Choosing where to live can be one of the greatest decisions you make in your life. Where you decide to live can affect your career prospects, but more importantly, it can also affect your health and happiness. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider not just the location but also the environment of your home. Here are some pros and cons to living in the city and the suburbs that should help you make your decision.

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere of the city is a big reason that people to choose to live there. With so many people in one place, there’s no doubt going to be a lot of different and interesting stuff happening all the time. That’s what makes cities so vibrant, exciting, and inspirational to live in. Because of this, you should have an easier time finding people who are like-minded, have similar interests to you, and provide you with inspiration.

That said, the hustle and bustle of the city can prove to be overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with it all the time. That’s why people who like the suburbs prefer to live in peace and quiet; they still have the option to visit the city whenever it’s convenient to them. If you like your space, the suburbs are for you.

Proximity to Nearby Attractions

One of the greatest advantages to living in a city will be your proximity to mostly everything. Supermarkets, entertainment, bars, and restaurants are usually within walking distance, and if not, easily accessible by public transportation. That means that you don’t have to rely on driving yourself, which is a major benefit to some people.

While you usually give up this benefit of proximity when living in the suburbs, if you have a vehicle or are close to a bus stop, you’ll still be able to reach similar attractions. While you may spend a little more time commuting that if you were in the city, the lower price of living in the suburbs makes up for it.

Cost of Living

Cities are often very expensive to live in, in terms of everything from rent to the cost of groceries and restaurants. This forces many city dwellers to live in small apartments and share their homes with roommates, whom they may or may not know. For city lovers, it’s a tolerable tradeoff, though not many people can say they like living in a cramped apartment.

Living in the suburbs, you give up some of the benefits of living in the city, but you can save money to provide yourself with whatever amenities you need. While you may not get as much excitement out of living in your suburban home, you’ll probably be more comfortable than you would be living in the city.

Choosing to live in either the city or in the suburbs is a difficult decision, and making that decision will depend on your interests and what you feel you can live–and can’t live–without. Some people don’t even realize which they prefer until they’ve lived in both situations. It’s worth keeping in mind, however, that the grass is always greener on the other side, and you can always make the best of it wherever you are.