Life in the big city is a rich and fun experience everyone should go through at least once in their lifetime. If you’re planning on leaving your small town and moving to a big city, this article is perfect for you. We’ll walk you through some of the most important things to know before making this important step.
Why It’s Important To Prepare Well Before Moving to a Big City?
Let’s say you are planning on moving overseas and starting your metropolitan lifestyle in a large city. This is not a decision you should rush into, and it is going to take a lot of preparation if you want this to work out well for you. There are plenty of reasons to live in a big city, but there are also some disadvantages you should take into consideration. This list will help make the moving abroad process a lot more organized and easier.
You Need to Research the New Place You’re Planning on Living In
It’s one thing to look through the list of the best places to live abroad and find a location you like, and another to do thorough research on the metropolis you’ve chosen. It’s going to take much more work to properly prepare for the move from a small town. There are plenty of things you need to consider when choosing where you’re going to start your new life.
Learn More About the New City’s Cost of Living
When you’re planning on being in another country, you need to be careful with researching the local cost of living. Life in bigger cities is often more expensive than in smaller, rural areas. Once you find the place you want to live in, we suggest going on websites such as Numbeo.
There you can see how much money you’ll approximately need on a monthly basis. You have to figure out the prices of:
- Home and rent,
- Utilities,
- Taxes,
- Medical care,
- Food and groceries,
- Entertainment,
- Restaurants,
- Transportation.
There are plenty of more expenses you could have depending on your personal needs. Sit down, calculate everything and figure out if that fits into your possibilities.
Research How Safe the Neighborhoods Are
When finding the right neighborhood to live in, besides all the costs, you also need to pay attention to the safety and the crime rates in it. Even if you choose one of the friendliest countries in the world, you need to research the particular neighborhoods you are interested in carefully. This one is especially important when you are relocating abroad alone.
Get In Contact With People Who Already Live in That City
It’s always a great idea to get in touch with people that live in the place you are interested in. Yes, blogs and websites are great, and you can learn a lot from them, but it’s always great to hear opinions from people that are familiar with that urban core.
They will provide you with the most relevant information about living in another country and know how to answer most of the questions you have. They can advise you on which neighborhoods to choose, what places to see, which restaurants to visit, and other interests. They can also warn you about any particular cultural shocks you may experience that you maybe can’t read about online.
Know Your Budget and Expenses Before the Move
Preparing a fund for your move and learning how to budget in the smartest way is one of the most important things to do when planning your relocation. Especially if this is your first time relocating, and you have no experience in balancing finances abroad, you need to take time and learn how to do it.
Don’t Forget About Your Financial Cushion
Bigger cities are usually more expensive, so be sure to prepare a financial cushion before your relocation. You should have a decent amount of savings to help you out the first month or two before you find a steady job. Write down all of the expenses you are going to have for the relocation process itself, as well as living expenses in the beginning, and prepare the money.
Not preparing a financial plan, not budgeting properly, and spending more money than you can afford can cause you a lot of relocation stress. If you don’t know a lot about saving money and budgeting, you can find plenty of educational videos on Youtube. On that note, here’s an educational video that may help you out.
There Are a Few Things to Keep In Mind When Apartment Hunting
Finding the right apartment for living overseas can be quite difficult if you are not sure how to do it properly. Choosing an apartment is not a decision you should rush into. Find a few options according to your budget, preferences, and needs.
Make a list of all the questions you need to ask the landlord about your obligations, documents you’ll need, lease, and other similar topics. Be sure to ask them about certain rules you should be aware of, such as ”Is it pet friendly?”. You’ll need to learn about that one in case you are planning on relocating with cats or maybe relocating with dogs.
When relocating from a smaller town, there’s a big chance you are used to being in a home or a larger apartment, and relocating to an urban area means you’ll probably have to downsize. However, choose to budget over comfort, and once you are settled down with a new job, you’ll have more options.
Consider Getting a Roommate
If this is your first move, and you’re doing it all by yourself, you are probably worried and wondering, “How to move to a big city alone?” Unless you are relocating to another country for love and you already know you’ll be sharing an apartment with your partner, having a roommate is an idea you should definitely consider.
