BBQ sucks in Dallas (I'm here this week for 2 more days for work). So I might have to scratch it off the list just because people in Texas think it is so good and it is not. I'm still the most impressed in the shortest time by Denver, but Chicago is right there with it to be honest. Decisions, decisions. The one plus is I have about a year before I have to decide for sure. My manager wants me in Raleigh with my mentors for about a year, but then she wants me to probably leave the area (I can stay if I want, but I will predominantly be going out west were her words), so at least I have time to decide and hopefully visit each again.

6/14/2011 12:01:42 AM

Other considerations:

more direct flights out of Chicago and Dallas than Denver
What month did you visit Chicago in? Chicago seems like a better city to visit than live in, at least if you don't like cold weather (you would be surprised how much it can effect your psyche if you aren;t used to it).
Consider distance to mountains and beaches if you are into that, it is easy to take the proximity for granted in NC. Denver has no beach anywhere to speak of but great mountains. Dallas is drivable to the beach, to the extent Asheville is drivable to the beach (but a long way from any mountains). Chicago has lake beaches but no mountains/ocean.

6/14/2011 8:02:33 AM

I can't fathom why anyone would choose Dallas over the other two unless you love hot weather, have a stake in the oil industry, or have an unhealthy obsession with Tony Romo or Dirk.

6/14/2011 9:08:35 AM

I've only been to Dallas and Chicago, and, while I LOVE Chicago, not sure I could live there. Dallas is actually pretty awesome, nothing at all what I expected out of the beacon of Texas. However, I know several people who have been to Denver, and they absolutely love it and want to move there.

Not sure what my vote is. Just wanted to clear up that Dallas isn't representative of what you might think of a huge Texas city. It's actually much better, socially, at least.

^of course, there is nothing else in Dallas besides the two marquee athletes, and oil. Well done.

[Edited on June 14, 2011 at 9:38 AM. Reason : hard durp.]

6/14/2011 9:33:26 AM

Dallas blends in with every land locked southern city based on transplant residents and Suburban sprawl. There's nothing that stands out. It may as well be Phoenix, Orlando or Atlanta. Denver and Chicago are unique.

6/14/2011 9:45:52 AM

Ha, 85% travel.

I'll give you *one* winter in Chicago before you take a 50% paycut to leave and never deal with another delayed / canned flight at ORD or Midway.

Do you have any idea how bad Chicago's airports are... let alone how bad they are in the winter? If you're going to be living out of an airport, even more reason to go DFW.

6/15/2011 2:55:16 AM

As an Illinois resident, you will be bent over on state income tax.

6/15/2011 7:37:42 PM

^A comparison on paycheckcity.com says that you keep more money from your paycheck in Illinois vs NC.

6/15/2011 8:05:30 PM

So trust the website over the guy who lives there, smart move

6/15/2011 9:26:27 PM

I don't know how old the data is for that website, but the state income tax was raised 50% retroactively for january 1st 2011 in february to I believe 5.25%.

6/15/2011 11:15:24 PM

Quote :

"I'll give you *one* winter in Chicago before you take a 50% paycut to leave and never deal with another delayed / canned flight at ORD or Midway."

Have you flown out of DFW on the regular during the spring/summer months? You don't have to deal with snow storms, just thunderstorms, hailstorms, etc. I've had worse luck flying through Dallas than Chicago by far, and that includes Midway and O'Hare. O'Hare is MUCH worse though.

6/15/2011 11:58:02 PM

Denver >>>>>> Dallas >> Chicago

6/16/2011 6:37:32 AM

Quote :

"Dallas blends in with every land locked southern city based on transplant residents and Suburban sprawl. There's nothing that stands out. It may as well be Phoenix, Orlando or Atlanta. Denver and Chicago are unique."

Obviously has not been to Dallas.

6/16/2011 8:06:51 AM

I've been to Dallas hundreds of times. Thousands.

6/16/2011 8:58:25 AM

Quote :

"^A comparison on paycheckcity.com says that you keep more money from your paycheck in Illinois vs NC. "

You are only comparing state income tax (and to a non-choice).

Income taxes - IL (5%), CO (4.6%), TX (0) compared to NC (6-7.75%)
Gas taxes - Chicago (25.1), CO (22), TX (20), NC (32.75)
Sales tax - Chicago (11%), Denver (7.7%), Dallas (8.25%) , Raleigh (7.75)
Real Estate - Dallas (2.6), Denver (~1), Chicago (varies ~5-11%) Raleigh (.91) *The way they calculate value is not the same though, especially chicago*

So, yes, the income tax may be lower than Raleigh, but you're gonna pay more in Chicago overall than here and a ton more than in Dallas.


[Edited on June 16, 2011 at 10:29 AM. Reason : ]

6/16/2011 10:19:19 AM

This is a pretty good link that compares the cost of living in two cities.

http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html

6/16/2011 9:02:07 PM

I've lived in Chicago for two years now, and will be here for at least 3 more.

I appreciate that I will be able to say, "I used to live in Chicago." but other than that I haven't found much worth staying for. That said, as a student on a budget I'm probably missing a lot the city has to offer, but frankly even with a bigtime job I would like to have more options that cost a bit less. Most of the time I'm left with the feeling that everything was too expensive and that it took too long to get everywhere.

Also, the winters are a big factor. I don't necessarily mind the cold but when it is the first of July and I'm standing at the L stop feeling cold it just makes me depressed. I need sunshine to be happy - and there just isn't enough here.

6/30/2011 2:55:18 PM