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Skateboarding => Travel Guide => Topic started by: duster1 on February 14, 2021, 10:08:21 PM

Title: Best Value Cities
Post by: duster1 on February 14, 2021, 10:08:21 PM
What cities get you the best bang for your buck?
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: igrindtwinkies on February 14, 2021, 11:00:52 PM
Minneapolis if you can deal with it being -15 outside right now.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: matty_c on February 14, 2021, 11:25:07 PM
Pound for pound best bang for the buck I gotta go Pattaya, soi six
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Sila on February 15, 2021, 12:24:10 AM
Prague. Lots of European cities. Anywhere in South East Asia except for Singapore.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Easy Slider on February 15, 2021, 01:25:12 AM
Riga comes to mind.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: jerrygurneyscream on February 15, 2021, 06:27:42 AM
Providence baby! So many spots and significantly cheaper than Boston or New York
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Pat Eisenhauer on February 15, 2021, 08:58:06 AM
Minneapolis if you can deal with it being -15 outside right now.

So what the hell do you guys do?  I'm moving there next week and scared I'm not going to skate for another month at least.  I'm old and not particularly good but I do skate like 2x a week now and fear that is going to drop off to nothing until spring hits.

I hope to meet some guys this coming summer and have some ins for next year, but the thought of going to a busy and unfamiliar indoor park alone to struggle to 5050 a ledge or 5-0 a quarter (especially during COVID) is daunting.

Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: imposter on February 15, 2021, 12:41:37 PM
Inkster mi
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: igrindtwinkies on February 15, 2021, 09:03:56 PM
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Minneapolis if you can deal with it being -15 outside right now.
[close]

So what the hell do you guys do?  I'm moving there next week and scared I'm not going to skate for another month at least.  I'm old and not particularly good but I do skate like 2x a week now and fear that is going to drop off to nothing until spring hits.

I hope to meet some guys this coming summer and have some ins for next year, but the thought of going to a busy and unfamiliar indoor park alone to struggle to 5050 a ledge or 5-0 a quarter (especially during COVID) is daunting.

I don't live in Minneapolis, I live 4 hours southwest of there, contemplating moving there though.  I don't know what to tell you, 3rd lair and familia are open with mask and social distancing measures.  Fuck it, noone will remember your face with a mask on.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Pat Eisenhauer on February 16, 2021, 09:29:40 AM
Sounds like I'm gonna have to suck it up and go skate the 3rd lair mini ramp with some rock to fakie-ing 5 year olds until I get my sea legs.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Telly on February 16, 2021, 11:22:44 AM
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Minneapolis if you can deal with it being -15 outside right now.
[close]

So what the hell do you guys do?  I'm moving there next week and scared I'm not going to skate for another month at least.  I'm old and not particularly good but I do skate like 2x a week now and fear that is going to drop off to nothing until spring hits.

I hope to meet some guys this coming summer and have some ins for next year, but the thought of going to a busy and unfamiliar indoor park alone to struggle to 5050 a ledge or 5-0 a quarter (especially during COVID) is daunting.

Minnesota is pretty street skating friendly.  Cops here are cool if you are.  Some areas might be a little rough but respect gets respect
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: hank on February 16, 2021, 05:57:45 PM
Inkster mi
yes im same fwording because i cant say the f word here
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: fuhkin_powahfood_kid on February 17, 2021, 05:54:50 PM
Providence baby! So many spots and significantly cheaper than Boston or New York


yeehaw, kid. I used to have a lot of fun in providence.

damn. just looked at real estate. you can get a lot for the money there. sub300k homes in decent spots. wow.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: TheLurper on February 17, 2021, 11:37:14 PM
Baltimore. City deserves way more love than it gets and it is super affordable.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: FUBAR on February 18, 2021, 02:37:23 AM
Sounds like I'm gonna have to suck it up and go skate the 3rd lair mini ramp with some rock to fakie-ing 5 year olds until I get my sea legs.
Parking garages, covered areas, tiny garage spaces, buy a few sheets of plywood and skate flatground in your living room...there are options.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: VCR on February 18, 2021, 07:51:35 AM
Sounds like I'm gonna have to suck it up and go skate the 3rd lair mini ramp with some rock to fakie-ing 5 year olds until I get my sea legs.

Quite a few private bowls there. Tangle with the locals and get in.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Mesteezo on February 18, 2021, 09:12:58 AM
Tijuana
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: sexualhelon on February 18, 2021, 12:31:40 PM
To live or to travel?

If to travel, anywhere you find cheap accommodation that's also got a lower cost of living than where you're coming from.

If to live, any place with cheap rent and a lower cost of living than where you're coming from.

These sound pretty much the same, but if you're traveling as a tourist to a touristy place then the price of accommodation might be exorbitantly high compared to what rent actually costs locals.

