would you rather

Halo79RN

live in a HCOL area where you can do "vacation" activities once a month in city and you have a million things to do .. have good schools but large schools...  but not really take big vacations and have to remain in a more modest home....

or 

live in a LCOL area, have a nicer home, smaller schools, be able to take a big vaca  or weekend getaways here and there... but not have the activities at your fingertips.  

penguingrrl

A.  Although I would live about an hour outside the city because I hate urban living.  I grew up in central NJ in a very small town an hour from the city.  HCOL, but fantastic small schools (64 in my 8th grade class, and that was the entire town).  I feel like it was the best of both worlds, although we still had a HCOL, lower than in the city though.

sunandsand

#2 I think. I wouldnt be a fan of living in a big city, but I like to visit.

buffalo_buckeye

I'm in the second situation and we chose it. I really miss a big city, but for us, we would probably not enjoy it as much as we should due to the hcol. So the better schools and more enjoyable space day to day won out. We wanted two big dogs and a yard for them. We wanted a 4+ bedroom house and a two car garage. Plus we wanted for me to sah for at least a little while and none if those things would happen on his salary in a hcol area. Mh and I were just talking tonight about how it's 30$+ to park anywhere in downtown Chicago and tonight we went to a festival downtown and paid 4$ to park, lol. I am so glad both mh and I lived in a few big cities before settling down though, so we have had both experiences.

AnnapolisLari

#2, because we just did it.

We moved from the DC area to Ohio. We have done more as a family in the last 4 months than we had in the preceding 3 years. The financial stress is greatly reduced. The schools are better. We get much more house for the same money.

Zenya

A.  I moved from NYC to PA and it was a necessity, financially.  But I freaking love the city and if we could swing it I'd go back in a heartbeat! (but we can't.  or not without having the kids in daycare for 60 hours a week or something ridiculous).