Moving to a new city is thrilling and daunting, whether for work, family, or chasing your dreams. While researching your new city for thousands of hours a day might sap the joy out of your move, it’s still essential to explore specific key fields so you don’t face any nasty surprises. But what are the must haves?
Discover the main research areas you should consider before putting a deposit down on an apartment. You don’t want to regret the move!
Traffic and Transport
Most cities will indeed have traffic, but it’s crucial to know the transportation links in your new city to see if they suit you. For example, if you’re an avid cyclist, packed cities like New York City may not be your favorite.
Or you might be an avid driver, but you’re not used to heavily populated cities. Take West Palm Beach, an exciting area to move to, but it’s worth knowing that crashes aren’t uncommon, much like other cities. So, if you’re considering moving, it would be wise to research how much car insurance, health insurance, and a West Palm Beach car accident lawyer might cost you.
For those who love optimizing public transport, it’s crucial to investigate your options and how much weekly, monthly, or yearly passes could cost. That way, before you even move, you’re aware of the financial budgets you need to make.
2. Climate
The USA has a diverse range of climates depending on where you live; you must consider the weather and climate of your chosen city before you move. If you love sunshine, moving to Seattle may not be the answer. Likewise, if you know you’d find the threat of hurricanes or storms too anxiety-inducing, Miami might not be the answer.
Knowing the genuine reality of a climate can help you narrow down your options if you find yourself stuck between wanting to move to several cities. And if climates aren’t deal breakers, the research can help you prepare regardless.
3. Cost of Living
While you might like to think that the USA is your oyster and your dream city could be anywhere, sadly, the cost of living does differ from place to place, and it’s an important consideration. New York and San Francisco are among some of the world’s most expensive cities to live in, so if that’s your dream, make sure you’re earning (or will be earning) enough money to live off.
It would also be best to decide how vital a lifestyle is to you. Are you happy to live in an expensive city but get by because you don’t go out several times a week for drinks or shows? Or would you instead soak up your city as much as possible?
Think, Then Move
Ultimately, you aren’t short of US cities to choose from for your next big move, but researching transportation, cost, and climate will help direct your search and narrow pre-existing options.