Atlanta vs. Charlotte vs. Austin

I've been reading on cities in the south and it seems like these would be my top 3. I've not read as good things about Houston/Dallas as I have about Austin. This is lifestyle wise also, not just opportunities. I'm under the impression Charlotte is a bit more family friendly, Atlanta's almost the opposite, and Austin is just its own weird (but cool) creature.

Cost of living is huge for me and I'm pretty sure (?) they're all about the same? Seeing the apartments I could afford compared to other large cities (NYC, LA, SF, DC) is crazy, plus I'd actually be able to afford a nice ride (3 series or c class?)

Give them a rank? What do you guys think?

 
Best Response

I went to college in Austin so I'm partial, it's all young, hot singles and rich tech workers. Atlanta's going to be the most ghetto (Austin the least by far), but I've heard great things about all 3 you're looking at. Brother in law works in Charlotte BofA and loves it; he just redid a home there & had a kid so I'm sure the cost of living is great.

I don't know your $ situation but based on car suggestions I can sort it out. So if you're single, look at getting a roommate if you're cool with it-- they have incredible downtown apts. in Austin & the women are unbelievable. You could get a nice 2 bedroom, have parking, enjoy west 6th for professionals or east 6th if you're in to UT girls etc.

"Where is Knight?"
 

Obviously I'm biased to Atlanta, but there's the big three areas of Atlanta that there is never something to do (downtown ATL, Midtown, and Buckhead). I've got a flat in the heart of Midtown (one of the gayest communities in the country, straight as fuck, no homo) for like $900/month and it's great. Sooooo many people to meet. I don't know where Hathaway gets the "ghetto" portion, as that is a huge issue outside and south of the city.

I'd rank Charlotte 2nd, and Austin 3rd. But I think they're both great places!

 
Loki777:

Atlanta is only ghetto if you go to the hood. Buckhead, Midtown, and Virginia Highlands are all great for young professionals. But....I'm biased.

I agree w/ you & @"SocratesIsMortal", I've heard great things about Atlanta outside of the obvious hood parts. Trust me, I live in Dallas which is mostly nice but can get ghetto as hell. Plus you get all the people from Athens, Georgia Tech etc. I'm sure it's great.

"Where is Knight?"
 

I am almost the exact same as @"SocratesIsMortal". Went to GT and spent most of my young life in Atlanta before moving to Dallas last year for a job after graduation but am now back in Atlanta living in the heart of midtown Piedmont/6th and have to say it is awesome. All three places listed (Buckhead, Midtown/VA Highlands, Downtown) are always fun and have something going on so you will never be bored and certainly be able to keep your costs down. That being said I have also heard great things about Charlotte and although I have never lived there, it is certainly a place I will look at in the future when I move. I dont think you could go wrong with any of your three choices but after living in Texas for a year I think you would be wise to choose between Atl and Charlotte.

 

Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte; take your pick. All are great cities with low cost of living and great women. The decision should come down to industry sector, oil and gas IB/PE in Houston, wealth management/AM/funds in Dallas, Atlanta for MM IB, Charlotte for BAML/ MM IB. Austin is irrelevant in this discussion cuz high finance sucks there, inly a good place for Tech corp fin.

 

I currently go to school in Austin, but I am from Dallas, and I have lived in Houston. Hopefully I can shed some light on the Texas scene. I'll try to summarize each city with a few sentences to avoid droning on.

Austin: Cool place to spend a weekend or go to school. Austin is a fun town with a social atmosphere. The downtown itself is incredibly small compared to any of the other Texas cities. Austin is growing, but it has a LONG way to go. There aren't many jobs other than tech or government/law. There are 2 or 3 prestigious investing and AM firms, but in general the jobs just aren't there yet. Quite honestly, it is a great place to get away a couple of weekends a year from a bigger city like Dallas or Houston. Oh, and traffic is pretty shitty (really only have 2 highways...)

Houston: Houston is MASSIVE. The metropolitan area is very large, and sprawling. The weather in Houston is shit in the summer, but mild in the winters. It is very random.... the zoning laws are nonexistent, one block may have high-end designer stores, and 2 blocks down the road there is a pawn shop with bars on the windows. So in general, Houston is the worst city to live in in Texas from a fun or quality of life POV. However, the jobs are there. I have friends in O&G, IB, etc. A lot of companies have a strong presence in Houston.

Dallas: To me, Dallas is a happy medium between the two cities. It has the younger, more social vibe that Austin has, yet it is bigger than Austin and opportunities exist. The city is laid out nicely, and traffic is much better than the other two. Dallas has a lot of jobs available. Not much IB, but the banks are definitely present, and all the major consulting firms are... there are a good amount of P/E shops, some hedge funds, and plenty of AM. Dallas ticks the boxes for major league sports too, which Austin definitely lacks. As someone who has lived in all 3 cities, I plan to move back to Dallas after I graduate.

Hope this sheds some light.

 

Biased towards Atlanta (born and raised for over 24 years) but this is a great city. In terms of lifestyle Atlanta is incredibly fun. Midtown (where I live), Buckhead, the Highlands/Inman Park areas of Atlanta are packed with college-aged kids from Emory, Georgia Tech along with young professionals; the social scene does not disappoint. Piedmont Park and the surrounding area constantly have festivals like beer and food tastings.You can easily go bar hopping any night of the week and expect to have a great time. Aside from nightlife, the city has a professional MLB, NBA, and NFL team. Simply put it is a very large metro area that has plenty to do.

I was just in Austin last weekend and though 6th Street is insanly fun and they have good food, Atlanta just seems more clean and upscale in comparison. The "ghetto" aspect comes from the notion that Atlanta is full of hip-hop and rap stars. You wont see anything ghetto until you go towards I-20 and the airport.

 
  1. Hotlanta: more good jobs (no pun intended) than and the Hippie Haven and it's hotter than Charlotte.
  2. Hippie Haven: don't let the nickname scare you, it's still very hot (southern).
  3. Charlotte: the population is older and less thrilling than Chapel Hill.
[quote=Matrick][in reply to Tony Snark"]Why aren't you blogging for WSO and become the date doctor for WSO? There seems to be demand. [/quote] [quote=BatMasterson][in reply to Tony Snark's dating tip] Sensible advice.[/quote]
 

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