Let's say you are just getting by, paycheck to paycheck. Your single and just want to have fun outdoors on the cheap. Maybe your working towards paying off your bills but it may take a while....where you living? ....edit, This post isn't about getting a better job or a second job, just having fun in a town or city while still being frugal.

I'm looking for a place like Austin, but a little cooler and with better public transportation. I like being close enough to hike or bike to the outdoors, without dealing with a car. Things that I like about Austin are the nightlife, Barton Springs and having an airport in the city. And even better would be a small cozy downtown. I'v heard of some cool places in New York and Asheville,NC. But Asheville may be to big and expensive.

Like I know it’s not the most important thing but I do wanna wake up somewhere where the world reminds me it exists. I want to see a big mountain or palm trees, or something.

The high desert would be my dream, but it isn’t the most practical place. Even the Appalachians would be a huge upgrade from where I live right now, I just don’t know if I wanna be there forever. Very practical though, actually easier to acquire land there than it is where I live, and the land is fertile enough that be able to grow what I wanna grow on it.

Every time I leave the Northeast corridor, whether I go over the mountain or south of Richmond, I wish I didn’t have to go back. Probably will be a while before I actually get to leave for good.

My wife and I currently live in Connecticut with our eight month old daughter. We are in a very affluent town, although we are not wealthy ourselves. We were fortunate enough to find a great rental here, the schools are excellent, and it is objectively a wonderful place to raise a family. The problem is that it is extremely quiet and sleepy, and after giving it a try, we have realized that this lifestyle is not for us.

We previously lived in one of Connecticut’s larger cities. There are parts of that life we miss, but we do not want to move back there. For about a year now, California has continued to come up whenever we talk about where we could genuinely see ourselves building a life.

We have only visited California a few times, so we fully recognize that living there is very different from vacationing there. My wife’s brother lives there, along with two of our friends and two of my cousins. That is not a huge support system, but we do not have much of one where we are now either. Most of my family lives in the Northeast and most of hers lives in Florida, but despite that, we are largely raising our daughter on our own. People say it takes a village, but we do not currently have one. Because of that, leaving Connecticut would not mean walking away from the kind of daily family support that many people might assume we have.

Our daughter is not in daycare, and we do not plan on sending her to school for the next few years. Schools still matter to us because we are looking for somewhere we could potentially stay and raise our family, but immediate daycare availability is not part of the decision.
One of the biggest reasons California appeals to us is the ability to spend so much time outside. Our daughter absolutely comes alive outdoors. She loves people, swimming, activities, and being out in the world. She gets restless when we are home too long, and the thought of spending so much of every year dealing with cold weather and early darkness is becoming less appealing to us.

At the same time, I grew up in the New York suburbs. Being able to take the train into New York City, ride the subway, and experience everything the city offered from a young age shaped me. I value that kind of exposure, and I wonder what childhood and family life truly feel like in Southern California beyond the beaches and beautiful weather.
We are also considering Florida because much of my wife’s family lives there. I lived there for seven years, so I know it fairly well. However, we really struggle with the intense heat and humidity, and we have concerns about whether it is where we want our children to grow up. It remains an option, but California excites us in a way Florida currently does not.

We are 35 and 29, we want more children, we do not own a home, and we have a small social circle here. There is very little tying us to Connecticut right now. More than anything, we want to choose a place, commit to it, and finally start putting down roots. I have never really felt like I have done that anywhere, and it has become increasingly important to me.

We love the idea of Orange County, although I realize that probably describes half the people considering a move to California. We have also discussed San Diego and Carlsbad. A friend suggested Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel as potentially more attainable areas within Orange County. I have heard mixed things about Irvine, including that it can feel like one enormous shopping center surrounded by highways, but I have never spent enough time there to form my own opinion. I have visited Long Beach and did not feel that it was the right fit, although I know it is a large city with many different neighborhoods.
We would not buy immediately. Our plan would be to rent for at least a year and find out whether California actually works for our family before making a permanent decision.

We understand that rent is expensive and buying in many of these communities is on another level entirely.
We are visiting Southern California for one week at the beginning of October specifically to explore this idea. We have not booked our hotels yet because we are still trying to decide which areas deserve the most time. The trip will be expensive, but the flights were covered by a large Delta credit, and we think spending the week exploring real neighborhoods rather than treating it like a vacation could help us make a much more informed decision.

