City Slicker or Suburbanite: Deciding Which Lifestyle is Right for You
On
As we grow older, sometimes the place you live in may no longer suit the lifestyle you want. You are most likely conflicted between living in a fast-pace urban life or taking things a little slower in suburbia. Here are a few factors to help you determine which environment is right for you:
Space and Cost of Living
The suburbs definitely beats the city when it comes to cost per square footage. The average rent for an apartment in Washington, D.C. is at over $2,000. In Alexandria, a Virginia suburb outside of Washington, D.C., average rent runs a little lower at over $1,600. Costs of other things like food and gas are also cheaper in the suburbs. If lower cost of living and more living space matters a lot to you, then the suburbs will give you a big bang for your buck.
Transportation
The city you live in might have an excellent public transportation system that can take you anywhere you need to go. Using public transportation as opposed to driving a car will keep you more physically active and reduce your carbon footprint. It is also the more affordable option overall when weighing in on the cost of owning a car: car payments, gas, insurance, parking, maintenance, and others. However, there are times where public transportation may not be the most convenient option. With a car, you can just hop on and drive straight to your destination.
Family and Pets
Urban life is probably better suited for singles and couples with no children since space is so limited. Single homes and townhouses in the suburbs offer more living space at an affordable price. All of that space is very ideal for raising children or having pets as they demand more room to play in. The suburbs are also safer than the city in general -crime won’t happen as often in sparsely-populated areas.
Entertainment and Culture
Let’s face it: there are a lot more things to do in the city. Where else will you find a wide variety of restaurants, bars, shops, museums, concert venues, and others within such close vicinity? You will also find people from many different backgrounds where you wouldn’t be able to see as often in the suburbs. You can expand beyond your comfort zone and become pleasantly surprised by shared similarities.
Health
The city encourages an active lifestyle depending on how walkable or bike-friendly it is. However, you should also consider factors like air pollution and noise as these can negatively affect your health. And depending on how you tolerate crowds, the city can either enrich yourself with excitement or add stress to your daily life.
The next place you want to live in ultimately come down to what your needs and preferences are. The city is where all the fun and excitement is whereas the suburbs are where you want to relax and take things a little slower.