Help Me Understand Cost of Living Forum

[GFox345]

For all the ink that has been spilled in this thread, it is just an objective fact that if you can make market comp and you don't care about your lifestyle, you can build wealth FAR faster in secondary market. If you're willing to live in a studio like many do in NYC, you can literally find decent options for ~$700/month in my city. And your take home pay is higher because lower taxes. If building wealth is your only goal, this is just not a debatable question (again, assuming market comp or close to it).

[Anonymous User]

A couple quick responses about Houston:

Texas is now the fourth largest legal market (surpasses Chicago) and is very much now primary.

The comment about Houston lacking high end food options is ridiculous and shows that you clearly haven’t gone out around here with a BigLaw budget. I spent 7 years in NYC before relocating to Houston, and I say that the quality and variety of the food here is equivalent. Yes, the scale of it is smaller, but that’s because the city has 1/4 of the population. You cannot tell me that places like Kata Robata, UChi, B&B Butcher, etc wouldn’t be right at home among the high end restaurants of NYC.

[Anonymous User]

Lol at the “quality and variety” of food in houston being equivalent to that in nyc. That’s not true for London, Rome, Paris, Tokyo etc (to be clear, the emphasis is on “variety” wrt some of those cities). It’s certainly not true for houston of all places. And no, naming four restaurants does not change that fact (regardless of whether they’d be right at home in nyc). If we can’t agree that NYC is a better food town than Houston (Houston???), then what can we agree on? You seriously believe that all we’d have to do to make Houston the culinary equivalent of NYC is copy and paste it a couple more times? Dear lord in heaven.

[Sackboy]

Texas is now the fourth largest legal market (surpasses Chicago) and is very much now primary.

I have no problem with calling Austin and Houston major markets, but it does seem weird to compare the market of an entire state to one city.

[Anonymous User]

Lol at the “quality and variety” of food in houston being equivalent to that in nyc. That’s not true for London, Rome, Paris, Tokyo etc (to be clear, the emphasis is on “variety” wrt some of those cities). It’s certainly not true for houston of all places. And no, naming four restaurants does not change that fact (regardless of whether they’d be right at home in nyc). If we can’t agree that NYC is a better food town than Houston (Houston???), then what can we agree on? You seriously believe that all we’d have to do to make Houston the culinary equivalent of NYC is copy and paste it a couple more times? Dear lord in heaven.

Have you spent time in Houston and tried its restaurants? Again, I’m an ex-New Yorker and was as surprised as you. To be clear, I’m distinguishing between “variety” and “scale” here. There are 4x as many restaurants in NYC because the city is 4x bigger, but in both cities the types of cuisine and relative number of unique, experimental restaurants is similar. Remember that Houston is also more diverse than NYC, and has been since 2010 - having a ton of people from different ethnicities and cultures in one place is generally a key ingredient to a good food scene.

Look, I know it sounds crazy in the surface. But if you do some googling and/or spend time in Houston, rather than just scoffing automatically out of instinct, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

[Anonymous User]

Texas is now the fourth largest legal market (surpasses Chicago) and is very much now primary.

I have no problem with calling Austin and Houston major markets, but it does seem weird to compare the market of an entire state to one city.

Totally agree, but that’s how the folks ranking markets lumped them together so that’s what I went with (they similarly combine all the cities in California). For what it’s worth, several firms I’m familiar with treat their Texas offices as a unit vs the rest of the country, so from an internal BigLaw perspective it kinda tracks.

[thisismytlsuername]

Lol at the “quality and variety” of food in houston being equivalent to that in nyc. That’s not true for London, Rome, Paris, Tokyo etc (to be clear, the emphasis is on “variety” wrt some of those cities). It’s certainly not true for houston of all places. And no, naming four restaurants does not change that fact (regardless of whether they’d be right at home in nyc). If we can’t agree that NYC is a better food town than Houston (Houston???), then what can we agree on? You seriously believe that all we’d have to do to make Houston the culinary equivalent of NYC is copy and paste it a couple more times? Dear lord in heaven.

Remember that Houston is also more diverse than NYC, and has been since 2010 - having a ton of people from different ethnicities and cultures in one place is generally a key ingredient to a good food scene.