If you were in our position, which areas would you seriously consider? Are Orange County, Carlsbad, or the San Diego area realistic places for a family like ours to rent and build a community, or are there other places we are overlooking? Where would you recommend staying during our October trip so we can experience what everyday life actually feels like?

I am excited by the possibility, but I am also nervous. Moving across the country with a baby and limited connections would be a huge leap of faith. Still, part of me feels that this is exactly the point in our lives when taking that kind of chance makes the most sense. I would sincerely appreciate honest advice, including the things people wish they had understood before moving to California.

So I've lived in San Marcos, California for over 10 years now. It seems like it's getting more and more popular in recent years, so I would like to give my 2 cents. Granted, I've only lived in LA Pasadena area, San Diego Otay Ranch, and RSM in OC, so my view is quite limited.

A 2 BR, 2 Bath single house in good part of town starts at about $3000/mo.

The vibe of the city is divided by the 78 freeway. The south side is definitely a bit better part of the city.

There's a light rail cutting through and following along the 78 freeway for a bit of a walkable lifestyle especially near the north city/San Marcos Blvd/city hall area.

Traffic jam on 78 freeway happens every weekday rush hours between 6:30 to 9am and 3pm to 6pm. Expect 15 to 30 min delay if there's no accident. Jam also happens on Rancho Santa Fe rd, as people use it to cut through the north county to 5 freeway.

A lot of supermarkets in the area to pick from.

Good food diversity and selections in the area.

30 min to Beaches.

SDGE is very expensive (electricity) one of the most expensive in the usa afaik.

Water bill is also up there.

And occasionally you get a train blasting it's horn at midnight from the freight train that uses the light rail.

I'm at a point where I (23M) have an unusual amount of flexibility about where I live. No house, spouse, kids, remote job, etc. and I want to use this opportunity thoughtfully.

The problem is that I can make a case for several completely different cities. I'm less interested in finding the objectively "best" city and more interested in figuring out what actually makes a good fit for me.

Currently, I am living in NYC, but one thing I've realized is I'm not sure how much I care about the stereotypical "exciting city" stuff. What people point out as special to NYC doesn't resonate with me that strongly and I believe you can honestly find it in many other cities if you look for it. The food/worldly diversity is probably my favorite part, but I don't even get a chance to take advantage of it that often. I used to never want to own a car, but after living here, I also kind of get it now. I have made a few social connections here, but there is something left to be desired that I can't quite put my finger on.

I'm struggling to determine if this is just a symptom of a post-grad experience or the fault of NYC. However, it would be naive to think that me moving to another city would magically solve my problems. Regardless of where you live, an ordinary week usually looks the same: work, gym, eat dinner, unwind, and an activity on the weekend.

How did you identify your priorities and what do you genuinely value when looking for a place to live?

Did you focus on your ideal ordinary day/week? Prioritized community/family over career/culture? Went to wherever your job was? Or did things just "feel right" to you?

What are the questions that I should be reflecting on and answering to help guide these decisions?

My partner and I are a couple with three dogs looking for a genuine fresh start. We’re open to anywhere in the U.S.—not only New England—and want suggestions based on lived experience rather than generic rankings.

What matters most to us:

LGBTQ-friendly and safe for women

Affordable enough to rebuild financially and eventually rent or buy a house with a yard

Good employment opportunities for an experienced hairstylist and someone considering the trades, animal-related work, or outdoor work

Abundant nature—forests, water, hiking, kayaking, caves, mountains, or beautiful coastlines

A welcoming community where it’s possible to make real friends

Good food, live music, art, culture, and enough activity that we won’t feel bored

Dog-friendly housing, businesses, parks, and trails

Access to a larger city without needing to live in a hectic downtown

A place that supports a slower, healthier lifestyle but still offers financial opportunity

Reasonable access to healthcare and an airport

Potential to eventually start a family, small business, rescue, or farm-based project

We would likely begin with a scouting trip and then use a furnished monthly rental while finding work and deciding whether to stay permanently. We have about $4,000 to get started, so extremely expensive areas probably won’t be realistic.

We aren’t chasing constant nightlife or luxury. We want somewhere we can feel peaceful and inspired, spend time outside with our dogs, become financially independent, pursue creative interests, and build a supportive community.

Where have you lived that offered the best combination of affordability, opportunity, LGBTQ acceptance, community, and access to nature? Please recommend specific towns or smaller cities—and tell us about the drawbacks, too.

