Which City to Pick?

Left the buyside for a startup marketing fellowship and I have the choice of 3 LCOL cities: Birmingham, Atlanta, and Detroit. Which of the three should I pick? 

Best city?

Birmingham, AL
11% (8 votes)
Atlanta, GA
74% (52 votes)
Detroit, MI
14% (10 votes)
Total votes: 70
17 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a breakdown of the three cities:

  1. Atlanta:

    • Atlanta is highlighted as a rapidly growing city with strong job opportunities, particularly in tech and finance.
    • It offers a mix of affordability, a growing population, and a favorable business environment.
    • The city is socially liberal, has a major international airport, and is considered the "Capital of the South."
    • However, public transportation is noted as functional but not great, and it may still face challenges in attracting top-tier talent.
  2. Detroit:

    • Detroit is a good choice if you have connections or a strong network in the area.
    • Opportunities in corporate finance for the Big 3 automakers are prominent, and the city is seeing a resurgence in certain industries.
    • If you have family or personal ties to the Midwest, Detroit could be a more comfortable fit.
    • However, the job market in investment banking (IBD) is limited compared to other cities.
  3. Birmingham:

    • Birmingham is not specifically mentioned in the WSO content, but as a lower-cost city in the South, it may offer affordability and a slower pace of life.
    • It likely has fewer opportunities compared to Atlanta or Detroit, especially in finance or marketing.

Recommendation:

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Fast and Fiduciary

Atlanta. Live near Buckhead if you can, pretty cool area. My best friend from high school went to Georgia Tech and lives in Kennesaw now. Nice quiet town. Always enjoyed visiting them. Make a friend who owns a boat and go to Lake Lanier in the summers.

Counterpoint: don't live in Buckhead (it isn't the 00's—there are much cooler neighborhoods) or visit Lake Lanier (there are nearby lakes that won't kill you). 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

West Midtown is cool but the traffic is awful. Old 4th Ward/Inman Park/Virginia Highlands/Ansley Park are all great spots. 

Midtown has its moments. I'd live there over Buckhead for sure. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

People actively promote moving to Detroit? I thought it was a place people always wanted to get out of living there. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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