Moving to the city was one of the best decisions I have ever made. When you leave your comfort zone for a skyscraper-filled city, you are sure to experience new things and learn a thing or two about yourself. While the suburbs will always be home to me, here are a few things that you are sure to find once you live in a big city.
1. Public Transportation Becomes a Necessity
While living in the city, I realized that public transportation is more of a necessity than something you can go without. Many people do not need a car to live independently in a city, since there are so many different options: the bus, the "el", the train, riding a bike. There are so many ways to save money and also protect the environment from the harmful effects of a car.
2. Minimum Wage
If you are used to working at around $8.25 an hour, you are bound to be pleasantly surprised when you realize that big cities often have higher minimum wages. For example, Chicago's minimum wage is $10.50 and is expected to increase to $13 by 2019. This is actually a great thing for many people, including myself. The increased minimum wage means college students and many others in the workforce can start to earn slightly more than they are used to.
3. Completely Different Environment
The city and the suburbs are two completely different kinds of environment. For example, in the city, there are dozens of different neighborhoods with many different traditions and cultures. But in the suburbs, you will be much less likely to experience the culturally diverse neighborhoods that you could find in the city.
4. Many More Opportunities
Opportunities are truly endless in a big city. Whether it be for a job, entertainment, or simply a tourist attraction to visit, the city will always have something available for everyone. Museums offer many free-entrance days throughout the year for students and families, which allow the general public to really experience the culture of the city.