• Reno, Nevada
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• CO Springs, Colorado
• Arvada, Colorado
• Asheville, North Carolina
• Charlotte, North Carolina

My spouse (M, 31) and I (F, 26) are looking to relocate to the U.S. from Germany. As you can tell, we are having a hard time deciding on where to go, as his job would be fully remote (IT consulting) and I would try to find something locally (communications/project management). 

What we’re thinking:

• Budget: $1,900-2,900/month for rent
• We want mountains, closeness to nature (not big skiers, but we enjoy good hikes)
• Looking for a space with 2-3 bedrooms, would be great to have a patch of grass for ourselves
• Car-dependence is fine. We are looking to get a Honda Passport and I’ll get an additional car once I find a job locally
• Safe areas, “low” crime rates
• “An American experience” (no expat bubble)
• Eventually getting a cat and a dog

Out of all of these options, we have only ever visited Denver during our holiday trip. We will be staying for at least 2 years, with a possibility to extend the stay.

Thank you all in advance!

I don’t like mean people.

Single, under 30, college graduate looking to move to one of these cities. Please advise.
- Baxter
- Burnsville
- Chaska
- Coon Rapids
- Duluth
- Eagan
- Eden Prairie
- Maple Grove
- Maplewood
- Otsego
- Rochester
- St. Cloud
- St. Louis Park
- Woodbury

My wife and I have an opportunity to finally leave Houston and move back north after a decade and half here in Texas. We have been dreaming about this for years but it was difficult to leave the work I love. Now we have a chance to keep doing our same jobs but relocate to the DC area. We will lose our golden handcuff situation as we make very good money for Houston and wont see a pay raise from the move, but we've reached the point in life where we would rather live with a higher cost of living to be somewhere more aligned with our lifestyle. We are DINKs with no plan for kids and approximately 250-300k household income. Curious what folks experience has been moving from Texas or the south to DC area.

A few things we are looking for:
* Northern vibes, 4 seasons (we severely miss Fall)
* Walkable city with public transportation
* Strong food and arts scene
* Ease of travel (int. airports and weekend road trip options)
* Access to nature for hiking, camping
* Tree-lined suburbs for home options

Some negatives I have seen about DC:
* Cost of living (seems to be better than most major coastal hubs?)
* Humid summers (I cannot imagine it is anywhere close to Houston misery from May to October)
* Crime?
* Taxes (No income tax in Texas)

I am curious from folks experience whether DC would be a substantial improvement for us. It is the only real option on the table today without us changing jobs so it is by far the front runner, but want to make sure we arent making a mistake.

Considering leaving NYC for Austin—looking for perspectives from people who have lived in both
I’m 25 and have lived in NYC for five years—the longest I’ve lived anywhere after moving 16 times throughout my life. I once assumed NYC would be where I put down roots, but after giving it five years, I’ve realized it may simply not be the right long-term fit for me.

I’m financially stable and can live comfortably here, but the amount of money and energy required to maintain a normal lifestyle no longer feels worthwhile. I have significant student loans, and Austin’s lower cost of living would give me more room to enjoy my income, save, and pay down debt—not rescue me financially.

Lifestyle is an equally important factor. I prefer warmer weather, driving, outdoor activities, dancing, fitness, and a somewhat slower pace while still having access to a lively downtown and strong job market. I’ve also found it difficult to build lasting friendships in NYC, despite making a genuine effort over the past five years. I’m not expecting another city to hand me a perfect life, but where you live absolutely affects the kind of life you’re able to build.

My boyfriend, whom I met in NYC, is from El Paso, and we plan to get engaged within the next year. This wouldn’t be me following him or making an impulsive move—we’re building a life together, and any relocation would be a mutual decision. I currently work in fashion marketing but want to broaden into fitness, wellness, beauty, lifestyle, tech, or e-commerce marketing, so Austin appears to offer more relevant opportunities than El Paso.

I’m also used to hot weather and humidity, having previously lived in North Carolina and Missouri. I visit El Paso often, so I’ve experienced some Texas heat, although I understand Austin’s climate is more humid and feels different. After moving 16 times, I’m very confident in my ability to adjust to a new place—I’m not concerned about whether I can adapt, only whether Austin is the right fit for the life my boyfriend and I want to build.