I agree! And NYC is far more ethnically and culturally diverse than Houston, according to the very study that you're citing to say that "Houston is more diverse than NYC".

https://wallethub.com/edu/most-diverse-cities/12690

[Anonymous User]

I find it almost impossible to believe houston is more diverse than NYC. And yes, I have family in Houston. And no, it’s not the same as NYC. NYC is the culinary capital of the world. Houston…is not. Not saying there isn’t good food there, but I don’t really see how we arguing about this. I grant you BBQ and Mexican food, but then again I grant Tokyo sushi, Paris French food and Rome Italian food. But taken as a whole, nowhere holds a candle to NYC. And again, the nearest competition can’t possibly be Houston.

Edit: the link re diversity has NYC as the second most culturally diverse city in America (1 is Jersey city, so clearly not a 1-1 ratio with quality of food). Houston is like 36?

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

[Anonymous User]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

[nixy]

Houston doesn’t need to be “more diverse” than NYC to be one of the most diverse cities in the country, nor as someone noted is diversity an absolute proxy for “great food” (though it helps). USNews and WaPo both list Houston in their top 10 food cities (and WaPo puts it above NYC).

Now obviously you can argue about the criteria and whether any of these rankings have merit until the cows come home (establish the number of angels who can fit on the head of a pin while you’re at it). But the overall point is that Houston isn’t a food backwater and it’s ridiculous to suggest that a biglaw associate has to go to NYC if they want access to great eating. It’s not like if you’re not at the #1 food city (if that’s even NYC) you’re stuck eating Applebee’s every night.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons why you, personally, have a better food QOL in NYC. Maybe you like the density of offerings in NYC better and having more public transport (though I’m sure people just Uber in Houston). You like living above your favorite Chinese food place and not having to drive to fine restaurants. That’s cool, but it’s not the same as saying that you can’t eat equally well in Houston (or Chicago or Philadelphia or Portland). Like RIL pointed out, you’re not going to eat at every restaurant in NYC (or these other cities).

(Lol at “only global city.” It’s impossible to tell all the NYC homer anons apart but it usually sounds like they’ve never been anywhere else. Look, personally, I don’t want to live in Houston either, because I hate humidity and don’t like Texas politics. But that doesn’t mean everyone who lives there is a TTT rube with no taste.)

[thisismytlsuername]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Tell that to the $100,000 I've spent at restaurants over the last ten years in NYC.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

I live in NYC and like it here. I just think the “food” stuff is weird. There are way more restaurants here than any one person, especially a biglaw associate, could ever have the time or money to visit. So while I have no interest in living in Houston, I’m sure the food is fine. The bigger issue is needing to buy a car and drive everywhere

[Anonymous User]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

I live in NYC and like it here. I just think the “food” stuff is weird. There are way more restaurants here than any one person, especially a biglaw associate, could ever have the time or money to visit. So while I have no interest in living in Houston, I’m sure the food is fine. The bigger issue is needing to buy a car and drive everywhere

If you're focused on food, you can narrow it down substantially. No need to hit up just any restaurant, you can focus on the hip, up-and coming ones (or the recent openings, etc.). It's like art shows--NYC has a huge number and most aren't worth your time, but the ones that are very much are and the trick is being discerning enough to pick out the good ones from the bad or to focus on where the art world is moving.

And yeah re: cars, see my point earlier about Houston (and Dallas, and LA) being glorified suburbs. NYC you truly are in a city where you do not need a car. SF/Chicago/DC are all debatable if you need a car for the full experience (having lived in all three I think there's enough to do a short distance from the city that SF and DC it makes more sense than Chicago).

Edit: also NYC is absolutely the only true global city in the United States and is on par with London/Singapore/etc. Houston's not even close to that.

[nixy]

But like, some people don’t care about being in a global city, and like cars and driving. (I’ll grant I don’t think anyone likes Houston traffic, but it’s not like the NYC subway is a picnic every day of the year either.)

[Anonymous User]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

I live in NYC and like it here. I just think the “food” stuff is weird. There are way more restaurants here than any one person, especially a biglaw associate, could ever have the time or money to visit. So while I have no interest in living in Houston, I’m sure the food is fine. The bigger issue is needing to buy a car and drive everywhere

If you're focused on food, you can narrow it down substantially. No need to hit up just any restaurant, you can focus on the hip, up-and coming ones (or the recent openings, etc.). It's like art shows--NYC has a huge number and most aren't worth your time, but the ones that are very much are and the trick is being discerning enough to pick out the good ones from the bad or to focus on where the art world is moving.

