Have you ever wanted to live in a big city? You’re not alone. The populations of large cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles are ever-growing. Even smaller — but still large cities — are on the rise as entrepreneurs and CEOs develop new startups and develop more avenues for creative ventures.
While suburban and rural towns certainly have their charm, there’s no beating the allure of the cities. Entire films and novels have been written about the classic small-town person achieving their dreams and moving to the big city (with varying degrees of success). These cultural hubs are ideal for tourists who want to expand their worldview and meet countless new people. If you live in one of these larger cities, there will be no dearth of activities, people, and opportunities to explore.
There’s no disputing that big cities have ample numbers of people, job opportunities, and things to do. The benefits of living in a big city are countless if you’re willing to put in the work and make your dream a reality.
Are you interested in the benefits of living in a big city? Here are some of the opportunities you can experience when you pack up your bags and head downtown.
Job opporunities
The biggest draw for larger cities is the ample job opportunities. These are the locations where startups begin, small businesses flourish, and large corporations seek new employees on the daily.
Large cities are great for career seekers looking to get into the following fields:
- Engineers: Large firms usually set up shop where there are ample resources, both in terms of land and people. You will often find engineering companies situating themselves in mid-sized cities and larger cities as they expand and seek to fill other aspects of growth when it comes to banking, marketing, and HR.
- Marketing: Marketing firms are great because many jobs can be performed remotely. For a solid core team, however, many larger cities prefer in-person meetings and trainings. Additionally, marketing firms are common in big cities because of the large target population and countless businesses that can rely on their help. As such, it’s not surprising that web developers and graphic designers are also able to thrive after moving to a large city.
- Healthcare: A larger population needs more healthcare resources. Whether you’re interested in becoming a cosmetic dentist or starting your own urgent care center, there will never be a shortage of jobs for nurses, practitioners, and doctors in a large city. This is also a great spot for specialized healthcare needs. Allergists and OB/GYNs are usually able to help a larger segment of the population in larger cities. Here, spine doctors thrive, chiropractors grow, and gastroenterologists are able to find more patients than in the countryside.
- Attorneys and lawyers: According to BLS, there will be more than 800,000 lawyers operating in the United States by 2024. New York City alone has 55,480 lawyer positions and this is only going to grow. Whether you’re looking to become one of the many car accident attorneys in NYC or a lawyer specializing in estate planning, there’s a niche for your line of work in a big city.
When you’re considering the benefits of living in a big city, the ample number of job opportunities should be at the top of your list.
Countless amenities
When you’re living in a big city, there’s almost always something to do. Restaurants with top chefs are open late, there’s always a bar having an event (even on the weekdays), and the number of cultural hubs (like museums, galleries, theatres, and memorial sites) will make your head spin. If you’re looking to do more with your free time, the benefits of living in a big city can be boiled down to one word: fun.
It might get a little expensive to go out every day, but many cultural and historic sites offer plenty of activities for free. In a large city, you can also find green spaces and affordable entertainment when the weather gets nice for festivals.
If you’re looking to pick up on a hobby, there’s no better location to start than in a new, big city. Community centers and local small businesses often offer affordable classes for folks of any age. This is great, whether you’re trying to get your child into a new sport or get you and your partner into a new artistic passion. Community centers offer everything from art classes to sculpting classes to cooking classes to jewelry making classes. All you need to do is search for community forums to get involved. You’ll feel better supporting local businesses as you invest in custom jewelry design options that you can’t find anywhere else.
Speaking of which…
Unique shops and stores
Big cities are were unique businesses come to thrive. These include the mom-and-pop diners, the world stores featuring objects from across the globe, and niche interests that can only thrive thanks to a lot of foot traffic.
Of course, that isn’t to say that a unique shop cannot thrive in a small town. It’s just more likely to do well when more people pass by. By engaging in community events as well, including food markets and trade shows, networking is easier than ever. You can patron these shops and support local businesses or try your hand at opening your own store if you have the capital. Affordable retail spaces might need the help of an emergency plumber when you first start out, but small businesses are easier to get off the ground than if you opened one in the country. Thanks to the higher population density, you’ll usually save some money on advertising and hiring employees until you’re ready to scale up your business. By living in a big city, you never know when networking with friends and coworkers can lead to even great opportunities.
If you need to travel somewhere new, you can also rest assured that your home and pets are safe. People tend to look out for each other in city neighborhoods and installing a security alarm can help you feel even more secure. It will also be easy to find a domestic animal medical care center to get your cat or dog boarded while you’re away. Pets are common in big cities, making animal-friendly shops even more prevalent.
The rise of the suburbs specifically happened because more people were able to make a living in the city. Once they were able to commute to their desired locations, cities expanded and suburbs became more of a thing. There are many benefits to living in a big city, least of all the growing numbers of jobs and opportunities.
Walkability and public transit
When you live out in the country or in the suburbs, you simply have to have a car. Suburbs are specifically designed to house people and aren’t equipped to put businesses at the forefront. That’s why most suburbs have a popular road or two where most of their business exchanges occur. In a single outing in a single plaza, you can go to the bank, visit the periodontal dentist, and hit your favorite grocery store. But you’ll need a car to get there and you likely won’t have any bike lanes if you want to opt for a more eco-friendly option.
In the city, this isn’t the case. Most city roads are specifically built to accommodate more people. As such, roads can host bikers and city buses with ease. There is a wide range of stops on bus routes to ensure that people are getting where they need to go and they run more frequently to prevent folks from being late. There are still many small shops all located on specific hubs in the city, but you can experience a far greater range of shops and activities by simply walking around your neighborhood. In particularly large cities, you might even see trolley systems and subways that are able to host even bigger crowds.
If you live in the city, you might not even need a car. This can save you tons of money, especially if you opt for affordable public transit options. When you’re considering the benefits of living in a big city, you have to take the great public transit into account.
A range of living styles
When you live out in the country, odds are you’re either renting or owning a house of your own. But in the city, where space is not as plentiful, there are a variety of unique living situations. Some people might see this is a negative, but even various housing options offer benefits of living in a big city.
This isn’t to say that you can’t find alternative living options in small towns. However, larger cities have unique housing options that you might not have ever considered. Baltimore is famous for its row houses, NYC has a reputation for lofts, and Boston has ample townhomes all sporting a designer door facing beautiful cobblestone streets. There are ample apartment buildings that are decades old and you can find unique multi-family homes that you cannot discover anywhere else.
For example, many people would rather live in an affordable townhouse in a rental community because of the amenities. When you choose this housing option, you are a part of a community and you can take advantage of the facility’s pool, the lawn care services, and even a community gym if they have one. The same goes for larger cities that offer condo opportunities.
Owning a condo might sound like something only older folks do, but a growing number of young people are starting to invest in affordable condos in a variety of styles. And when you opt for a condo or a place that you own, you can always look for retail shops wallpaper for a fast transformation on a budget.
At the end of the day, you’re always going to have to invest in HVAC installation or minor electrical work when you buy a house. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the city or the country: just find a place that you want to live and you can make your dream a reality.
The benefits of living in a big city
Living in a big city isn’t for everyone, but for those who can’t resist the allure of non-stop entertainment, culture, and opportunities, the benefits of living in a big city are a no-brainer. Before you pack up your boxes, consider these benefits of living in a big city.