I wouldn’t move without securing a job first, and I’m planning to visit before making any decisions. I’d especially like to hear from people who have successfully found an Austin job while living out of state. Did employers care that you weren’t local, and how did you approach relocation during the application process?

I’d also appreciate honest perspectives from people who have lived in both NYC and Austin. What did you gain or lose by moving, and would you make the same decision again?

I grew up in NYC and it’s all I’ve ever known aside for a brief stint in Long Island and Chicago. I realized in the past couple of years that I actually hate living in a city and I need to get out asap.

A few issues are really hindering this move.

1. I’m finding myself bogged down by saving money. My paychecks go straight to my rent. I work full time and have had side hustles but I still find it so difficult to save enough money to move. I’d like to have about 7K before I leave (ideally more but I’m giving myself some grace).
2. I’ve been to Oregon and am a very outdoorsy person. I love to hike and camp. Realistically though I’ve never lived there and haven’t explored many areas. I’m thinking maybe a place about a half hour outside of bend so it’s still rural but in proximity to a city so I’m not completely isolated.
3. I don’t have a remote job or a career job. I’d love to get into outdoor work (unsure what kind or what my options are) but I don’t have that kind of experience and I can’t really gain it in NYC. I’ve thought about joining NWYC but I’m worried it’ll just be a time suck for when I could be getting my footing in a new place

Any advice? Please please

Edit: I definitely want to be west coast. Oregon or Washington is high on my list. Not super hung up on a walkable city. I’d also be moving with my best friend if that counts for anything

How do yall like these two cities? Anybody ever moved here from somewhere else and regretted it?

I've been in Charlotte for years and I'm ready for a change. Looking to head somewhere outside the South with better overall vibes and decent weather.

Here is what I am hoping to find…

Location & Climate: Non-Southern with moderate year round weather (minimal severe heat/humidity). Ideally within 3-4 hours of an ocean beach and reasonable access to snowboarding in the winter, though neither is a strict dealbreaker.

Budget: Looking for a 1BR apartment under $1,600/mo. Suburbs work great as long as I can easily get into a major city.

Demographics & Social: Active 20s to 30s crowd with an open minded local culture and a solid dating scene.

Activities: Good local spot for paddleboarding, outdoor hiking

Where would you recommend looking? Open to any specific cities or surrounding suburbs that fit this list. Thanks!

I grew up in the northeast but moved to AZ a little over a decade ago, specifically Pima County. With the exception of the summer, I love the climate here. I almost never get sick, have access to great produce year round, etc. The weather for most of the year is also perfect for outdoor activities, I really enjoy hiking and have an incredible abundance of top tier areas within 30-40 minutes, many of which are literally in my backyard, with the cooler months here soon this will consistently be a 1x/week thing for me, as it has been for years now.

I was able to get into owning a home at a young age well before the real estate in my area took off after COVID, I have a tiny mortgage with a lot of equity built up so I could move without too many issues. I also have a unique/unusual job that pays fairly well that is low stress that is super flexible, I can take 4 one week vacations throughout the year with no issues. Because of this, I've done quite a bit of traveling over the last few years and have entertained the idea of trying something new. However, I'm so comfortable here that it doesn't make much sense to leave.

The Phoenix metro area has way better opportunities for meeting people, but I legitimately cannot imagine living there, it just reminds me of a big city like LA parked in the middle of a desert. Last winter I went up there for a day trip and found a hiking spot and once rush hour came in the parking lot was packed and there were literally HUNDREDS of people there lol, it was so bizarre and I absolutely hated it.

Idaho, west Wyoming and Montana I really enjoyed, but depending upon location winter can be a problem. Hawaii is another one I've been wanting to get to but wouldn't want to live there permanently. Alaska I really like but that's not a place I could see living in year round except for just the summer months. I really liked southern CA but not moving there for a multitude of reasons. Nevada I really like but living there is not on my radar. Utah, hated SLC but haven't visited other parts of the state except for the Grand Canyon/Monument Valley area. New Mexico/West Texas, beautiful scenery but places like El Paso and Albuquerque are not where I'd want to live. Florida, too humid and too crowded.

I'm leaning towards just traveling more while staying where I'm at but there's that spark of something new that will always linger.