I think Eastern Europe as a region wins on both fronts because it's not touristy. SE Asia can be expensive as a tourist these days, depending, but is generally cheaper to live in. But if you're looking for a place that's cheap, with a decent economy (or rather has jobs that pay really well relative to the cost of living in your field of expertise) then you can kind of see it's pretty varied. Really depends exactly what you mean by "best value" cities.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: banksandledges on March 01, 2021, 08:08:50 AM
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Sounds like I'm gonna have to suck it up and go skate the 3rd lair mini ramp with some rock to fakie-ing 5 year olds until I get my sea legs.
[close]

Quite a few private bowls there. Tangle with the locals and get in.

This. There’s plenty of indoor spots. I would avoid 3rd lair if you’re over 25 doe.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Lenny the Fatface on March 01, 2021, 08:54:39 AM
What cities get you the best bang for your buck?

Any medium or kinda large city in the southeast USA that’s not Miami is relatively affordable compared to similar types of cities elsewhere in the country.

If you want something larger try Austin, Atlanta, or Charlotte

If you prefer something medium try Tampa, Raleigh, or Richmond.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Willie on March 01, 2021, 09:08:29 AM
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Sounds like I'm gonna have to suck it up and go skate the 3rd lair mini ramp with some rock to fakie-ing 5 year olds until I get my sea legs.
[close]

Quite a few private bowls there. Tangle with the locals and get in.
[close]

This. There’s plenty of indoor spots. I would avoid 3rd lair if you’re over 25 doe.

It used to be free for old people on Thursdays. That was pretty great.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: mj23 on March 04, 2021, 11:59:25 AM
Someone in another thread made a great case for Porto, Portugal. Makes sense to me bc you get the Mediterranean weather but Portugal is way cheaper than France or Spain.

Here in the US my first instinct is to say Philly or Baltimore. Philly isn’t as cheap as it used to be but it’s still a steal compared to NYC or Boston. Baltimore is a good bit cheaper but a lot more crime and poverty and poor infrastructure/services.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: witty pseudonym on March 04, 2021, 01:53:59 PM
Baltimore. City deserves way more love than it gets and it is super affordable.

I was thinking on moving there but my wife is scared of the crime.  Is it really as bad as people say? 
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Some dude on March 04, 2021, 03:51:24 PM
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What cities get you the best bang for your buck?
[close]

Any medium or kinda large city in the southeast USA that’s not Miami is relatively affordable compared to similar types of cities elsewhere in the country.

If you want something larger try Austin, Atlanta, or Charlotte

If you prefer something medium try Tampa, Raleigh, or Richmond.

Atlanta ain’t the spot. It’s okay for certain reasons, but I wouldn’t put it high on the best value list...it can be pricy and you need a car for anything..
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Willie on March 04, 2021, 04:41:42 PM
Here in the US my first instinct is to say Philly or Baltimore. Philly isn’t as cheap as it used to be but it’s still a steal compared to NYC or Boston. Baltimore is a good bit cheaper but a lot more crime and poverty and poor infrastructure/services.

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Baltimore. City deserves way more love than it gets and it is super affordable.
[close]

I was thinking on moving there but my wife is scared of the crime.  Is it really as bad as people say? 


Philly and Baltimore are both deeply dysfunctional cities. Baltimore is worse but cheaper.

Baltimore seems like you could find a niche and do alright but it definitely has fewer options in housing, entertainment, restaurants, etc. The yuppie neighborhoods are still plenty expensive but outside those and the white working class enclaves there is a “you shouldn’t be here vibe” that I’ve never gotten so bad in Philly.

Philly circa 2016 wasn’t terrible. It’s still pretty decent but everything keeps getting more expensive, largely thanks to New York transplants while COVID has brought on a crime wave and looming financial crisis due to an over reliance on wage taxes.

Me and my old roommate moved to Philly and Baltimore respectively and he was always saying he wanted to move up to Philly but eventually moved to Ohio after a friend got murdered on his front stoop and his kids needed to go to school.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Lenny the Fatface on March 04, 2021, 04:50:12 PM
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What cities get you the best bang for your buck?
[close]

Any medium or kinda large city in the southeast USA that’s not Miami is relatively affordable compared to similar types of cities elsewhere in the country.

If you want something larger try Austin, Atlanta, or Charlotte

If you prefer something medium try Tampa, Raleigh, or Richmond.
[close]

Atlanta ain’t the spot. It’s okay for certain reasons, but I wouldn’t put it high on the best value list...it can be pricy and you need a car for anything..

Not cheap relative to the other places I’ve listed. But it is definitely the cheapest of the “hot girl cities” like LA, NYC, Miami etc.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: LordManHammer on March 04, 2021, 05:03:53 PM
Yeah I'm going to also add Atlanta ain't cheap, as I've seen and learned the Midwest and other no nothing towns like Huntsville, Birmingham, Jackson, Artisia, Tupelo, Omaha, Lawrence.

They're small and have cheaper rent but the affordability of places are in sketchy neighborhoods. What's I'm saying and someone else nailed it too as the places mentioned beforehand are cheap but have a vibe of I shouldn't be here for good reasons.

If you can, I recommend buying land and building a compound.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: duster1 on March 04, 2021, 09:57:43 PM
Seems like any city worth it’s dirt is going to cost you, which is cool

The cheap cities are cheap for a reason.

