the time. 

 

Big urban centers offer many various levels job opportunities, by the cost of living is usually triple

to that of the suburbs. Rent is unaffordable to the point many people look for permanent  roommates to afford 1 bedroom apartments. People with family with more that 3 members, usually have  a horrible time finding affordable housing in any urban city now.

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Unfortunately, this is where the most of the low income single parent families do reside, as urban centers give them the only means of employment opportunities.

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City lifestyle requires endurance, quick thinking, fast movements and desire to always compete. Otherwise, you will be just another temporary visitor ...

Whether or not you plan on making city your permanent living choice you have make sure you select the most affordable, yet safe neighborhood for your own lifestyle. What is your main goal in the city: love, career  or education. These are three main reasons why many people come and stay in big urban centers.

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Do you plan raising children here or adopt a puppy?

This matters because your living expenses and ability

to find the right housing may be very limited here.

Cities however do offer more organized outdoor activities spots for kids and pets compare to most suburban cities. But finding rental property willing

to accept both kids and pets may be challenging. 

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Cities are also offer great walkability for living and shopping, which you rarely find anywhere in suburbs. Most of American urban cities are build in clusters

and separated into cultural neighborhoods. Suburbs

are the same way, but it is more visible in the big cities. People who come to the country always taught: this is where Mexicans live, there is where Indians live, this

is where white Americans live, this is Italian area, this

is where Soviet jews live, this is a black neighborhood, etc.

 

With all this diversity comes different level of affordability and quality of housing. America is still

full of ghettos. They do exist in every big city.

 

You can find good quality affordable apartment, but

it may mean you will have to be placed on forever waiting list. And, in a mean time, pay out of pocket

or ... move to suburbs with longer commute, but bigger, safer and newer house. Current minimum price of 1 bedroom  apartment in any major city

is $2,200.00 a month on average, 2 bedroom

is $4,000.00, while rare 3 bedroom can cost you

over $6,000.00 a month.

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When you make a choice to live in the city, you

probably make a choice to have a corporate career.

This means your lifestyle will become more fashion drive. And big part of you budget will have to get shifted from household buys to getting new business clothings. Spending more on cosmetologist, more on business accessories, etc.

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Career driven lifestyle includes earlier work hours, earlier commute, extra coffee expenses, extra lunch expenses, more money for dining out vs. home cooking. Until you buy your own home, you probably not going to invest too much in expensive furniture, so IKEA would become your best friend, for years to come.

 

Your household expenses will probably consist electrical, cell phone and cable bill, plus education expenses, if any, but not much else, as most landlords cover garbage bill and water. Because of walkability,

you can save a great deal of money on travel expenses, especially, if you can rent a place next to your job.

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You don't need to worry about installing generator

for $16,000.00, as handling power emergencies are

not up to you, but rather up to the city you live in.

When it comes to living expenses, your biggest bill in any city will be the cost of housing itself.

 

Unless you plan on buying condo or the high rise apartment, you have to find competitive enough pay

to afford living the way you want.  

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One of the biggest benefits of living in the city is that most modern buildings offer many amenities, from on-site-gym to yoga studio and coffee shops in a building. Older city building usually do not have it.  Suburban living structure does not offer it either.

You have to travel to get any service. Most suburbs are build as a single home use, not multi use communities. This is one of the things cities have to offer: a great benefit of service accessibility compare to suburban lifestyle. 

When you make a choice to live in the city, you

probably make a choice to have a corporate career.

It means kids are not your priority. Generally speaking having kids in the city is not something most people do, unless they have no choice of cause.

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Simply because cities do not have the best school districts, and private education within city limits are usually priced as much as rent, no one can afford.

Some private K-12 schools cost between $16,000.00 and $22,000.00 a year. Plus getting into private schooling in the city means you have to participate in heavy politicking, most career driven people try to avoid.

 

So, this may be the biggest drawback to walkable

city living with kids. Thankfully American education system does offer variety of online only private school programs, that are safe and affordable, (between $4,000.00 to $6,000.00 a year) but they have severe social limitation.

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If you also want to have a pet, every veterinarian visit would cost you between $400.00 and $600.00 depending on procedures your pet needs.

 

Making choice to relocate to the big city with children

is a risky move and not for everyone. This is why many successful and established employees, do relocated to suburbs and chose either hybrid employment or work from home lifestyle instead of 100% city walkability. 

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For example, suburban house with the mortgage amount of $440,000.00 would cost you $3,075.00

a month for 30 years with 7.5 % interest. Average size house would be would be between 1,500 sq. ft

 to 2,000 sq. ft.

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If you make on average $58,000.00 a year with

your debts being around $800.00 a month you

can afford a mortgage amount of $108,000.00,

with monthly payment of about $800.00 a month.

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This amount of money can buy a 1 room studio with kitchenette with bathroom in Midtown Manhattan coop. About 500 sq.ft. Currently studios are rented between $1,800.00 to $2,400.00 a month.