And yeah re: cars, see my point earlier about Houston (and Dallas, and LA) being glorified suburbs. NYC you truly are in a city where you do not need a car. SF/Chicago/DC are all debatable if you need a car for the full experience (having lived in all three I think there's enough to do a short distance from the city that SF and DC it makes more sense than Chicago).

Edit: also NYC is absolutely the only true global city in the United States and is on par with London/Singapore/etc. Houston's not even close to that.

Love living in Houston & not having to run into many people with your snobby-like behavior. I'll enjoy my "TTT" city that apparently has garbage food (tell me you dont know the US food scene without telling me you don't know).

Go astros

[Anonymous User]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

I live in NYC and like it here. I just think the “food” stuff is weird. There are way more restaurants here than any one person, especially a biglaw associate, could ever have the time or money to visit. So while I have no interest in living in Houston, I’m sure the food is fine. The bigger issue is needing to buy a car and drive everywhere

If you're focused on food, you can narrow it down substantially. No need to hit up just any restaurant, you can focus on the hip, up-and coming ones (or the recent openings, etc.). It's like art shows--NYC has a huge number and most aren't worth your time, but the ones that are very much are and the trick is being discerning enough to pick out the good ones from the bad or to focus on where the art world is moving.

And yeah re: cars, see my point earlier about Houston (and Dallas, and LA) being glorified suburbs. NYC you truly are in a city where you do not need a car. SF/Chicago/DC are all debatable if you need a car for the full experience (having lived in all three I think there's enough to do a short distance from the city that SF and DC it makes more sense than Chicago).

Edit: also NYC is absolutely the only true global city in the United States and is on par with London/Singapore/etc. Houston's not even close to that.

Love living in Houston & not having to run into many people with your snobby-like behavior. I'll enjoy my "TTT" city that apparently has garbage food (tell me you dont know the US food scene without telling me you don't know).

Go astros

I never said Houston has garbage food, just that its food scene isn’t as good as New York’s. Having a few top-tier restaurants is good, but it’s simply not at the same level as NYC or Chicago.

As far as its status as a TTT city goes, I stand by that, as I stand by calling any car-dependent city TTT. And I like cars! Car-first infrastructure is just massively detrimental to urban life and places like where I grew up, or places like Houston/Dallas/LA/etc. have chosen to demolish their vibrant urban fabrics with overpasses and spaghetti bowls in service to suburban drivers. NYC/SF/Chicago/DC/etc are far less car-dependent and therefore frankly better at being cities.

That’s not to say NYC is perfect. I wish personal vehicles were outright banned from Manhattan, but the driver lobby just has too much power. Maybe by 2030, but probably not.

[Anonymous User]

Houston doesn’t need to be “more diverse” than NYC to be one of the most diverse cities in the country, nor as someone noted is diversity an absolute proxy for “great food” (though it helps). USNews and WaPo both list Houston in their top 10 food cities (and WaPo puts it above NYC).

Now obviously you can argue about the criteria and whether any of these rankings have merit until the cows come home (establish the number of angels who can fit on the head of a pin while you’re at it). But the overall point is that Houston isn’t a food backwater and it’s ridiculous to suggest that a biglaw associate has to go to NYC if they want access to great eating. It’s not like if you’re not at the #1 food city (if that’s even NYC) you’re stuck eating Applebee’s every night.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons why you, personally, have a better food QOL in NYC. Maybe you like the density of offerings in NYC better and having more public transport (though I’m sure people just Uber in Houston). You like living above your favorite Chinese food place and not having to drive to fine restaurants. That’s cool, but it’s not the same as saying that you can’t eat equally well in Houston (or Chicago or Philadelphia or Portland). Like RIL pointed out, you’re not going to eat at every restaurant in NYC (or these other cities).

(Lol at “only global city.” It’s impossible to tell all the NYC homer anons apart but it usually sounds like they’ve never been anywhere else. Look, personally, I don’t want to live in Houston either, because I hate humidity and don’t like Texas politics. But that doesn’t mean everyone who lives there is a TTT rube with no taste.)

You realize it was the houston peeps who brought up diversity = quality of food when claiming houston was more diverse than nyc, right? We just then looked into it and saw that in terms of cultural diversity nyc is way more diverse than Houston, so the pro-houston argument was self-defeating.

