Currently based in NY and our team have a large presence in those 3 cities (LA, Chi Town, Dallas) -- if you had the opportunity to relocate to one of those cities, which would it be? Putting all other circumstances aside, let's put yourselves in the shoes of a single 28-year-old male looking to enjoy the single life but envisions to settle down 5-7 years down the road. Other things to consider: cost of living, quality of life, women, etc.
Thanks!
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I vote for Chicago. Dallas is cool too. LA is for degenerates.
the fact that you used the word "degenerates" sounds like you play poker. is that right?
No, I've never gambled in my life. But I seem to get along well with a lot of poker guys for some reason.
Another vote for Chicago. Weather's the only thing holding it back.
Currently live in Chicago - everything's great but the weather. Dallas has a lower cost of living and better women. Chicago has more career opportunities and better schools (Northwestern/UChicago) should you choose to further your education. So call it 50/50. I wouldn't pick LA though. I don't hear good things about it from anyone.
Single 28 year old male.... nuff said.
Chicago's a clear #1 and LA is a very clear #3
How about LA vs. ATL?
Comes down to personality. Would you feel at home on a pheasant shoot with coworkers?
I have lived in 2 of the 3, and spent significant time in the other. All cities can be a blast. I don't think LA is the clear #3 as most people above do.
LA will be the most expensive, but it has the best weather by far. The traffic sucks and public transportation might as well be non-existent most of the time. Women are obviously attractive, but will be the most uppity of the 3 cities. Having said that, I was surprised by how "normal" most people are. I didn't find all of the stereotypes to be that prevalent. Granted I wasn't single during most of the time I spent there, so that might just be because I wasn't trying to hit on women.
Dallas will be the cheapest - great quality of life. Weather is decent, but it does get very hot in the summer. Lots of hot women who are generally pretty down to earth, but you will find some pretty materialistic ($30k millionaire stereotype) - not that this is any different from LA, which has this but worse. Different culture than a LA or NYC - i.e. more likely to find someone who's quite religious or someone who is "country" (likes country music, wears boots, etc.) - can be a pro or con depending on what you like. No real public transit. One thing to note - most women your age are probably married/engaged/in a long-term relationship. If you generally date a couple years younger, this isn't as much of an issue, but may be as you get older. There are relatively few women in Dallas in their 30s who are single.
Chicago obviously is the coldest, but not that different than NYC. Summers are awesome, although way too short. It's Big Ten country - good laid back people in general. Plenty of attractive women, although probably not as many as LA/Dallas. Cheaper than LA, more expensive than Dallas. The only one with a decent public transit system.
If you don't mind the cold, I'd go Chicago. If you hate the cold, I think both LA and Dallas can be great. If you don't have ties/friends in Dallas, I'd probably lean LA if you don't mind the cost of living (still cheaper than NYC). I think LA is more "fun," has more things to do, and has more transplants than Dallas. Texas is great, but quite different than NYC if you've been there for a while. If you like NYC a lot, you may find the Dallas culture quite different / have to adjust to having fewer entertainment options.
+1! Appreciate the detailed response. Dallas was my #1 choice initially to the fact that it has the best COL and great quality of life. When transferring from a higher COL to a lower COL (e.g. say NY to Dallas), will the firm actually adjust and lower your salary (asking in case you know the answer to this question)? Also, where do you live now since you said you've lived in 2 of the 3 cities mentioned.
I'll PM you. You may see a COL adjustment (firm may try to argue for this), but it probably won't be too significant - you should definitely come out way ahead. So even if they argue for a 5% or even 10% decrease, your costs will likely be significantly lower, and you should net 10-20%+ more even if it's decreased slightly. In Dallas you can find a very nice one bedroom in a very nice area of town for $1,500 or less with a million amenities (pool, gym, dedicated parking spot, etc. in complex). That same price in LA will get you a room in a 3 bedroom apartment in a decent area, with no gym or pool and maybe not even a parking spot, and the building will be older. Everything else (groceries, drinks, food) is usually significantly cheaper as well - often 25% cheaper. Plus no state taxes (which would save you $10k+ in state taxes if you are making mid ~$100ks compared to LA; even if you're making 80-90k, it's still at least $5k in savings).
I've moved from low COL to high COL to low COL. There wasn't much of a boost moving from low to high, and while the company I moved back to a low COL for did try to remind me that it was cheaper than the high COL area I was coming from, I don't think it made a huge impact to salary.
I currently live in LA.
Would not recommend especially if you plan on settling down. Don't waste your time with 90% women out here if that is your ultimate goal. The COL is also on an upwards trend, taxes especially. Property values are at asinine levels with a significantly large chinese buyer market buying out houses in straight cash. Apartments are also at insane levels right now, with even ghetto/unsafe areas with 1 Bedrooms 1 baths near the upper $1ks. You may find stuff near pasadena or glendale thats cheaper, but the west side/dtla is where the action is.
If its any indication, my girlfriend and I are looking to only remain here for a few years due to work obligations before we want to flee to Dallas.
