Thinking of moving to Seattle

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'm really surprised that more Seattle AT'ers haven't chimed in with their advice.

There's at least 20 AT'ers who hail from Seattle - kingdome of Starbucks.

That along with angst-driven rock and smack. Screw Starbucks

 

[ragazzo]

if you love coffee, it'll get expensive since there are many good cafes in seattle

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
I imagine I would eventually want to buy a house, but I'm sure I'll have to rent for a while. If I go, my GF and her 2 kids would be coming along too. It would be great to be near Vancouver, home of the finest NHL tema in the league (haveta say that, my Bro-in-Law works for them, but lives in Chicago).

What does your Bro-in-Law do for the Canucks?

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
I'm thinking about moving from Chicago to Seattle for a new job. Does anyone have any idea about a cost of living comparison between the two cities? If I get this job, I'd be making about as much/slightly more than I'm making now.

Seattle is a cesspool. It's the ugliest city I've ever seen. Keep in mind I live in Vancouver, BC. They are very similar cities except Seattle has a much bigger extreme. It's either really dirty, or really clean. So, as a result, you either live in a pisshole, or you have to be really rich and live in a REALLY nice place.

You're fscking kidding right? I've lived in the Pac NW my whole life and I still can't see why people like Vancouver, BC so much. IMO, you got it backwards -- Vancouver, BC is the cesspool (woohoo, let's go hang out with the 10,000 angry panhandling homeless on W. Hastings St., or with the hookers on Granville) and Seattle is the beautiful city.

As for me, I don't mind that it's 40F and drizzles all winter. What I don't like about both Seattle and Vancouver, BC is that it never gets hotter than 80F in the summer, and that's on a rare day.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
I'm thinking about moving from Chicago to Seattle for a new job. Does anyone have any idea about a cost of living comparison between the two cities? If I get this job, I'd be making about as much/slightly more than I'm making now.

Seattle is a cesspool. It's the ugliest city I've ever seen. Keep in mind I live in Vancouver, BC. They are very similar cities except Seattle has a much bigger extreme. It's either really dirty, or really clean. So, as a result, you either live in a pisshole, or you have to be really rich and live in a REALLY nice place.

You're fscking kidding right? I've lived in the Pac NW my whole life and I still can't see why people like Vancouver, BC so much. IMO, you got it backwards -- Vancouver, BC is the cesspool (woohoo, let's go hang out with the 10,000 angry panhandling homeless on W. Hastings St., or with the hookers on Granville) and Seattle is the beautiful city.

As for me, I don't mind that it's 40F and drizzles all winter. What I don't like about both Seattle and Vancouver, BC is that it never gets hotter than 80F in the summer, and that's on a rare day.

im gonna have to go with vic on this one, vancouver should be renamed to hobo crackpipe heaven.

 

[GroundZero]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
for me i moved to seattle after living in san diego for 4 years so seattle blows, on multiple levels.

for you chicago -> seattle is defintely a step up. i'd go for it.

well then take your weak-ass back to san diego you cali-freak.
we don't want your kind in our area.

 

[Kyteland]

I'll step up for Chicago too. I like living here.

The only major drawback for me is the severe lack of elevation. I'd give my left nut if Lake Michigan turned in to a mountain range tomorrow.

 

[chrisms]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'm really surprised that more Seattle AT'ers haven't chimed in with their advice.

There's at least 20 AT'ers who hail from Seattle - kingdome of Starbucks.

That along with angst-driven rock and smack. Screw Starbucks

Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, and Nirvana are up there with the greats!

 

[BatmanNate]

If you don't mind a commute, housing is a great deal cheaper in the South King/Pierce counties. Still a lot of traffic though.

 

[SOFTWARE2ndComing]

Originally posted by: tweakmm
I hope you like rain.

and the stupid traffic here

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: chrisms

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'm really surprised that more Seattle AT'ers haven't chimed in with their advice.

There's at least 20 AT'ers who hail from Seattle - kingdome of Starbucks.

That along with angst-driven rock and smack. Screw Starbucks

Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, and Nirvana are up there with the greats and don't you forget it.

