7 Factors When Deciding Where to Live By John Burton Posted on October 23, 2018 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The beauty of moving to a new location is that you can select a region that suits your lifestyle, as opposed to staying in the place you grew up in. Before you start, take the time to understand what’s important to you and your family in terms of your lifestyle and living situation. Perhaps you prefer hot climates and enjoy being able to drive everywhere, everyone has their own unique preferences. By understanding your preferences, you can narrow down locations quickly, make your decision, and call the movers for relocation. Below is a list of seven factors to consider when deciding where to live. 1. Cost One of the first factors you should consider when deciding where to live is whether you can afford to live in the area or not. You should consider the cost of housing, utilities, food, toiletries, other consumable goods and anything else you commonly spend money on. Moving to a cheaper location may very well be a reason to move in the first place. If your income stays the same but your expenses drop, it’ll feel like you got a big raise! 2. Employment Certain cities and countries have varying job opportunities, certain locations may even be better for your career. If you have worked in your field of choice for several years, you probably already know what areas are booming with opportunities. On the other hand, if you’re just starting out, take some time to learn about your industry and what regions have the best jobs. Salaries vary based on the location too. In Ontario, an individual will make more money in Toronto as opposed to London. That being said, you still need to consider your expenses in relation to salary because if your expenses are higher, a bigger salary isn’t necessarily better. 3. Climate Over time, you’ve probably developed a taste for hot or cold temperatures based on where you grew up. If you grew up in cold climates, moving right next to the equator may not be a good choice! 4. Culture No matter where you live, at some point you’ll want to go out and enjoy the city, town or region you’re living in. Each place’s culture influences the activities and events that are available to you. Research the culture of the locations you’re interested in, try to visit the location to determine if the culture will be a good fit for you. If you like concerts, you might want to live in a city like New York City that has lots of entertainment. Although, if you enjoy nature, you might want to live somewhere like Vancouver where mountains are close by for hiking. 5. Real Estate Eventually, you may want to purchase a house or condo in the future. If you do, you should research the real estate market of different cities and regions for affordability, current market trends and availability. Even if you can’t afford to buy a home now, it’s important to plan for the future to ensure your goals are achievable. 6. Friends and Family For some, it’s important to be close to friends and family. Maybe you want to live in the same city or town as your friends and family, or perhaps you want to be close enough to drive or fly quickly for holidays. 7. Transportation Commuting will be a daily aspect of your life, particularly if you need to travel to work every day. Consider what the transportation is like, especially for big cities that often experience ample congestion. In addition, research different modes of transportation, perhaps you prefer driving instead of public transportation. Not all cities are ideal for certain transportation options, it’s important to know what the city’s transportation is like to determine if it suits your lifestyle.