I was in NY and moved to LA.
I live next to the beach, drive a Jeep Wrangler, and surf when my weekends aren't taken from me. I miss NY a lot but the weather in LA and its proximity to place such as San Diego, Las Vegas, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, and SF are nice.
Lived in San Diego for 3 years. Currently in one of the above markets. Everyday I day dream about moving back to SD or to OC, getting a surf shack near the beach, and a couple dirt bikes. It would be the dream to surf, take the dirt bikes to the sand dunes, and hit big bear/tahoe when winter hits.
Yeah, I had a fun trip to the dunes at Glamis back in the day.
Pm'd you.
LA - For the surf/snowboarding/poker scene.
I like being near the beach in general.
Avoid the Chicago weather at all costs. Its also somewhat insular if you aren't from the Midwest - tough to break into Big10 crowds.
Dallas is great. The single women you will find in their late 20s /early 30s will likely be divorced, which sounds strange, but the trend is MUCH earlier down there.
Never lived in LA, so cant really comment. I'd go Dallas over Chicago.
I have lived in Chicago, LA, and NYC, but never Dallas.
I would confirm, and emphasize, that Chicago can be insular. There are lots of people who went to the same handful of schools. The best way to describe it, in my opinion, is homogenous. Of course, it depends on what you want, but for me the homogenous nature of Chicago is one of the primary reasons I left. It seems like you either fit in there or you don't. While I was in Chicago, I heard a lot of the same conversations from people who were all relatively similar to each other. One could argue that I needed to broaden my horizons, but when I tried doing so I didn't have much success.
One exercise that might be helpful is to think of each city and determine what first jumps into your mind when you think of it.
For example, for LA you might think of the beach, vain people, beautiful weather, fashion, and different cultures. Dallas might connote Mark Cuban (lol) and everything that comes with living in Texas. Chicago brings to mind the Cubs, the "Windy City" (named as such because of the hot air politicians are blowing, not the weather), pizza, and ... what else? I don't really know. Booth? The lake that is not a beach?
In my opinion, the best way to make your decision is to do this exercise and figure out what comes to mind. Kind of like on this thread, ask other people what they think too.
NYC blows all of these out of the water, imo, but that's not part of the conversation here.
Also, Dallas would be great as well.
SB . this
I'm from Chicago and Pesca-pescatarian said it well. "While I was in Chicago, I heard a lot of the same conversations from people who were all relatively similar to each other" is pretty accurate. At least in my neck of the woods, this happens with conversations where people drudge up the same drivel even if it happened 10 years ago. It can get stale quickly.
I would also agree that the weather leaves a lot to be desired if you aren't a fan of the cold. I personally like the cooler temps (but not the freezing cold), but I'm in the minority. When the wind is blowing off the lake in the winter... no bueno. The summer months are nice and it is quite beautiful in the fall as well. It's just those winter/snowy months that can seem never-ending.
I have not lived in LA or Chicago but can offer a few points about Dallas.
Single life pros: - Solid talent roster given in-state universities (SMU, UT, TAMU, TCU) tend to place a lot of graduates in the city - Diversified entertainment areas: can opt for typically yuppier Uptown, laid back Greenville/Knox, or Deep Ellum if you're trying to get weird - Great places for dates: dining in dallas is the thing to do given there are no real outdoor activities (mountains/beach)
Cons: - If you're not trying to find your soulmate at 2am after double fisting Dallas Blondes, social interaction can be somewhat sparse, depending on how outgoing you are - The whole "people settle down earlier" thing is real
COL: - Typically lower but Uptown bucks that trend significantly. Apartment rents are still lower than say LA, Denver and with more supply coming online, less likely to increase in the short term. - the pinch would come when you try to settle down and if you're trying to stay within 635 loop, home prices may cause sticker shock (personal experience, could still be a net benefit, idk what is your "normal"). Double this sentiment if your sights are set on the Park Cities.
Quality of Life: depends on you and how you live your life but as a young person with a good job, Dallas is incredibly easy to enjoy and I would expect that you would find it easy to stay longer term vs. soul sucking vanity of LA.
Double fisting Dallas blondes...i know what most of you guys are thinking. It’s a beer made by deep ellum brewery you sick bastards.
SB For the user name
If it were me (another late-20's single dude) I'd go to Dallas. I've visited Dallas and Chicago, but not LA so take this with a grain of salt.
Dallas has plenty of things to do and places to see, minus the COL you'll see in LA and the brutal winters in Chicago. Also, those California taxes are out of control. Living in LA near the beach would be cool, but in reality unless you're really into surfing or sailing, it probably won't be worth the premium you pay for the location. That's my 2 cents.
+1. as someone that's moving to dallas soon for work (having lived in LA/NY for most of my life) , you quelled a few of my anxieties with that post. looking forward to the move
You can't be serious, right? Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the entire country and Texas is above average.
I can vouch. Don't let the numbers fool you.
Hard to trust the opinion of someone who’s touting Okla-fucking-homa City as a great place to willingly spend time
Time for my favorite internet forum game: "english as a second language" or "wouldn't pass a Turing test"?