Great to hear about everyone’s experiences and really want to check some of these places out.

Hoping to go on a road trip in the USA and get a first hand experience
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: somethingmustbreaknow on March 05, 2021, 12:16:30 AM
Someone in another thread made a great case for Porto, Portugal. Makes sense to me bc you get the Mediterranean weather but Portugal is way cheaper than France or Spain.

the last part may be true, as prices for housing, living, goods, going out and such are generally lower compared to other southern/western european countries. however to the first part, porto is on the atlantic coast, nowhere near the mediterranean. so the weather can be quite changing and rain heavy, especially in the spring. i was there for a week in april, it poured every fucking day and it was super cold.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: TheLurper on March 05, 2021, 02:05:57 PM
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Baltimore. City deserves way more love than it gets and it is super affordable.
[close]

I was thinking on moving there but my wife is scared of the crime.  Is it really as bad as people say?

When talking about crime, I don't think anything is as bad as they say. I mean even in the worst neighborhoods there are nights the cops have nothing to do and end up sleeping in their cars. Here is a good place to compare crime in different areas... it isn't perfect, but it is a pretty good resource https://crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/explorer/state/maryland/crime

The hipster neighborhoods are super gentrified and the townhomes are a deal compared to the rest of America. I considered moving there a few years ago, but the ex and I decided we'd rather return to Canada.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Willie on March 05, 2021, 05:42:15 PM
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Baltimore. City deserves way more love than it gets and it is super affordable.
[close]

I was thinking on moving there but my wife is scared of the crime.  Is it really as bad as people say?
[close]

When talking about crime, I don't think anything is as bad as they say. I mean even in the worst neighborhoods there are nights the cops have nothing to do and end up sleeping in their cars. Here is a good place to compare crime in different areas... it isn't perfect, but it is a pretty good resource https://crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/explorer/state/maryland/crime

The hipster neighborhoods are super gentrified and the townhomes are a deal compared to the rest of America. I considered moving there a few years ago, but the ex and I decided we'd rather return to Canada.


Uh, that’s the data for the entire state of MD. Not to be a downer but Baltimore has a murder rate that’s still twice as high as Philly’s or 5x that of Chicago.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: TheLurper on March 06, 2021, 01:52:34 PM
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Baltimore. City deserves way more love than it gets and it is super affordable.
[close]

I was thinking on moving there but my wife is scared of the crime.  Is it really as bad as people say?
[close]

When talking about crime, I don't think anything is as bad as they say. I mean even in the worst neighborhoods there are nights the cops have nothing to do and end up sleeping in their cars. Here is a good place to compare crime in different areas... it isn't perfect, but it is a pretty good resource https://crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/explorer/state/maryland/crime

The hipster neighborhoods are super gentrified and the townhomes are a deal compared to the rest of America. I considered moving there a few years ago, but the ex and I decided we'd rather return to Canada.
[close]


Uh, that’s the data for the entire state of MD. Not to be a downer but Baltimore has a murder rate that’s still twice as high as Philly’s or 5x that of Chicago.

Below the option to choose the state, you can narrow down by PD and vary by type of crime.

Also, homicides aren't sporadically spread across the population. Sadly, the likelihood of being a victim, especially in Baltimore, falls upon a narrow demographic within the city. And, the violence is very unevenly spread across the city.

Gentrified/hipster Canton is a pretty safe place, especially if we are using homicide as a marker of "safe." And, so are some other areas within the city. I remember the area next to Vu being pretty amazing. https://homicides.news.baltimoresun.com/?range=2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEQUR7Fts-w
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: bust.factor on March 06, 2021, 02:58:49 PM
From my experience New Orleans. Super affordable and very friendly people. Even walking through the supposed dicier areas. The people from their porches would ask me and my girlfriend at the time how we were doing and to have a nice day
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: FUBAR on March 06, 2021, 03:30:38 PM
New Orleans is super rad. Always a good time.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: mj23 on March 08, 2021, 08:13:06 AM
New Orleans is cheap, full of seriously incredible food, and really nice people.

It’s also hotter and more humid than a demon’s nut sack. I have truly never sweat more than I did in New Orleans last autumn. 90 degrees there is easily worse than 110 in Los Angeles because it’s so dank and there’s no escaping it in the shade. Of course if you’re less of a puss than me that could be no problem. I’m sure many in the southern US could handle it just fine.

Oh also people drink like fucking fishes so if you have any inclination towards alcohol abuse it could be a very risky town.

But hey, if you can take the heat and the booze, it is a truly truly incredible one-of-a-kind city.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: LordManHammer on March 09, 2021, 07:50:13 AM
I lived all throughout the southeast state's and it's between the politics and the humidity that drives me banana's.

