DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN A CITY

People who routinely visit or work in a big city know that they can be a hassle.  Major cities have more people, traffic, and neighborhoods that can make navigating through the city more difficult.  The following are the main disadvantages of big city life:

COST OF LIVING

The higher cost of living is the first disadvantage that people typically think of when considering moving to a city.  Major cities always have a higher cost of living than the surrounding suburbs, and cities like San Francisco and New York routinely have the highest costs of living in the U.S.  Normal living expenses such as rent and utilities tend to be higher in big cities and you may have additional living expenses you wouldn’t have in the suburbs such as parking permits and laundry.  Food, drinks, tobacco products, and gasoline are also more expensive in major cities.

NOISE

In general, the noise level in major cities is higher than in the suburbs.  Cities have more people and more traffic that contribute to the noise, as well as trains and nearby airports with loud planes flying in and out.  Special events such as concerts and ball games can also make a neighborhood louder and more congested.  Downtown areas in some major cities like New York are loud and busy almost 24 hours a day.  However, it is possible to find city neighborhoods that are almost as quiet as the suburbs.  Chicago has plenty of neighborhoods throughout the city that are relatively quiet.

LACK OF SPACE

Moving from the suburbs to the city almost always involves downsizing your living space.  Most people in major cities live in apartments and in some cities, the apartments can be very small.  It is also rare to have an outside space like a yard or patio.  There are homes in major cities, some with decent sized yards, but they are much more expensive than in the suburbs.  If you want to move to the city, you must accept that you will be living in an apartment building with neighbors on the other side of your walls.

LACK OF PARKING

The parking situation in a major city is a huge hassle compared to the suburbs.  In the suburbs, people can park in their driveways or on their residential streets and most businesses have parking lots for their customers to use.  In big cities, parking is not a guarantee.  Some residential streets are permit parking only which means you need to buy a permit, and streets with free parking fill up fast.  It is rare for an apartment to have a designated parking space, but there are apartments that do.  It is also rare for businesses to have their own parking lots which means that you will most likely have to pay to park somewhere on the street, maybe even a couple blocks away from your destination.

Although living in the city has many benefits which are undeniable, it has some disadvantages. First, pollution is the point that annoys citizens. Water pollution, air pollution and noise pollution are the causes that harm to people's health. Second, traffic jams is also a big problem in cities. People usually get stressed when getting stuck in congestion for hours. Last but not least, High prices of goods make the low living standard for the poor because they don't afford enough the food and clean drink.