Also, no one (I don’t think) said Houston is a food backwater…it’s just not nyc…It really shouldn’t be controversial that one of the soft QoL pluses for nyc (compared to secondary us big law markets) is world-class food. Just like cost of living and housing clearly favors Houston.

Anyway, if you really think Portland, Philadelphia (Philadelphia?????) and Houston are the culinary equivalents to nyc, don’t think we have much left to discuss (and I’d wager I know which one of us is more provincial).

PS—I’m a a differen anon, so not my fight, but Houston isn’t a global city. Maybe LA or SF is. Otherwise, it’s NYC.
Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Rio, London, Paris, New York, Houston (not supposed to be an exhaustive list). Which one stands out?

[nixy]

Philadelphia’s on some of those top food lists, but is probably the least defensible. Portland’s food scene is noted all over the place as spectacular.

I get that NYC is a great destination for people who want world class food. I just think that given the *significant* availability of world class food in a bunch of US cities *in addition* to NYC, you can also get world class food in other, cheaper markets, and therefore have a very high QOL in those markets. I think the fetishization of NYC as the “only” destination for world class food is much more about being able to say you’re in the “top” city than it has anything to do with your actual lived experience finding food in any of these places.

(Not that fetishization of rankings is surprising in the legal profession, but it’s still narrow minded and limiting.)

This isn’t to say that someone who’s devoted to NYC has to turn around and love Houston. I just think it’s worth acknowledging that “NYC is the best food city in the US” as a reason to diss secondary/tertiary markets isn’t really about being able to *get* good food, it’s about being able to boast about it.

[Anonymous User]

Houston doesn’t need to be “more diverse” than NYC to be one of the most diverse cities in the country, nor as someone noted is diversity an absolute proxy for “great food” (though it helps). USNews and WaPo both list Houston in their top 10 food cities (and WaPo puts it above NYC).

Now obviously you can argue about the criteria and whether any of these rankings have merit until the cows come home (establish the number of angels who can fit on the head of a pin while you’re at it). But the overall point is that Houston isn’t a food backwater and it’s ridiculous to suggest that a biglaw associate has to go to NYC if they want access to great eating. It’s not like if you’re not at the #1 food city (if that’s even NYC) you’re stuck eating Applebee’s every night.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons why you, personally, have a better food QOL in NYC. Maybe you like the density of offerings in NYC better and having more public transport (though I’m sure people just Uber in Houston). You like living above your favorite Chinese food place and not having to drive to fine restaurants. That’s cool, but it’s not the same as saying that you can’t eat equally well in Houston (or Chicago or Philadelphia or Portland). Like RIL pointed out, you’re not going to eat at every restaurant in NYC (or these other cities).

(Lol at “only global city.” It’s impossible to tell all the NYC homer anons apart but it usually sounds like they’ve never been anywhere else. Look, personally, I don’t want to live in Houston either, because I hate humidity and don’t like Texas politics. But that doesn’t mean everyone who lives there is a TTT rube with no taste.)

You realize it was the houston peeps who brought up diversity = quality of food when claiming houston was more diverse than nyc, right? We just then looked into it and saw that in terms of cultural diversity nyc is way more diverse than Houston, so the pro-houston argument was self-defeating.

Also, no one (I don’t think) said Houston is a food backwater…it’s just not nyc…It really shouldn’t be controversial that one of the soft QoL pluses for nyc (compared to secondary us big law markets) is world-class food. Just like cost of living and housing clearly favors Houston.

Anyway, if you really think Portland, Philadelphia (Philadelphia?????) and Houston are the culinary equivalents to nyc, don’t think we have much left to discuss (and I’d wager I know which one of us is more provincial).

PS—I’m a a differen anon, so not my fight, but Houston isn’t a global city. Maybe LA or SF is. Otherwise, it’s NYC.
Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Rio, London, Paris, New York, Houston (not supposed to be an exhaustive list). Which one stands out?

Rio probably.

[Anonymous User]

Houston doesn’t need to be “more diverse” than NYC to be one of the most diverse cities in the country, nor as someone noted is diversity an absolute proxy for “great food” (though it helps). USNews and WaPo both list Houston in their top 10 food cities (and WaPo puts it above NYC).