I live in South Florida now for now but my home is the northwest regardless of the cities I could give a shit less about them butttt for show's and events I'd rather be close in the area.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: childhood on March 09, 2021, 10:16:09 AM
Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: jorge on March 09, 2021, 10:55:47 AM
Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: fongool on March 11, 2021, 06:39:44 PM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)

you can easily live in Chicago without a car
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: jorge on March 12, 2021, 01:38:05 PM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
[close]

you can easily live in Chicago without a car
Ah I guess thats true.  Always forget about Chicago.  Its actually pretty cheap too all things considered.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: TheLurper on March 12, 2021, 02:15:04 PM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
[close]

you can easily live in Chicago without a car
[close]
Ah I guess thats true.  Always forget about Chicago.  Its actually pretty cheap too all things considered.

I think it depends on what someone does for work when it comes to making life in the US live-able without a car.

I lived in LA for a while and I had no problem without a car. However, I wasn't trying to go into the office each day. My work was remote and I could easily take the big blue bus from where I was staying to Stoner/The Courthouse, so shit was pretty easy. I mean the weather is perfect there is no reason not to walk to the local grocery store.

But that being said, a big portion of the city was blocked from me unless I found a ride or rented a car. (Getting to the beach would have been super hard without a car.)
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Dwyck on March 16, 2021, 08:13:58 PM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)

You don't take Bart within SF, you take Muni and it goes everywhere
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: coldbrew on March 18, 2021, 08:42:43 AM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
[close]

you can easily live in Chicago without a car

Philly is incredible easy to live in without a car. It's also super easy to get to NYC or the shore without a car. There's literally no reason to have a car here unless you work outside of the city.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Acky Jacky on March 18, 2021, 10:13:47 AM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
[close]

You don't take Bart within SF, you take Muni and it goes everywhere

Yeah you’re trippin if you think you need a car in SF. City is 7x7 miles too. It would be helpful if you like to explore the whole Bay Area though. I used to spend all my time in SF but lived in Oakland for a bit. Too many overnight busses from Market and Van Ness definitely could have used a car.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: GardenSkater77 on March 18, 2021, 10:28:23 AM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
[close]

You don't take Bart within SF, you take Muni and it goes everywhere
[close]

Yeah you’re trippin if you think you need a car in SF. City is 7x7 miles too. It would be helpful if you like to explore the whole Bay Area though. I used to spend all my time in SF but lived in Oakland for a bit. Too many overnight busses from Market and Van Ness definitely could have used a car.

You just need to invest in ear plugs if you want to ride on the BART to Oakland. Unless they fixed the wheel sound in the last 4 years since I was in town.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Eggie Vedder on March 18, 2021, 12:34:01 PM
This might be a controversial opinion but hear me out. Having moved from outside Baltimore to NY 7 years ago I think I get a better value in NY. sure my rent is more expensive but I got paid more for the same job. I also got to sell my car. I typically just ride my bike everywhere so I don’t buy a metro card. There is a ton of free entertainment and way more cheap food options. It’s easy to say rent is more expensive but when you factor in pay raise and all the other perks of a condensed city I think it has a pretty good bang for your buck. Sure middle America towns are way cheaper but can you see a dinosaur skeleton, a Rothko, go to the beach, and skate a multitude of incredible parks all in the same day without paying anything? Top it off with dollar slice or north dumpling and it’s an easy win in my book.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: dr.prestige on March 18, 2021, 12:48:25 PM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)

What? Lol. Having a car in SF fucking sucks. The parking is awful, you have to compete to get any spots and often times end up parking many blocks away from your intended destination. When I was living there I was spending on average of 20 minutes a night just looking for parking near my place and often times a good amount more than that. That sort of thing adds up over the week and makes you not want to use your car to go anywhere on your off days because it means you have to park again when you get back. Also, the parking rules are ridiculous, they street clean at least once a week and as much as three times a week on some streets which means you can't park there for the hours long time allotment for the street cleaners or get a fat ticket. If you don't have the city's pretty overpriced parking permit, or if you do have the permit but are parking somewhere outside of your residential zone, you can't remain parked at a spot for longer than two hours between Monday and Friday (some streets only allow an hour, also some include Saturday and Sunday) or you risk getting a fat ticket. There's a shit ton of traffic at most hours of the day, and makes traveling from one part of the city to another by car a headache and only slightly faster than skating there unless it's to the complete opposite side of the city. Meanwhile there are plenty of maniacs on the road that are willing to risk wrecking their car and killing themselves or others in order to get to where they're going a few minutes faster. On top of all that the risk of car break-ins is pretty high in the bay, so parking on the street may result in a broken window at least if not getting your shit took. A few of my roommates when I lived there didn't have a car and they all did just fine getting around the city on a cruiser board or a bike and using Muni and Bart, and being a car owner I was pretty envious of them that they never had to deal with any of the bullshit that owning one in SF entails. If I ever moved back I'd do the same and sell my car or pay extra to afford a spot in a private garage and never use it to go somewhere else in the city unless I really, really needed to.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: jorge on March 18, 2021, 12:59:09 PM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
[close]

