How to evaluate urban vs rural living
If you are looking to move to a new house, it can be difficult to decide whether to live in the city or in the countryside. While some people are die-hard country people and others wouldn’t dream of living more than a mile from a shopping centre, most of us are somewhere in between!
There are pros and cons of either option, and the right choice for you will be dependent on various factors. In this guide, we will look at the advantages and drawbacks of each, so that you can come to the best decision for you!
Urban Living
Despite cities being noisier, usually more expensive, and more likely to be crowded, many people love living in a busy metropolitan area. There are plenty of reasons for this:
More employment opportunities
If you are focusing on building your career, cities are usually a far better bet than rural areas for finding jobs. With most offices based in urban areas, as well as financial districts and industrial estates, you are probably much more likely to find gainful employment in a city.
Better entertainment, leisure, and social life
Because of the density of the population, urban areas typically have far more entertainment opportunities. If you want to be able to discover a new restaurant, bar, or club every night of the week, a city is the best bet. With plenty of shops on your doorstep, you can usually walk to anywhere you need to go.
More convenient transport
When it comes to transport, cities are much more convenient than rural areas. Public transport is usually much better funded and organised in metropolitan areas, so buses, trams, and taxis are always available. You will never be far from local businesses, from takeaways to plumbing services. Cities are also much more likely to have train stations and airports than smaller villages or towns are.
Rural living
Rural living is usually much slower-paced, and it can be inconvenient being further from services. However, there are plenty of advantages:
Lower rents and house prices
Generally speaking, the further you are from a city centre, the cheaper housing becomes. If you are on a tight budget, avoiding expensive urban areas for cheaper rural living may be the best option for you.
Quiet and relaxation
Some of us prefer the quiet life. The bustle and noise of a city can be overwhelming, or just plain annoying, to lots of people. If you are looking to rest and have your own space and quiet, living rurally can be a great way of finding this!
Quality of life
With cities being densely populated, it makes sense that properties are usually less spacious and more “crammed together”. As well as lack of space, urban areas also tend to have a lower air quality than the countryside. Rural living can be great for health, as well as appealing to nature lovers.
Safety
As well as having lower crime rates, rural areas usually have less traffic and congestion. In contrast, if you live in a city you may be more likely to be in an accident or a victim of crime.
Community spirit
Many city-dwellers find that they are lonelier than people living rurally. This may because small villages often have a greater sense of community, with people getting to know their neighbours more.
It can be difficult to decide between city and country living, but thankfully you don’t have to pick just one or the other! If you want the best of both worlds, why not consider living in the suburbs? The suburbs can be the ideal middle ground between urban and rural living, and near both!