Do yourself a favor and stay in NYC.
LA - Fake Chi Town - Fatalities Dallas - Fat
Dallas fat? I think you have Dallas confused with Houston.
Houston has better looking non-white chics than Dallas, and it's not even that close.
Don't come to LA, we don't need any more people here.
Would pick Chicago any day.
Great looking girls from UT, TCU, Texas Tech, A&M and OU flood Dallas while in their 20s. Amazing
I think it comes down to Chicago or LA. Aside from lower COL and no state tax, I don't see what competitive advantage Dallas has over those cities. LA has Dallas beat on weather, women, and nightlife, and Chicago has Dallas beat on urban amenities, convenience, overall city feel, public transportation, food, and at the very least tied on women. In addition, women in both Chicago and LA stay single later, as Dallas is culturally a "southern" city in many ways.
If the OP is a minority, LA over Chicago could make a lot of sense since women in Chicago are far less open to interracial dating.
You keep bringing this marriage shit up. You're a man dude. Date a couple of years younger, you should want to. If that's the case it shouldn't be a problem. LA beats Dallas in vapid plastic annoying chics. Additionally, it can't be 1v other. Has to be a combo of COL, lifestyle, amenities etc. Sure. LA/ Chicago beats Dallas in most of these categories but BALANCE matters. Not that I care that much. OP should pick whichever is best for his goals.
Let me break this down for you. If in a given city, a higher % of women marry at a younger age (let's define "younger" as below 30) compared to another city, then that means that there will be a lower % of single women in their 20's. Given that the OP is 28, I assume that he is interested in women in their 20's.
I never said it's not a combo. Of course it is. But the OP specifically mentioned being a single man wanting to enjoy the single life, so I safely assumed that is high on his list of factors to consider.
I'm glad you like Dallas, but it is not in the same tier as Chicago and LA for single men. Not even close.
Southern CA resident here. Been here for a while. I'll say that if you are trying to settle down/be in LA-proper long term, you're doing it wrong. There are so many other places slightly outside of LA to the north, south, east and west that are much better for that. The further outside you get from the West LA/Downtown corridor the more 'normal' women you will find when you get to that point. Otherwise, if you try to go 'in the trenches' of places like WeHo, SM, etc, you're going to get exhausted after a while trying to maintain interest talking to very vapid but very pretty 5'10"+ models who have the attention span of a squirrel when it comes to men. Couple this with soul-crushing traffic and ridiculously high housing costs.
People have this misconception about LA and they think that it's similar to NYC because it's the next largest population center, but they don't realize how sprawling it is. So even if someone has 'lived in LA', it's very likely that they lived somewhere like Brentwood, yet have no idea what it would be like living Downtown, Silver Lake, WeHo, Ventura, South Bay, etc. The vibe in each of those places is drastically different from the others.
But, if you play your cards right and don't make amateur moves when it comes to places to live/stuff to do on the weekends/how to spend your money, it can be one of the best places to live in the country.
That being said, please don't come here. We have too many f*cking people here as it is. If I meet one more person who moved here from Cleveland/Wisconsin who 'just felt like trying something new' my head will explode.
NYC and LA are totally different cities in every aspect. The U.S. city most similar to NYC is Chicago, and the city most similar to L.A. is Miami.
LA.
You get proximity to everything by WORKING in LA. Keep in mind, while commutes can be killer, you don't actually have to drink the Kool-Aid and live in LA full time. Plenty of people have homes/cabins in the mountains or weekend homes by the beach.
The thing is, within 2 hours East, North or South, you can find an abundance of wonderful people, social activites and things to do. Lots of Academics. Beautiful, smart women. Culinary culture is taking off.
This is from an LA transplant from DC/Northern VA area. Going on 12 yrs here.
This one is very easy, I would vote for Dallas 20,000 times as the best place to be. Dallas is just better period in terms of cost of living, quality of life, good jobs, less unemployment, shopping, roads, etc. Dallas May not have the great looking women of California, but Quality wise I would still pick Dallas. People do not realize how fast Texas is growing. Dallas is growing almost like Dubai. To me, Dallas or DFW is the best metro of the USA right now and I have lived here for 20 years. I cannot think of any better metro right now. If you doubt that Dallas is that great ask yourself why it has been the fastest growing metro for many years? If you have to move, just do not even think twice, you will love it. Everything is Texas is bigger than what you are used to wherever you are coming from. Lots of Jobs, big nice roads, big gas stations, Big stadiums. big airports, big state fair, big Mac Mansions, big mega churches etc. Great Quality of life, big nice houses and the best neighborhoods of the USA period! Yes the best suburbs of the USA, do not even argue it. What is not so good about Dallas - There is traffic during rush hours too many people have moved and are still moving for the great opportunities. Also during the month of mid July thru mid August it is quite hot. We do not have the beaches of California, but it is surrounded but 100 humongous lakes. Move with confidence and do not worry about the haters. The place to be now if you are in the USA, you want to be in Texas.
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