Dude, what are you telling me this for? I've got Nevermind spinning right now

 

[jacob0401]

I live in the Seattle suburbs to the east where housing is the most expensive median housing price is $344,000 where I live. Elsewhere the median is maybe $240,000. Summers are indeed short but there it is very nice in the summer. Yes, it rains quite a bit in the winter, but not all the time. Most of the time its overcast with drizzle, not heavy rain.

 

[azazyel]

Well, another Seatown poster here. Seattle's traffic isn't that bad if you can get an early start. I live in Northgate and it is only a 10 -15 min bus ride. If you go farther north, around Kenmore it would be about a half hour bus ride. I have lived in Seattle my whole life and I really love it here. There aren't that many places where you get such a wide variety of geography. You have mountains, forest, desert, waterfalls, lakes, rivers (white water rafting!) all within a 2 hour drive of the city. The city proper can be pretty fun too depending on what you like to do. There is a decent aquarium on the waterfront and a great zoo as well. The Science Center was one of my favorite places as a kid (you gotta love Bill Nye).

PM me if you have any specific questions.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: astroview
I've never been to Seattle, but as a Chicagoan I feel I have to step up for my city.

Chicago is a worldclass city because of all the great neighborhoods and tons of things to do in them. I don't know if Seattle can compare, it only has 3.7 million in the metropolitan area while Chicago has 9.5 million. Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, all great places to hang out with a good scene for partying, shopping. We've got a great restaurant scene, one I'm sure is betters than Seattle's. There are nice cultural opportunities here because we have 2 worldclass universities (Northwestern, U Chicago) and a good set of museums and good theater.

It matters what you like, if your idea of a good time is just hanging out at home, then you could probably live in Smalltown USA. Seattle isn't a huge downgrade from Chicago and I'm sure Seattle would be a great place to live. I hear the pacific northwest is nice, mountains beat corn.

If money is what matters then Seattle should be cheaper. Check out CNN cost of living calculator. Normally I'd push harder for Chicago, but I don't think it's that much of a downgrade to move there. One thing I like about Chicago is by living here I don't need a car, saves me a lot of money.

well, as a seattlelite who's actually been to chicago, i'd say that seattle is an UPgrade from chicago. i'm sorry but chicago just has this weird smell... restaurants... about the same in quality i'd say (i dunno about the superfancy ones, but as far as middle class restaurants go), but we have more variety. i'd trust a chinese or thai restaurant here a lot more than in chicago... chicago's chinatown is like one frickin' street. i'll agree the shopping is better in chicago though... and public transportation.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: jacob0401
I live in the Seattle suburbs to the east where housing is the most expensive median housing price is $344,000 where I live. Elsewhere the median is maybe $240,000. Summers are indeed short but there it is very nice in the summer. Yes, it rains quite a bit in the winter, but not all the time. Most of the time its overcast with drizzle, not heavy rain.

300k + is about what regular houses cost in the city too... the closer you get the more value they gain, despite being small and old the only houses at 240k would be either townhouses close to the city, or normal houses way way out in the boonies

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: GroundZero

Originally posted by: Ameesh
for me i moved to seattle after living in san diego for 4 years so seattle blows, on multiple levels.

for you chicago -> seattle is defintely a step up. i'd go for it.

well then take your weak-ass back to san diego you cali-freak.
we don't want your kind in our area.

LMAO!

Sorry, Ameesh, I'm just laughing at the typical NW'er attitude towards Californians. :beer:

Sometimes when my GF and I see someone with CA plates driving north on I-5, we jokingly yell at them that they're driving the wrong way

 

[astroview]

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: astroview
I've never been to Seattle, but as a Chicagoan I feel I have to step up for my city.

Chicago is a worldclass city because of all the great neighborhoods and tons of things to do in them. I don't know if Seattle can compare, it only has 3.7 million in the metropolitan area while Chicago has 9.5 million. Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, all great places to hang out with a good scene for partying, shopping. We've got a great restaurant scene, one I'm sure is betters than Seattle's. There are nice cultural opportunities here because we have 2 worldclass universities (Northwestern, U Chicago) and a good set of museums and good theater.