Even though it might feel weird to share your personal space with an unfamiliar person at first, there are plenty of benefits if you do it. First of all, you’ll save a lot of money by splitting the rent and other expenses. You won’t get too lonely when you have someone to talk to all the time. You’ll also have someone to explore the metropolis with, and you’ll be able to make new friends abroad together.
Traffic Is Also Quite an Important Factor to Consider
When choosing a metropolis to live in, mind the traffic and find out some of the most important stuff about it. Once you are a member of a big city’s urban area, you need to learn how the traffic functions. Figure out what is the fastest way to get from one place to another and whether you should walk, go by bus, or metro.
For some cities, it’s great to have a car and use it for most of your transportation. If this is the case, be sure to check out all of the important details about shipping a car overseas. You can contact a reputable company that does overseas vehicle shipping to get more information. Cars are great if you are planning on organizing some weekend getaways or exploring the nearby cities. However, keep in mind that if you drive a car, traffic jams will be your worst nightmare, so learn how to avoid them if you can.
Bigger Cities Can Provide You With Plenty of Opportunities for Your Professional and Personal Growth
The changes you’ll experience once you start living in a large town can be drastic, and it will take some time for you to adjust. But, on the other hand, once you realize how many opportunities this new lifestyle can bring you, you’ll be more than happy with your decision. Cultural diversity, new acquaintances, and lots of fun experiences can provide you with a completely different perspective on life.
There Will Be Plenty of Work Opportunities
Even if you don’t have a job position waiting for you right away, you shouldn’t get too worried. One of the greatest reasons to move to a metropolis is the vast job opportunities. It will be a great chance for you to learn some valuable skills, grow your knowledge and expand your fields of interest.
Being in a location with a large population means it’s more likely you’ll find professional jobs and make important contacts and connections. It will all result in major professional growth that you probably would’ve never achieved in a smaller town.
There Are Better Education Options
This one is pretty important if you are still in university and wish to get a better education. Bigger urban areas have vast options for studying and education, amazing student jobs, as well as cultural and social events. You’ll have more space to explore your interests. Also, studies show that urban areas have more success in education.
You’ll Become More Independent
Being a newbie in a huge metropolitan area can be quite frightening and super challenging. What scares most people when it comes to relocations to large urban cores is going out of their comfort zone. However, being on your own in such a place will give you more time to learn some stuff about yourself and the world around you. After all, adjusting to a different environment will provide you with incredible personal growth.
If You Feel Overwhelmed – Contact Professionals to Help You Out With Moving Internationally
Now that we’ve discussed some of the most important issues on relocations to large cities, disadvantages as well as the advantages, you are probably more sure about which decision to make. If you decide that you are up for the challenge, the next thing you should consider is how to move efficiently, smoothly, and stress-free.
Relocations consist of tons of tasks, both bigger and smaller, and it can get quite stressful, especially when you are on your own. The best thing you can do is contact a reputable international moving company to help you out with everything.
You Won’t Have to Worry About Packing and Shipping
Most people are not sure how to pack for relocating abroad in a proper way. There is plenty of stuff you have to do in order to prevent things from breaking and transport them safely. However, it is so much easier to book packing services. Professional movers will box up each item you have on your inventory list, including the fragile items, so you don’t have to worry about your precious belongings getting damaged.
Once you book international relocation by sea from a reputable company, you’ll be up for a stressless and smooth transition. The movers will handle any problem you have and make this experience joyous. They can even provide you with storage services, which is great for storing certain items you won’t be needing in your apartment the first few days.
Life in a Smaller or a Bigger City? Choose Whatever You Like
As you’ve read in this article, a large city has plenty of benefits, and it might be a perfect fit for you. However, no matter how much you research this topic, it’s only up to you to decide which lifestyle you like more. Our advice is to always go for new experiences in life. So prepare a plan, grab the documents needed for traveling abroad and set yourself off on a new adventure at your home abroad.