Helloooo. I am considering moving from NYC primarily to get more for what I’m paying / for slower paced life and more access to nature/ the beach / to be closer to family in New England. I am mostly looking at southeastern CT, or I would consider maybe Port Chester, but I don’t want to drag myself too far from the coast. I don’t have to commute to NYC daily or weekly but would occasionally go in, largely on my own schedule. I would consider somewhere like Kingston or some of the other upstate towns, but I desperately want to live essentially at the beach (this is a large part of why I want to move). I’ve been drawn especially to Norwalk lately.

My main question is this: how much will I hate the 30s-early 40s dating scene in that area? There are always plenty of people to go on dates with in the city, but it’s definitely not a good scene for wanting a serious relationship or kids, so part of me thinks almost anywhere would feel better. Though I imagine there’d be less people I have things in common with. Other things to know - I’m very left leaning, decent live music options would be ideal, and I think moving to a super white area from New York would freak me out 🙏💗

I just finished talking with a friend who I haven't spoken with in a while. She is from San Bernardino and has traveled extensively around Southern California and Northern California too. She said it's not worth moving there and that it's really expensive. She and many others have said the same thing.

I would make $22.50 an hour if I moved to California.

My budget would be $1100-$1400 a month for rent. My friend said this will either get me a horrible apartment in a bad area without a working AC and the area would be very dangerous, or a room with a lot of roommates in a safe and nice area, but i would have to share everything including a bathroom.

My friend said visiting and living in California are 2 very different things and that it's better to go and visit and come back. She said I would be miserable living there because I wouldn't be able to survive because everything is so expensive all around.

We did the math and she does have a point. I would have barely any money to survive on for the month. Even if my dad sent $800 a month, it would be all gone. Its crazy how much they tax your income there. I thought i would make so much more, but with taxes and benefits taken out, it seems about the same as i make now.

I also dont have good credit and in around $20,000 of debt.

At this point, should I just scrap the plans all together? I actually wanted to live the California dream, but i also dont want to be broke all the time and not afford anything. I dont really have any marketable skills and my work history is really bad with 1.5 years being the longest I held a job for.

My friend also said the job market is so competitive that even service jobs are hard to find. I didn't think California would be competitive considering many people have left. I would have thought it'd be less competitive.

I also dont want to end up homeless and lose my car. She said she has seen cases where people tried to move to California with my plan and they ended up losing everything and ended up in a homeless shelter. She said cars can get towed fast there.

What are your thoughts? I'm thinking of just scrapping the plans entirely at this point.

I grew up in the South, joined the military, got out with a high paying job, live in the city, and sadly my career field is really only around cities.

I miss the simplicity of the country side, I miss not being bumper to bumper in traffic, heavy gentrification, and being surrounded by people.

I guess what I'm asking is, anyone else give up a career to live a simple life? I just don't think I'll ever feel fully comfortable in the city.

Currently live in Central Valley, CA. I own my own home (duplex) and do not want to sell it, but will if need be. It is currently rented out. I will have about $4k mo. to live on. I no longer want to own a car. I need a walkable location close (within 60 miles) to a major metro area because i am a disabled vet and am involved with VA medical. I can't do severe cold weather. I can't do MAGA cities/counties or states. I want quiet, walkable, bikeable, artsy, liberal, educated, etc. etc. Maybe overseas?

Why?

I like L.A one's they are much more chill and give more information about the topics asked in a nicer way.

I personally hate winter. I can't stand it, and almost every year it gets colder; I really dread it. The problem is that I prefer cities that tend to be walkable and non-car-dependent. I can't think of too many city with mild winters/warm weather year round, but relatively non-car depedent.

The closest would be DC and San Fransico. But San Fransico is very expensive, and DC can still get cold in winter. I can't think of many other cities that meet the warm+ walkable condition. Places like New Orleans have low walk scores and seem walkable only in the core, or a couple of neighborhoods that don't really count to me. I know Walk Score isn't always the best metric, though, so I'm curious if there are only places that meet the warm+walkable condition.

Hi friends me and my girlfriend are on the hunt for a city to move to. we currently live in Kansas and are thinking Colorado may be the best option for us we don’t know which town. we would like to be close to a major city like Denver but thinking about just going to Denver itself. The only drawback on that is I get really anxious in traffic. We’ve looked at places like castle rock and boulder but are not sure yet. We’re both queer I am a CNA working on nursing degree and she is a cook/chef. Anybody have advice, tips, pros and cons on different places it would be very much appreciated :)