It matters what you like, if your idea of a good time is just hanging out at home, then you could probably live in Smalltown USA. Seattle isn't a huge downgrade from Chicago and I'm sure Seattle would be a great place to live. I hear the pacific northwest is nice, mountains beat corn.

If money is what matters then Seattle should be cheaper. Check out CNN cost of living calculator. Normally I'd push harder for Chicago, but I don't think it's that much of a downgrade to move there. One thing I like about Chicago is by living here I don't need a car, saves me a lot of money.

well, as a seattlelite who's actually been to chicago, i'd say that seattle is an UPgrade from chicago. i'm sorry but chicago just has this weird smell... restaurants... about the same in quality i'd say (i dunno about the superfancy ones, but as far as middle class restaurants go), but we have more variety. i'd trust a chinese or thai restaurant here a lot more than in chicago... chicago's chinatown is like one frickin' street. i'll agree the shopping is better in chicago though... and public transportation.

I think EVERY city has a weird smell, if you're not from there. I remember Paris and lots of places in Europe smelled weird. I got used to it after 24 hours.

I'm sure Seattle is a cool place, I'd like to visit it sometimes. It probably does have great Asian food since its so close to Asia. Although I think our food speciality is probably better in the high end region. (i.e. Rick Bayless and Charlie Trotter, and that Food TV show on deserts has a Chicago chef). We have 16082 restaurants, Seattle has 7308 according to Citysearch.

But this is getting away from the topic. Sorry elektrolokomotive in terms of economics I just don't know enough between the 2. I think in both cities its quite possible to live frugally.

 

[BladeWalker]

If you don't mind living a little further away from Seattle and possibly save some money, check out some of the surrounding cities. I for one hate parking in Seattle. For the last few years I been living in the Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Mountlake Terrace area. I live in a 2-bedroom apartment in Edmonds right now for $650 a month. Sometimes you can find good deals. My drive to Seattle is about 15 minutes.

Other cities to check out are Burien, Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond. The last three might not save you money, but they are much nicer areas to live in than Seattle. Just check out rent.com.

 

[BChild]

CNN's stupid cost of living calculator doesn't even have Seattle as a choice. What's up with that?

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

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: BChild
CNN's stupid cost of living calculator doesn't even have Seattle as a choice. What's up with that?

<a href="http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html">[url]http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html</a>[/q[/url]

Yeah, I saw that as well. I was surprised!

 

[elektrolokomotive]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
I imagine I would eventually want to buy a house, but I'm sure I'll have to rent for a while. If I go, my GF and her 2 kids would be coming along too. It would be great to be near Vancouver, home of the finest NHL tema in the league (haveta say that, my Bro-in-Law works for them, but lives in Chicago).

What does your Bro-in-Law do for the Canucks?

Cheers,
Aquaman

He's a pro scout. Used to play for the Blackhawks (when they were good).

 

[Aquaman]

Cool

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
I imagine I would eventually want to buy a house, but I'm sure I'll have to rent for a while. If I go, my GF and her 2 kids would be coming along too. It would be great to be near Vancouver, home of the finest NHL tema in the league (haveta say that, my Bro-in-Law works for them, but lives in Chicago).

What does your Bro-in-Law do for the Canucks?

Cheers,
Aquaman

He's a pro scout. Used to play for the Blackhawks (when they were good).

If you odn't mind me asking.......... what is your bro-in-laws name?

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Entity]

Most of the locals complain all the time, but love it anyway. It's overcast 70% of the year, but only rains 36 inches. Summers are warm, but never hot, and winters are mild, never cold -- average of 15 days/year that it gets below freezing.

It's beautiful here if you're an outdoors freak (which I am). Many people disparage the lack of a night life, which is certainly true -- but I'd rather hang out at an alpine lake than a trendy night club, so it's perfect for me.

The coffee, of course, is world class.

Rob

 

[BehindEnemyLines]

I've lived in Seattle for about 12 years. Just love the weather...unless you don't like mild summer, fall, winter, and spring...not too hot and not too cold