Now obviously you can argue about the criteria and whether any of these rankings have merit until the cows come home (establish the number of angels who can fit on the head of a pin while you’re at it). But the overall point is that Houston isn’t a food backwater and it’s ridiculous to suggest that a biglaw associate has to go to NYC if they want access to great eating. It’s not like if you’re not at the #1 food city (if that’s even NYC) you’re stuck eating Applebee’s every night.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons why you, personally, have a better food QOL in NYC. Maybe you like the density of offerings in NYC better and having more public transport (though I’m sure people just Uber in Houston). You like living above your favorite Chinese food place and not having to drive to fine restaurants. That’s cool, but it’s not the same as saying that you can’t eat equally well in Houston (or Chicago or Philadelphia or Portland). Like RIL pointed out, you’re not going to eat at every restaurant in NYC (or these other cities).

(Lol at “only global city.” It’s impossible to tell all the NYC homer anons apart but it usually sounds like they’ve never been anywhere else. Look, personally, I don’t want to live in Houston either, because I hate humidity and don’t like Texas politics. But that doesn’t mean everyone who lives there is a TTT rube with no taste.)

You realize it was the houston peeps who brought up diversity = quality of food when claiming houston was more diverse than nyc, right? We just then looked into it and saw that in terms of cultural diversity nyc is way more diverse than Houston, so the pro-houston argument was self-defeating.

Also, no one (I don’t think) said Houston is a food backwater…it’s just not nyc…It really shouldn’t be controversial that one of the soft QoL pluses for nyc (compared to secondary us big law markets) is world-class food. Just like cost of living and housing clearly favors Houston.

Anyway, if you really think Portland, Philadelphia (Philadelphia?????) and Houston are the culinary equivalents to nyc, don’t think we have much left to discuss (and I’d wager I know which one of us is more provincial).

PS—I’m a a differen anon, so not my fight, but Houston isn’t a global city. Maybe LA or SF is. Otherwise, it’s NYC.
Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Rio, London, Paris, New York, Houston (not supposed to be an exhaustive list). Which one stands out?

Rio probably.

There are a bunch of potential definitions and I see all of these except Rio and Houston. I kinda disagree with Chicago being considered a more global city than SF on most of these tho.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city

[Anonymous User]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

I live in NYC and like it here. I just think the “food” stuff is weird. There are way more restaurants here than any one person, especially a biglaw associate, could ever have the time or money to visit. So while I have no interest in living in Houston, I’m sure the food is fine. The bigger issue is needing to buy a car and drive everywhere

If you're focused on food, you can narrow it down substantially. No need to hit up just any restaurant, you can focus on the hip, up-and coming ones (or the recent openings, etc.). It's like art shows--NYC has a huge number and most aren't worth your time, but the ones that are very much are and the trick is being discerning enough to pick out the good ones from the bad or to focus on where the art world is moving.

And yeah re: cars, see my point earlier about Houston (and Dallas, and LA) being glorified suburbs. NYC you truly are in a city where you do not need a car. SF/Chicago/DC are all debatable if you need a car for the full experience (having lived in all three I think there's enough to do a short distance from the city that SF and DC it makes more sense than Chicago).

Edit: also NYC is absolutely the only true global city in the United States and is on par with London/Singapore/etc. Houston's not even close to that.

Love living in Houston & not having to run into many people with your snobby-like behavior. I'll enjoy my "TTT" city that apparently has garbage food (tell me you dont know the US food scene without telling me you don't know).

Go astros

I never said Houston has garbage food, just that its food scene isn’t as good as New York’s. Having a few top-tier restaurants is good, but it’s simply not at the same level as NYC or Chicago.

As far as its status as a TTT city goes, I stand by that, as I stand by calling any car-dependent city TTT. And I like cars! Car-first infrastructure is just massively detrimental to urban life and places like where I grew up, or places like Houston/Dallas/LA/etc. have chosen to demolish their vibrant urban fabrics with overpasses and spaghetti bowls in service to suburban drivers. NYC/SF/Chicago/DC/etc are far less car-dependent and therefore frankly better at being cities.

That’s not to say NYC is perfect. I wish personal vehicles were outright banned from Manhattan, but the driver lobby just has too much power. Maybe by 2030, but probably not.

