I was making a solid 6 figure salary and found myself more or less barely making it in LA.
Everything you said about diversity and culture could be said about Chicago too.
I guess if I was at 250k LA wouldn't be that bad, but on a social level I found people much more pleasant in Chicago.
If you have a bad home life you can move out earlier in Chicago.
Back in LA half the time I went out with someone they'd complain about their Mom for 2 hours. I met a lot of people in very very bad situations with no real hope of escaping.
>For many people those things are invaluable, especially if they are non-white (which perhaps you're not, so that may be lost on you.)
I'm definitely not white. Chicago is liberal. It has one of the only Chinatowns in America that's actually growing. Boystown is one of the oldest LGBT communities in America.
I don't think I'm going to change your opinion here, but when it comes to numbers, LA is just a difficult city.
If you have the money, and LA is giving you something you can get elsewhere, great.
But that's not going to change the economics of the situation. I know I'd rather save money and strive in Chicago vs struggle in LA.
Years ago I was miserable in LA, scrolling through random jobs. I just happened to apply to one in Chicago.
The moment I landed everything was great. I met a great girl almost instantly, I can’t stress enough how nicer people are when they can afford their basic needs.
Diversity?
From what popalchemist is saying you’d figure LA is the only city with non white people.
In Chicago I frequent a Slavic/Asian restaurant. They don’t do fusion, no, you get Slavic and Asian food on the same menu!
Kingston Mines! Best Jazz I’ve ever seen. Excellent food, friendly staff.
The L( metro system) is a living museum, you get to ride trains which date back over a century into the office.
It’s not perfect, I found the job scene to be a bit boring, but it’s one of the last livable cities in America.
Yeah if only the L ran as often as it did ten years ago lol. Commuter rail in some cities runs more frequently now. I just bought an ebike, though, and it's totally changed the game for me. The entire North side is now within half an hour of my house, and i won't need a shower when i get there either.
Yeah the job scene isn't amazing but the average pay is well above what you need to live very comfortably. The winters aren't as bad as people think (and getting warmer), the summers are beautiful, the free neighborhood music festivals all summer are so much fun (Lincoln Square this weekend, wicker park is coming up).
>Yeah if only the L ran as often as it did ten years ago lol.
The price of good transit is everlasting vigilance. Make sure to always argue for increased funding.
A lot of people would rather spend another 10k annually owning a car vs 1000$ a year in additional taxes. Not to mention the more people drive the worst traffic is and the more miserable the actual experience or driving is.
My dream city would be more or less car free ( exemptions for emergency and commercial vehicles) with a full blow Autobahn as a connecting freeway.
When I drive I want to DRIVE. Not sit in traffic for an hour.
I was making a solid 6 figure salary and found myself more or less barely making it in LA.
Everything you said about diversity and culture could be said about Chicago too.
I guess if I was at 250k LA wouldn't be that bad, but on a social level I found people much more pleasant in Chicago.
If you have a bad home life you can move out earlier in Chicago.
Back in LA half the time I went out with someone they'd complain about their Mom for 2 hours. I met a lot of people in very very bad situations with no real hope of escaping.
>For many people those things are invaluable, especially if they are non-white (which perhaps you're not, so that may be lost on you.)
I'm definitely not white. Chicago is liberal. It has one of the only Chinatowns in America that's actually growing. Boystown is one of the oldest LGBT communities in America.
I don't think I'm going to change your opinion here, but when it comes to numbers, LA is just a difficult city.
If you have the money, and LA is giving you something you can get elsewhere, great.
But that's not going to change the economics of the situation. I know I'd rather save money and strive in Chicago vs struggle in LA.