What? Lol. Having a car in SF fucking sucks. The parking is awful, you have to compete to get any spots and often times end up parking many blocks away from your intended destination. When I was living there I was spending on average of 20 minutes a night just looking for parking near my place and often times a good amount more than that. That sort of thing adds up over the week and makes you not want to use your car to go anywhere on your off days because it means you have to park again when you get back. Also, the parking rules are ridiculous, they street clean at least once a week and as much as three times a week on some streets which means you can't park there for the hours long time allotment for the street cleaners or get a fat ticket. If you don't have the city's pretty overpriced parking permit, or if you do have the permit but are parking somewhere outside of your residential zone, you can't remain parked at a spot for longer than two hours between Monday and Friday (some streets only allow an hour, also some include Saturday and Sunday) or you risk getting a fat ticket. There's a shit ton of traffic at most hours of the day, and makes traveling from one part of the city to another by car a headache and only slightly faster than skating there unless it's to the complete opposite side of the city. Meanwhile there are plenty of maniacs on the road that are willing to risk wrecking their car and killing themselves or others in order to get to where they're going a few minutes faster. On top of all that the risk of car break-ins is pretty high in the bay, so parking on the street may result in a broken window at least if not getting your shit took. A few of my roommates when I lived there didn't have a car and they all did just fine getting around the city on a cruiser board or a bike and using Muni and Bart, and being a car owner I was pretty envious of them that they never had to deal with any of the bullshit that owning one in SF entails. If I ever moved back I'd do the same and sell my car or pay extra to afford a spot in a private garage and never use it to go somewhere else in the city unless I really, really needed to.
As another poster noted, there is a lot to do in the area around the city, and it isn't really accessible without a car.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Willie on March 18, 2021, 03:04:47 PM
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
[close]

you can easily live in Chicago without a car
[close]

Philly is incredible easy to live in without a car. It's also super easy to get to NYC or the shore without a car. There's literally no reason to have a car here unless you work outside of the city.

Philly is OK without a car if you’re not super far from CC or close enough to the EL and Broad Street line but you are cut off from large expanses of the city and surrounding areas. Chicago definitely has us beat for the ease with which you can navigate a much wider swath of city and burbs.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: drunk guy on March 18, 2021, 04:55:07 PM
This might be a controversial opinion but hear me out. Having moved from outside Baltimore to NY 7 years ago I think I get a better value in NY. sure my rent is more expensive but I got paid more for the same job. I also got to sell my car. I typically just ride my bike everywhere so I don’t buy a metro card. There is a ton of free entertainment and way more cheap food options. It’s easy to say rent is more expensive but when you factor in pay raise and all the other perks of a condensed city I think it has a pretty good bang for your buck. Sure middle America towns are way cheaper but can you see a dinosaur skeleton, a Rothko, go to the beach, and skate a multitude of incredible parks all in the same day without paying anything? Top it off with dollar slice or north dumpling and it’s an easy win in my book.
i agree with this, it all depends on if you get your footing.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: fuhkin_powahfood_kid on March 18, 2021, 07:06:54 PM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
[close]
Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)

It's no bargain city, but Boston (cambridge, allston, Somerville, newton, Brookline, etc) is generally easier to navigate without your own vehicle.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: LordManHammer on March 19, 2021, 04:12:46 PM
Living in the north west is the easiest and best for public transit. If you can tolerate budget prices from Seattle to Eugene Oregon you can make a weekend out of riding public transit now mind you it’s public transit not the greatest but if you need to get somewhere on the cheap it’ll cost you about 15-20 bucks at max.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: IpathCats on March 21, 2021, 07:15:48 AM
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Baltimore. City deserves way more love than it gets and it is super affordable.
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I was thinking on moving there but my wife is scared of the crime.  Is it really as bad as people say?

I've lived in MD most of my life. I would never, ever, move to Baltimore. The juice is just NOT worth the squeeze. Gary at VU is awesome, and there are definitely some good things going on there. However, taking all things into consideration, I would strongly advise against it.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Lame_Nigga on March 21, 2021, 08:04:38 AM
Saint Joseph, Mo. It's like 40 minutes from KC so you can go there any day you feel like driving a bit, lots of factory jobs to make money at, decently cheap rent (my 1 bedroom is $480).

It's really not that great but I need friends. Please move here.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: mj23 on March 21, 2021, 09:58:10 AM
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This might be a controversial opinion but hear me out. Having moved from outside Baltimore to NY 7 years ago I think I get a better value in NY. sure my rent is more expensive but I got paid more for the same job. I also got to sell my car. I typically just ride my bike everywhere so I don’t buy a metro card. There is a ton of free entertainment and way more cheap food options. It’s easy to say rent is more expensive but when you factor in pay raise and all the other perks of a condensed city I think it has a pretty good bang for your buck. Sure middle America towns are way cheaper but can you see a dinosaur skeleton, a Rothko, go to the beach, and skate a multitude of incredible parks all in the same day without paying anything? Top it off with dollar slice or north dumpling and it’s an easy win in my book.
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i agree with this, it all depends on if you get your footing.

“Getting your footing” is a good way to put this. I lived in NYC for 15 years, and just left about 8 months ago. In that time I saw a LOT of people come through and leave when they get burned out within 1-2 years. Others got their footing and stuck around. I grew up in NYC suburbs so I had a support network that made it doable even when I made no money. I’d probably still be there if it weren’t for COVID, but I decided to pack up and spend the year working remote from LA to dodge the winter.