Get out of NYC for once and you'll realize NYC isn't exactly that special when it comes to world class food. But then again, I'm able to eat every cuisine and don't just eat at whatever fancy upper-class white person establishment you're dining at night after night.

No problem with cars. Call it what it is, Houston isn't a city you like because it doesn't fit your needs. I much prefer my space, freedom, being able to build wealth easier, and overall attitudes of the people that live here much more than NYC.

[Anonymous User]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

I live in NYC and like it here. I just think the “food” stuff is weird. There are way more restaurants here than any one person, especially a biglaw associate, could ever have the time or money to visit. So while I have no interest in living in Houston, I’m sure the food is fine. The bigger issue is needing to buy a car and drive everywhere

If you're focused on food, you can narrow it down substantially. No need to hit up just any restaurant, you can focus on the hip, up-and coming ones (or the recent openings, etc.). It's like art shows--NYC has a huge number and most aren't worth your time, but the ones that are very much are and the trick is being discerning enough to pick out the good ones from the bad or to focus on where the art world is moving.

And yeah re: cars, see my point earlier about Houston (and Dallas, and LA) being glorified suburbs. NYC you truly are in a city where you do not need a car. SF/Chicago/DC are all debatable if you need a car for the full experience (having lived in all three I think there's enough to do a short distance from the city that SF and DC it makes more sense than Chicago).

Edit: also NYC is absolutely the only true global city in the United States and is on par with London/Singapore/etc. Houston's not even close to that.

Love living in Houston & not having to run into many people with your snobby-like behavior. I'll enjoy my "TTT" city that apparently has garbage food (tell me you dont know the US food scene without telling me you don't know).

Go astros

I never said Houston has garbage food, just that its food scene isn’t as good as New York’s. Having a few top-tier restaurants is good, but it’s simply not at the same level as NYC or Chicago.

As far as its status as a TTT city goes, I stand by that, as I stand by calling any car-dependent city TTT. And I like cars! Car-first infrastructure is just massively detrimental to urban life and places like where I grew up, or places like Houston/Dallas/LA/etc. have chosen to demolish their vibrant urban fabrics with overpasses and spaghetti bowls in service to suburban drivers. NYC/SF/Chicago/DC/etc are far less car-dependent and therefore frankly better at being cities.

That’s not to say NYC is perfect. I wish personal vehicles were outright banned from Manhattan, but the driver lobby just has too much power. Maybe by 2030, but probably not.

But then again, I'm able to eat every cuisine and don't just eat at whatever fancy upper-class white person establishment you're dining at night after night.

Wow I hit a nerve lol. I’m not from NYC and have spent the vast majority of my life well away from the city (I only moved here for biglaw). Still, I’m sold, this is the best place (Chicago and SF potentially excepted) in the country and other cities really don’t bring nearly as much to the table.

[Anonymous User]

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

I live in NYC and like it here. I just think the “food” stuff is weird. There are way more restaurants here than any one person, especially a biglaw associate, could ever have the time or money to visit. So while I have no interest in living in Houston, I’m sure the food is fine. The bigger issue is needing to buy a car and drive everywhere

If you're focused on food, you can narrow it down substantially. No need to hit up just any restaurant, you can focus on the hip, up-and coming ones (or the recent openings, etc.). It's like art shows--NYC has a huge number and most aren't worth your time, but the ones that are very much are and the trick is being discerning enough to pick out the good ones from the bad or to focus on where the art world is moving.

And yeah re: cars, see my point earlier about Houston (and Dallas, and LA) being glorified suburbs. NYC you truly are in a city where you do not need a car. SF/Chicago/DC are all debatable if you need a car for the full experience (having lived in all three I think there's enough to do a short distance from the city that SF and DC it makes more sense than Chicago).

Edit: also NYC is absolutely the only true global city in the United States and is on par with London/Singapore/etc. Houston's not even close to that.

Love living in Houston & not having to run into many people with your snobby-like behavior. I'll enjoy my "TTT" city that apparently has garbage food (tell me you dont know the US food scene without telling me you don't know).

Go astros

I never said Houston has garbage food, just that its food scene isn’t as good as New York’s. Having a few top-tier restaurants is good, but it’s simply not at the same level as NYC or Chicago.

