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Based on the following criteria, which city provides the best dollar value?
- outdoor amenities
- cultural offerings
- public transportation
- residential space
- arts/entertainment
- QOL
Where's Chicago?...its a reletively affordable expensive city
I don't know that I'd call Chicago an affordable expensive city.......but I think I know what you mean. For me, Chicago gives the best bang for the buck. Many of its urban neighborhoods are downright cheap compared to other major/urban cities in America. What you get for your dollar in Chicago is tremendous. I dare say that urban neighborhoods in Chicago cost 33 cents on the dollar or less to comparable NYC/SF hoods. When was the last time you saw a decent (and decent sized) $250K urban condo in either of those two cities?
Chicago and Philadelphia are so affordable for the most point that rarely they are mistaken for expensive places in comparison with the aforementioned cities. Even LA, albeit glitzy on the outside, offers much more dollar value than San Francisco and San Diego.
I am not sure Chicago cracks the expensive cities list. I think you'd have to go through LA and Miami before you got there. I voted for Boston, SF and NYC as worth the cost. I think DC is a little overpriced for what it is, but would be next in line. 5 years ago I would have put DC up there though but real estate looks to be getting out of hand there. I think its possible for DC to become the 2nd most expensive city in the U.S.
^ A lot of the museum's in NYC are "suggested" amount.. You don't actually have to pay that. i.e. you can pay a dollar for a normal 25.00 entry fee...tourists don't know any better and pay the suggested amounts. I mean, of course if you have the money to blow, it is cool to pay the full price, but somebody like a student or not working some high end job shouldn't feel bad whatsoever of paying what they can afford to experience what is supposed to be free access to the public anyway and non commercial.
I am not sure Chicago cracks the expensive cities list. I think you'd have to go through LA and Miami before you got there. I voted for Boston, SF and NYC as worth the cost. I think DC is a little overpriced for what it is, but would be next in line. 5 years ago I would have put DC up there though but real estate looks to be getting out of hand there. I think its possible for DC to become the 2nd most expensive city in the U.S.
Your assessment exactly where I was headed. I was hesitant to put LA in the fray because you can get so much "house" in several neighborhoods in comparison to other places. With regards to Miami, the housing market provided so much opportunity for regular people to get steals in residential property. *If you take $500k, your house will look so much different in the places on the list vs other major cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, LA, Miami, and Philadelphia.
Your assessment exactly where I was headed. I was hesitant to put LA in the fray because you can get so much "house" in several neighborhoods in comparison to other places. With regards to Miami, the housing market provided so much opportunity for regular people to get steals in residential property. *If you take $500k, your house will look so much different in the places on the list vs other major cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, LA, Miami, and Philadelphia.
calculating square feet is definitely the way to go about it also.
Your assessment exactly where I was headed. I was hesitant to put LA in the fray because you can get so much "house" in several neighborhoods in comparison to other places.
Like where? A detached 2BR, 1.5 bath is over $1,000,000 in Santa Monica. 3BR, 2BA detached and maybe 1,400 square feet is at least $700,000 anywhere with a good school district.
IMO, only NYC and maybe San Francisco are worth the cost but it is very close. Boston is next, with it being a little overpriced imo. DC is completely overpriced imo. Seattle and San Diego seem cheaper than those four but they also offer tons in the way of natural scenery, surroundings, safety. I'd say Seattle and San Diego are just a little overpriced for what they offer.
LA, Chicago and especially Philadelphia give you the most value.
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