It’s true that most work, even low wage hourly work, pays slightly more in NYC than other places, but housing is still extremely expensive.

In my experience there are three ways that people make it work:
1) luck out and get a decent housing situation, or they have family nearby for support. Friend already established can help set you up as well.
2) find a significant other or spouse so you can split the rent on a halfway decent apartment (I’ve seen a lot of people just dive into relationships to make their housing situation better in NY)
3) spend a shitload of money to live in a dumpy 10’x10x’ windowless box with 3 roommates and either get used to it or get fed up within a year or two.

Some people also have like STEM degrees or a building trade, so they can get a lucrative job, of course.

And I’ve also seen some people who just do NOT want a car, and for them NYC is obviously one of the best option in America. Like I’ve seen guys who got a bunch of DUIs in Tucson pack up and move to NYC so they can drink as much as they want without getting into trouble. For them it’s worth it I guess.

Now here’s my own question: what do people think of Austin TX? I recently took a remote job working for an organization based out of Austin and I’m thinking I might actually want to live there for a while. Seems like I can rent a house there for much cheaper than NY or LA. At the same time everyone tells me it’s not as cool or cheap as it used to be. Worth it?
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: sexualhelon on March 21, 2021, 11:46:36 AM
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This might be a controversial opinion but hear me out. Having moved from outside Baltimore to NY 7 years ago I think I get a better value in NY. sure my rent is more expensive but I got paid more for the same job. I also got to sell my car. I typically just ride my bike everywhere so I don’t buy a metro card. There is a ton of free entertainment and way more cheap food options. It’s easy to say rent is more expensive but when you factor in pay raise and all the other perks of a condensed city I think it has a pretty good bang for your buck. Sure middle America towns are way cheaper but can you see a dinosaur skeleton, a Rothko, go to the beach, and skate a multitude of incredible parks all in the same day without paying anything? Top it off with dollar slice or north dumpling and it’s an easy win in my book.
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i agree with this, it all depends on if you get your footing.
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“Getting your footing” is a good way to put this. I lived in NYC for 15 years, and just left about 8 months ago. In that time I saw a LOT of people come through and leave when they get burned out within 1-2 years. Others got their footing and stuck around. I grew up in NYC suburbs so I had a support network that made it doable even when I made no money. I’d probably still be there if it weren’t for COVID, but I decided to pack up and spend the year working remote from LA to dodge the winter.

It’s true that most work, even low wage hourly work, pays slightly more in NYC than other places, but housing is still extremely expensive.

In my experience there are three ways that people make it work:
1) luck out and get a decent housing situation, or they have family nearby for support. Friend already established can help set you up as well.
2) find a significant other or spouse so you can split the rent on a halfway decent apartment (I’ve seen a lot of people just dive into relationships to make their housing situation better in NY)
3) spend a shitload of money to live in a dumpy 10’x10x’ windowless box with 3 roommates and either get used to it or get fed up within a year or two.

Some people also have like STEM degrees or a building trade, so they can get a lucrative job, of course.

And I’ve also seen some people who just do NOT want a car, and for them NYC is obviously one of the best option in America. Like I’ve seen guys who got a bunch of DUIs in Tucson pack up and move to NYC so they can drink as much as they want without getting into trouble. For them it’s worth it I guess.

Now here’s my own question: what do people think of Austin TX? I recently took a remote job working for an organization based out of Austin and I’m thinking I might actually want to live there for a while. Seems like I can rent a house there for much cheaper than NY or LA. At the same time everyone tells me it’s not as cool or cheap as it used to be. Worth it?
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AZ has the strictest DUI laws in the country. if you get multiple dui it means you do mandatory months in jail and have your license pulled for years. So you basically have to move out of the state.

I don’t think Austin was ever legitimately cool it’s just a certain kind of person thought it was cool. It combine everything annoying in America: Texas, state capital, college town, IT people, Whole Foods people, brunch people, 1998-2004 “alternative music” people, Alex Jones people  into one place that is meant for about 250k population but now has like 1.5 million. Furthermore after the winter storm stuff I can’t see how moving there is a good idea. The one dude I know there had no power or water for a week. But more importantly it’s not that great for skating.

I agree with all the NYC sentiments. It was super easy to go a week without spending money there for me - art shows with free drinks, tons of amazing skateparks, riding my bike everywhere, etc... When I went to the bar I'd know all the best 2 for 1 happy hours. I knew a bahn mi spot in soho and their sandwiches were only 3 bucks - still are today. I could go on but yeah, once you get your footing NYC is the spot.

If you're living in a shithole there, just don't make it permanent. You'll find a rent controlled place or some steal if you just keep looking in the meantime. The thing with the "value" cities is that the salaries usually aren't as much - because I'm  assuming by value you mean cheap rent/cheap food/ cheap in general and that's usually somewhat related to the local salaries/purchasing power. You can dictate a lot of your spending, sanz rent & the bare essentials, so if you live in an "expensive" place you should have a higher salary and if your rent is decent you'll be able to save more money. I look at it like you can never save more money than what you're bringing in. So on an NYC salary, I was able to save more than in any other city I've lived in.