As far as its status as a TTT city goes, I stand by that, as I stand by calling any car-dependent city TTT. And I like cars! Car-first infrastructure is just massively detrimental to urban life and places like where I grew up, or places like Houston/Dallas/LA/etc. have chosen to demolish their vibrant urban fabrics with overpasses and spaghetti bowls in service to suburban drivers. NYC/SF/Chicago/DC/etc are far less car-dependent and therefore frankly better at being cities.

That’s not to say NYC is perfect. I wish personal vehicles were outright banned from Manhattan, but the driver lobby just has too much power. Maybe by 2030, but probably not.

But then again, I'm able to eat every cuisine and don't just eat at whatever fancy upper-class white person establishment you're dining at night after night.

Wow I hit a nerve lol. I’m not from NYC and have spent the vast majority of my life well away from the city (I only moved here for biglaw). Still, I’m sold, this is the best place (Chicago and SF potentially excepted) in the country and other cities really don’t bring nearly as much to the table.

And what exactly is bringing much to the table.

No nerve hit. I prefer running into less gunner/snobbish folks like you who are thankfully centered in NYC.

[thisismytlsuername]

Are people really choosing markets based on food? In NYC biglaw you’ll also have the least free time and least spare money to enjoy any of the tens of thousands of restaurants.

Food, high culture, etc are all very meaningful reasons to pick one market over another--in the same way that outdoor activities are as well. NYC biglaw doesn't eat up so much of your life that you can't go out to eat and claiming that it does is just bellyaching. Picking a TTT "city" like Houston over America's only true global city is, IMO, insane unless (a) you have family in Texas, (b) you're infatuated with O&G, or (c) you're a drone who only wants to generate income (but never actually buy anything--Texas' strategy is to ramp up those property taxes to over double what NYC's effective rate is).

For the record if you want to do the money-maximizing strategy, WFH from Wyoming. Low personal income taxes, low property taxes, you don't have to live in a fucking swamp, and you have far better access to nature. Texas is a scam.

I live in NYC and like it here. I just think the “food” stuff is weird. There are way more restaurants here than any one person, especially a biglaw associate, could ever have the time or money to visit. So while I have no interest in living in Houston, I’m sure the food is fine. The bigger issue is needing to buy a car and drive everywhere

If you're focused on food, you can narrow it down substantially. No need to hit up just any restaurant, you can focus on the hip, up-and coming ones (or the recent openings, etc.). It's like art shows--NYC has a huge number and most aren't worth your time, but the ones that are very much are and the trick is being discerning enough to pick out the good ones from the bad or to focus on where the art world is moving.

And yeah re: cars, see my point earlier about Houston (and Dallas, and LA) being glorified suburbs. NYC you truly are in a city where you do not need a car. SF/Chicago/DC are all debatable if you need a car for the full experience (having lived in all three I think there's enough to do a short distance from the city that SF and DC it makes more sense than Chicago).

Edit: also NYC is absolutely the only true global city in the United States and is on par with London/Singapore/etc. Houston's not even close to that.

Love living in Houston & not having to run into many people with your snobby-like behavior. I'll enjoy my "TTT" city that apparently has garbage food (tell me you dont know the US food scene without telling me you don't know).

Go astros

I never said Houston has garbage food, just that its food scene isn’t as good as New York’s. Having a few top-tier restaurants is good, but it’s simply not at the same level as NYC or Chicago.

As far as its status as a TTT city goes, I stand by that, as I stand by calling any car-dependent city TTT. And I like cars! Car-first infrastructure is just massively detrimental to urban life and places like where I grew up, or places like Houston/Dallas/LA/etc. have chosen to demolish their vibrant urban fabrics with overpasses and spaghetti bowls in service to suburban drivers. NYC/SF/Chicago/DC/etc are far less car-dependent and therefore frankly better at being cities.

That’s not to say NYC is perfect. I wish personal vehicles were outright banned from Manhattan, but the driver lobby just has too much power. Maybe by 2030, but probably not.

Get out of NYC for once and you'll realize NYC isn't exactly that special when it comes to world class food. But then again, I'm able to eat every cuisine and don't just eat at whatever fancy upper-class white person establishment you're dining at night after night.

No problem with cars. Call it what it is, Houston isn't a city you like because it doesn't fit your needs. I much prefer my space, freedom, being able to build wealth easier, and overall attitudes of the people that live here much more than NYC.

Let's stop talking hypotheticals -- how many years out are you, what was your net worth on your first day of biglaw, and what's your net worth now?