I live in Chicago but absolutely hate the city. Problem is, I don’t know where to move. Logic says Dallas, but it’s not a fun city. I want to maximize take home, so low taxes or a big raise is a must.

Property taxes are definitely high (although my place is only in the $300-400k range so tax ~$570/mo vs ~$1.1k P&I) and the state’s financial/political situation is probably the biggest red flag about living in Chicago long-term (I’m a native, so I’m used to the weather). However, I’m struggling to think of a city that I enjoy more than Chicago that will also give me a higher take-home (Seattle’s higher COL offsets the tax situation and higher salary, while NYC is both more expensive and more taxes) — seems like if you’re optimizing for take home you can’t really be picky about location. One of my friends resides in PR for that reason. Hope you figure out something that makes you happy as a former coworker.

If all you are about is lower taxes or CoL literally anywhere that isn't Boston, NYC, SF, Seattle will do.

Despite the fact that people here on FB are all young and only consider the big popular cities, there are many many metros that will afford you low COL and lots of fun.

I live in a midsized metro in the rust belt:
-Bought a house in a beautiful neighborhood with good schools for the price of a down payment in Chicago
-20 min to airport never a line to get to through precheck
-Sports, art, theater, is a fraction of cost in tier 1 cities
-Has literally everything larger cities have, but with few options

Food for thought

Not Austin, we’re full.

Houston

@op, can’t speak to most of those points as I’m 23 living close to the loop. City politics, schools, and traffic don’t affect me much at all. There’s so much to do and COL is cheaper than LA, SF, and NY alternatives, I love it.

What is there to like about living in Chicago? Endemic political corruption, incompetent political leadership (I’m no fan of Rahm, but it’s going to get worse when he is gone), sky-high taxes that are only getting worse (I pay more on a $400k condo than my friends who just bought a $1MM condo in SF), miserable climate, terrible traffic, generally awful schools. There are few positives to live here full time. Great place to visit, miserable to live.

Why don’t you like Chicago?

People actually like Houston? Never been, but everyone I know who has spent time there hates it

Dc sucks. It’s expensive and full of crime and the suburbs are soulless and trafficky. And unless you like working for the govt (lol) or doing govt contracting type work or lobbying it’s just a crappy town for jobs too

From Texas: I love Austin and Dallas. Despise Houston.

Moved from Chicago to DC, not going back! Everyone has a "its horrible" opinion about somewhere, once you decide somewhere just go and try it out and if not go somewhere else, you aren't obligated to stay.

You guys, I am in Florida, loving the tax free state, but man I miss the seasons. I'm about to lose my mind.

Only thing bad about Houston is the humidity...and that’s actually good for your skin......so stop Hatin!

HTown all day 🤘

Dallas over Houston

I live in Houston. Save a ton of money and don’t have to see as many hipsters with man buns like in Austin.

But do you...

Dallas is fun. I picked it over Chicago. Austin’s airport blows. Houston is humid as hell

I’ve never heard people who enjoy Houston.

Austin, however....

Not Dallas either. We are full too 😅

Come to DC it definitely doesn’t suck

K1 - I grew up in IN, and have lived in Chi for ~5 years. There are definitely Midwest cities I’d consider, but I would rather be able to sell all my cold weather gear. Snow and I are not good friends