I'd agree with the above poster about Austin - was never that appealing to me personally. It's good though if you're into it. You could get a cheaper place with more space but that's also what I'd say if I was moving from NYC to LA so it depends where you're coming from. But a lot of locals have been pushed out of the "center" of  Austin and if you have to commute in, it's as bad as LA if I'm remembering correctly. Worth checking Austin out though, I'd say just take a trip first if you're thinking about moving there.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Sleazy on March 21, 2021, 12:23:07 PM
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This might be a controversial opinion but hear me out. Having moved from outside Baltimore to NY 7 years ago I think I get a better value in NY. sure my rent is more expensive but I got paid more for the same job. I also got to sell my car. I typically just ride my bike everywhere so I don’t buy a metro card. There is a ton of free entertainment and way more cheap food options. It’s easy to say rent is more expensive but when you factor in pay raise and all the other perks of a condensed city I think it has a pretty good bang for your buck. Sure middle America towns are way cheaper but can you see a dinosaur skeleton, a Rothko, go to the beach, and skate a multitude of incredible parks all in the same day without paying anything? Top it off with dollar slice or north dumpling and it’s an easy win in my book.
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i agree with this, it all depends on if you get your footing.

without kids there's a lot of options for being frugal, once you have kids that all goes out the window.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: duster1 on March 21, 2021, 03:44:07 PM
Yep, I live in Austin, born and raised. Want to leave this city because I am extremely burnt out on it. Very expensive for what you get. Not really a world class city, more of a tertiary city that wishes it was.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: DannyDee on March 21, 2021, 04:35:20 PM
For Canada, it's MTL by a long-shot. The only other two great cities in Canada are Toronto and Vancouver which are both a fortune to live in and saving up to actually buy a house without family support/wealthy parents is a pipedream for most unless you want to move to the distant suburbs or have a household income in the 200k CAD or higher.

As for Austin, I can't speak on value, but the BBQ scene there is unreal and I enjoyed my visit there. Live music is also great.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: lazer69 on March 23, 2021, 01:01:23 PM
Considering its one of the largest cities in the country, and offers a great bar, event, entertainment scene, lots of spots downtown, I'd say Chicago aint the cheapest but a solid value city.

I'm from Chicago area, lived in the city for 4 years then moved to Nice part of LA. However im very depressed bc I been struggling to find a good job. I seems like a lot of successful people around this part and I'm not one of them. I just love the mountains, amazing weather, and skatespots, but thats pretty much it. Dont really have anything going for me, its like a vacation ive overstayed, and like groundhog day. But thinking to move back to Chicago. Parents are getting older and lifes just easier there. Also my brother lives in Austin, I've never been but I'm visiting next week.

At this point I think I just quit apply for jobs here, and focus on Chicago or possibly Austin.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: LordManHammer on April 01, 2021, 05:43:56 PM
Providence baby! So many spots and significantly cheaper than Boston or New York
Do you remember that diy skate spot in a potato warehouse? It’s outside the city.......
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Crailslideyoface on April 15, 2021, 11:54:54 PM
Little late to the game, but Kansas City is cheap, has a million spots and a super good shop/scene
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: fakie butt drop on April 16, 2021, 02:31:45 AM
if you're used to north american rent:minimum wage ratio, prett much all of aus is easy as fuck to manage.

Tons of spots in the main cities too. skate year round. why the fuck not.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Joe Davola on April 16, 2021, 06:52:33 AM
Inkster mi
I grew up right next to Inskter and I would gnar you if I could.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: GauchoAmigo on April 19, 2021, 10:35:22 AM
For Canada, it's MTL by a long-shot. The only other two great cities in Canada are Toronto and Vancouver which are both a fortune to live in and saving up to actually buy a house without family support/wealthy parents is a pipedream for most unless you want to move to the distant suburbs or have a household income in the 200k CAD or higher.
This is all true, but you left out the need to be bilingual in order to work in MTL - something to consider.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: mj23 on April 19, 2021, 03:49:38 PM
if you're used to north american rent:minimum wage ratio, prett much all of aus is easy as fuck to manage.

Tons of spots in the main cities too. skate year round. why the fuck not.
i was thinking about this recently. i've always heard that there is some innternational agreement that makes it super easy for australians to get a visa in the US. is the reverse also true?
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: hairdo on April 19, 2021, 04:05:08 PM
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if you're used to north american rent:minimum wage ratio, prett much all of aus is easy as fuck to manage.

Tons of spots in the main cities too. skate year round. why the fuck not.
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i was thinking about this recently. i've always heard that there is some innternational agreement that makes it super easy for australians to get a visa in the US. is the reverse also true?

there is a special visa for Australians to work in the USA but there is no reciprocal visa

idk what that guy is talking about tho, Australian cities rank among the worlds most unaffordable. even if you have a housing hookup, food, transport and consumer goods cost double cost there and Aussie dollars are only worth 0.78 USD
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: frankiesomethin on April 19, 2021, 06:45:39 PM
For Canada, it's MTL by a long-shot. The only other two great cities in Canada are Toronto and Vancouver which are both a fortune to live in and saving up to actually buy a house without family support/wealthy parents is a pipedream for most unless you want to move to the distant suburbs or have a household income in the 200k CAD or higher.


