One of the most extensive questions is whether you should live in the suburbs or enjoy the fun and colorful life that can be found in more urban areas. There are pros and cons to each, ranging from what type of job you have to how much you want to pay for the property- and it’s essential to weigh the benefits and losses closely.
Here are the top arguments for both sides! Consider each carefully, and you’ll have a clear answer to where you should move!
Ease of Travel Without a Car
Do you currently own a car? If so, it’s lucky for you, because this means you can go wherever you want, and distance isn’t an issue. Unfortunately, for the sixteen percent of Canadians who don’t own cars, homes for sale in Toronto outside of the city aren’t many options. Public transit is more widely available in city limits. There are tons of perks with public transit, like helping the environment and saving money on gasoline, so many car owners still decide not to drive themselves!
Living Expenses
In the long term, living in the suburbs is cheaper. If you purchase a home, you’re more likely to get more home for less money, you’ll spend less on essentials like food and electricity, and you’ll have better public education. Unfortunately, in the cities, it’s harder to afford. Most people who live in urban areas have to rent, and even then, the prices can be unreasonably high. In cities, food and utilities go up in cost, and not everyone can get an excellent paying job that will help support them.
Distance to Restaurants and Shops
This consideration is where city living comes into the spotlight. You could live in an apartment above a restaurant in urban environments, and it wouldn’t be strange. Food and shopping are usually readily available, and you can more easily get these delivered to you if you don’t drive. Suburbs are built in a sprawling way that makes it hard to access anything—getting to a grocery store that linearly only three miles away could end up taking a six-mile stretch of land to reach.
Space for Cost
You get a lot more for your money living in a suburb. This difference means you can spend that money on other things, like getting a new car or boating on weekends. In cities, because of the high cost of living, many have to live paycheck to paycheck. This problem doesn’t mean there aren’t affordable ways to live in urban areas- but to make that happen; you’d have to invite in roommates, which takes away from your space even more.
Job Accessibility
If you live in the city, you can work multiple jobs because they’re close together and close to home. Unfortunately, this is often a necessity since many jobs pay minimum wage. On the other hand, living in the suburbs makes it harder to get around to multiple positions. The average suburban family makes more money in a month anyway, which makes a second job unnecessary.