Awesome Cities to Live: Figuring out where to move

This is a live post. Will be updating this list over several months.

Figuring out where to move is difficult. This list is to help organize thoughts and data of any city I'm considering moving to. At this point I am not writing reviews of these places nor am I ranking them. Maybe after I choose one I'll write the reasons why. Some of the basic things to consider for comparison are:

  • Weather
  • Access to large international airports
  • Nature for hiking and cycling
  • Earning potential, Average Salary 
  • Cost of living
  • Cost to buy a house (Not rent)

Berlin, Germany






General:
Population: 3,500,000
Density: 3800 people per sq-km
Int Airports: 2 (Tegel and Schönefeld)
Unemployment: 9.7% August 2016 (National average 6.1%)
                           8.9% May 2017

Pay: Mechanical Engineer 
€23,802 to €80,131 ($26,638 - $89,678)
€43,706 median salary ($48,914)
http://www.payscale.com/research/DE/Job=Mechanical_Engineer/Salary/cd843aef/Berlin

Housing cost: 
Steglitz-Zehlendorf Area are High! But possible to buy. €350,000+ for a house.
Buy apartment in city centre: €4,514.29/sq-m ($468/sq-ft)
Buy apartment outside city: €3,086.92/sq-m ($320/sq-ft)
https://www.numbeo.com/property-investment/in/Berlin

Other:
Current Home with family and friends.

Weather and Climate:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/berlin-weather-averages/berlin/de.aspx


Muncher, Germany

Coming Soon...

Nurnberg, Germany

Coming Soon...

Stutgart, Germany

Coming Soon...


Freiburg, Germany

Coming Soon...


Bamberg, Germany

Coming Soon...

San Diego, California






General:
Population: 1,380,000
Density: 1545 people per sq-km
Int Airports: 1 (San Diego Intl)
Unemployment: 3.9% December 2016 (State average 5.2%)

Pay: Mechanical Engineer 
$74,894 avg salary
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/san-diego-mechanical-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,9_IM758_KO10,29.htm

Housing cost: 
San Diego Median price: $564,200 ($433/sq-ft)
San Diego Metro Median price: $537,200 ($347/sq-ft)
California Average: $297/sq-ft

(Ocean Beach are VERY High! Likely impossible to buy.)
https://www.zillow.com/san-diego-ca/home-values/

Other:
Previous home with friends.

Weather and Climate:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/san-diego-weather-averages/california/us.aspx



San Luis Obispo, California






General:
Population: 45,119 (2010)
Density: 1397 people per sq-km
Int Airports: 0 (194 miles to LAX, 221 miles to San Francisco International)
Unemployment: 3.6% Nov 2017 (State average 5.2%)

Pay: Mechanical Engineer 
$75,753 avg salary
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/san-luis-obispo-mechanical-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,15_IM763_KO16,35.htm

Housing cost: 
Santa Cruz Median price: $662,200 ($399/sq-ft)
California Average: $297/sq-ft

Weather and Climate:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/san-luis-obispo-weather-averages/california/us.aspx



Santa Cruz County, California




General:
Population: 274,146 (2015)
Density: 170 people per sq-km
Int Airports: 0 (60 miles to San Francisco International)
Unemployment: 5.6% July 2017 (State average 5.2%)

Pay: Mechanical Engineer 
$76,375 avg salary
https://www.glassdoor.de/Gehälter/santa-cruz-mechanical-engineer-gehalt-SRCH_IL.0,10_IM767_KO11,30.htm

Housing cost: 
Santa Cruz Median price: $776,600 ($518/sq-ft)
San Diego Metro Median price: $836,000 ($597/sq-ft)
California Average: $297/sq-ft

(This is supper high. But there is potential to buy undeveloped/forested land under $300k and build a a tiny house or two.)

Weather and Climate:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/santa-cruz-weather-averages/california/us.aspx

Other:
The closest city on my list to my parents home. It's also very centralized for amazing road trips.





Portland, Oregon / Vancouver, Washington




Portland General:

Population: 620,000
Density: 1689 people per sq-km
Int Airports: 1 (Portland Intl)
Unemployment: 3.4% December 2016 (State average 4.6%)

Vancouver General:
Population: 170,000
Density: 1344 people per sq-km
Int Airports: -
Unemployment: 6% December 2016 (State average 5.2%)

Pay: Mechanical Engineer (Portland and Vancouver)
$72,620 avg salary
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/portland-mechanical-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,8_IM700_KO9,28.htm

Housing cost: 
Portland Median price: $415,900 ($318/sq-ft)
Portland Metro Median price: $361,300 ($217/sq-ft)
Oregon Average: $197/sq-ft
https://www.zillow.com/portland-or/home-values/

Weather and Climate:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/portland-weather-averages/oregon/us.aspx

Other:
No sales tax in Oregon. No income tax in washington. Work/live in Vancouver and buy stuff in Portland?


Bend, Oregon

Coming soon...


Seattle, Washington


General:
Population: 668,000
Density: 2594 people per sq-km
Int Airports: 1 (Tacoma Int Airport)
Unemployment: 3.1% December 2016 (State average 5.2%)

Pay: Mechanical Engineer 
$78,729 avg salary
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/seattle-mechanical-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM781_KO8,27.htm

Housing cost: 
Seattle Median price: $653,400 ($456/sq-ft)
Seattle Metro Median price: $432,400 ($226/sq-ft)
Washington Average: $187/sq-ft
https://www.zillow.com/seattle-wa/home-values/

Weather and Climate:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/seattle-weather-averages/washington/us.aspx



Denver, Colorado

Coming soon....

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