I've lived in the Rosemont neighborhood of Montréal for 5 years now and I don't think this city is affordable when it comes to buying a home on the island. My in-laws bought the triplex we live in now for $150k in the late 90s and last year it was valued over $800k. My wife and I are probably moving to Rochester, NY (where I'm from) at some point where a 3 bedroom house with a full attic and basement and 2 car garage in a decent neighborhood in the city is under $200k.


This is all true, but you left out the need to be bilingual in order to work in MTL - something to consider.

You don't NEED to be bilingual, but it is preferred and it's definitely in anyone's best interest to learn basic French before moving to Québec. In West Island and other neighborhoods west of downtown you'd think you were in any other part of Canada. I've driven around neighborhoods on island that even have English "Stop" signs and not French "Arrêt" signs. This is a province with language laws that demand businesses like Starbucks add "Café" on their signs, so how they get away with stop signs in NDG or wherever the hell I was is beyond me. I'm not complaining though. Without French in QC, Canadian culture is nearly indistinguishable from American culture, except for the daily mass shootings and all that awful shit.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: brycickle on April 19, 2021, 07:11:20 PM
My wife and I are probably moving to Rochester, NY (where I'm from) at some point where a 3 bedroom house with a full attic and basement and 2 car garage in a decent neighborhood in the city is under $200k.



Not right now it isn't.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: Cuban_Lynx on April 20, 2021, 07:48:06 AM
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Is Pittsburgh livable if you don't know how to drive and aren't going to learn how?
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Is any American city besides New York?
(don't tell me SF you want a car there BART sucks)
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you can easily live in Chicago without a car

I've been living in Chicago for about 7 years now, and rarely use my car. I might be the minority, but I really like Divvy bikes. I wouldn't use it now, but public transit is solid.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: frankiesomethin on April 20, 2021, 03:57:52 PM
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My wife and I are probably moving to Rochester, NY (where I'm from) at some point where a 3 bedroom house with a full attic and basement and 2 car garage in a decent neighborhood in the city is under $200k.



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Not right now it isn't.

Maybe I exaggerated how common a home EXACTLY like that is in Rochester, but I found a place that meets all the criteria I mentioned except it has a 1 car garage, not 2. Another place a few doors down has all that but a shed instead of a 2 car garage. And Swillburg is a decent, even desired part of town to live in. I'd love to be that close to Ming's. I'd be eating crab rangoon all day erryday.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/127-Asbury-St-Rochester,-NY,-14620_rb/30889467_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homes/139-Asbury-St-Rochester,-NY,-14620_rb/30889469_zpid/
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: too fakie on April 20, 2021, 10:36:44 PM
I’d recommend St. Louis to anyone looking to do a lot with a little. I’ve had friends with 1 bedrooms as low as like $450, although the way to go is to rent a house with some friends.

Great skate scene, very affordable, and there is some cool history to the city. There is also a lot of fun stuff to do for free, and it’s one of those cities where you can be skating downtown all day and then drive a little ways out of the city and go swimming in a lake or a river.

The only knock on it for me was there wasn’t a lot of exciting job opportunities.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: brycickle on April 21, 2021, 12:04:30 AM
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My wife and I are probably moving to Rochester, NY (where I'm from) at some point where a 3 bedroom house with a full attic and basement and 2 car garage in a decent neighborhood in the city is under $200k.



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Not right now it isn't.
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Maybe I exaggerated how common a home EXACTLY like that is in Rochester, but I found a place that meets all the criteria I mentioned except it has a 1 car garage, not 2. Another place a few doors down has all that but a shed instead of a 2 car garage. And Swillburg is a decent, even desired part of town to live in. I'd love to be that close to Ming's. I'd be eating crab rangoon all day erryday.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/127-Asbury-St-Rochester,-NY,-14620_rb/30889467_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homes/139-Asbury-St-Rochester,-NY,-14620_rb/30889469_zpid/
We're trying to move right now. The market is insane. Almost everything is going for at least 20 over asking, with everyone waiving inspections and appraisal contingencies. We offered on one house starting at 230, with escalation. Our agent came back to us when the bid was up to 270. Seller's realtor knew the house wouldn't appraise for over 250, but the people we were up against were willing to pay that 20 out of pocket. On the plus side, we paid 85 for the house we're in and only have 15 left on it. We'll probably get 140-150 out of it.
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: matty_c on April 21, 2021, 12:30:57 AM
Both those houses look alright I really like that style of housing but I reckon you’d wanna cut a sliding door in the back to like, bring the backyard in, just for barbecues and shit

What does something like those ones rent for?
Title: Re: Best Value Cities
Post by: hairdo on April 23, 2021, 08:47:46 AM
unfortunately the best value city for a skater is phoenix