While many people love their homes, there will come a time where most people need to move. It could be for school, for work, to be closer to family or even just for a change of scenery. In fact, tens of millions of Americans move every year.

However, before you hop on UMoveFree or another website to scout out a new apartment, there are some things you need to think about. Of course, you need to think about your budget, the job market and the climate you prefer.

Another important thing to keep in mind is whether you want to live in the city or the suburbs. While they often aren’t too far from one another, there can be vast differences when it comes to living in one vs. the other. With that in mind, this blog post is going to go over the pros and cons of living in the city vs. living in the suburbs.

Pros of Living in the City

• You are generally much closer to work and will spend a lot less time commuting to work. This will also mean you will spend less on gas for vehicles or taxicab rides. With the average commute in the USA being over 26 minutes, many people would love to be able to cut their commute down by living in the city and closer to work.
• Living in the city often provides you with much easier access to entertainment and things to do. You will likely be surrounded by great restaurants, bars, nightclubs, museums, parks and other fun things to check out. There is never a dull moment and always something going on.
• Easier access to necessities like the gym, groceries or going to the bank. It is possible to do all of your daily errands in a fraction of the time it may take someone who lives in the suburbs. The convenience factor of a city is incredibly important and will likely save you a lot of time.

Cons of Living in the City

• It is generally much more expensive to live in the city. This can go for rent and home prices, but also for things like restaurants or entertainment. Not only is it more expensive in most cases, but you often get less square footage and amenities for your money.
• If you like peace and quiet, it isn’t always possible to find that in the big city. There is a ton of action and the streets are seemingly always lined with people in many areas. A quiet and laid-back lifestyle isn’t always possible in many cities across the country.
• A big city can often miss the sense of community that a smaller suburb might have. In a city, everyone essentially is an individual and does their own thing, which can be vastly different than some suburbs.

Pros of Living in the Suburbs

• The affordability of living in the suburbs is often what attracts people. The homes and apartments are more affordable, often by large margins in some areas of the country. There is normally less demand in these areas, so the prices can stay relatively low.
• Suburbs often provide a quieter lifestyle, which is something many individuals and families value a lot. Many people want to live in a place that is more laid-back, and not one that constantly has things going on. Don’t worry, the city is often only a short distance away, if you want to take a trip to experience it.
• Living in the suburbs often allows for much more space. In the city, people are constantly crammed in with one another, and essentially live on top of each other. In the suburbs, you often get more space, larger yards and there are less people taking up the space.

Cons of Living in the Suburbs

• One of the major cons of the suburbs simply comes down to convenience. If you want to go to the store, the mall or to the gym, it often isn’t as simple as going down the street. You might need to make a day out of something that should only take a few minutes, and plan your trips into the city out ahead of time.
• The long commutes are often another drawback of living in the suburbs. It can take some people well over an hour to get to work. Not only that, but the public transportation options in many suburbs are subpar, so having access to a vehicle is often required.
• While the quiet nature of the suburbs are ideal to some, it can also be boring to others. Some people thrive on things always going on and there being things to do, and some suburbs simply can’t offer that.

In conclusion, we hope that the information in this article has been able to help you decide whether living in the city or the suburbs is right for you. There are definite benefits to both, and the choice you make depends on your wants and needs out of a living situation.