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Sarah W.
qa
Best restaurants in Columbia?
Random thought, You can expect to pay around $1,092 for rent here. Cheers. The weather takes some getting used to.
26 upvotes
21 Replies
Adeline B.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 9 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into running, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 9 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into running, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
37 upvotes
Jameson Lee
exactly what I was thinking
33 upvotes
Gianna Phillips
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
30 upvotes
Silas Ramirez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 40, moved here 6 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Meadowbrook and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The weather situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- South: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Chicago, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 40, moved here 6 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Meadowbrook and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The weather situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- South: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Chicago, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
28 upvotes
Dennis S.
100%
26 upvotes
Xavier James
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great BBQ places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
26 upvotes
Lydia Stewart
been saying this for years
26 upvotes
Emma J.
I've lived in North for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The dating scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Dating scene is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The dating scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Dating scene is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Good luck with whatever you decide..
25 upvotes
Ella J.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Raleigh about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are competitive, gas is average.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Raleigh about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are competitive, gas is average.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
19 upvotes
Aaliyah Turner
yep
18 upvotes
Theodore Hughes
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Eastside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Eastside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Luke Green
honestly same experience here
14 upvotes
Victoria Phillips
Bought a house here in 2015 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
13 upvotes
jose_vibes
as a local I can confirm
11 upvotes
real_austin18
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 1 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 1 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
9 upvotes
Bennett Adams
facts
9 upvotes
Hailey
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
4 upvotes
Adeline Baker
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
1 upvotes
Hudson
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Springfield area are decent. Kids love it here.
1 upvotes
Austin E.
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
1 upvotes
Zoe Lopez
nah I disagree
0 upvotes