Alright, let’s talk about New York City versus Columbus. I’ve spent a decent amount of time in both, not just visiting, but really trying to live the day-to-day, you know? It’s funny how different two American cities can be.
First Off, The Sheer Scale
Landing in NYC, even after multiple trips, it just hits you. The sheer amount of everything. People, buildings, noise, smells. It’s intense. I remember just walking out of Penn Station my first time really exploring on my own, and just feeling… small. Not necessarily in a bad way, just aware of the scale. You feel the energy, like the city itself is buzzing.
Then you get to Columbus. It’s a city, no doubt. Downtown has its buildings, there’s stuff going on. But it’s… manageable. You can breathe. I remember driving around Columbus, and actually being able to see the sky easily, find parking without selling a kidney. It felt way less compressed. The pace just felt slower right off the bat.
The Money Thing Is Real
No surprises here, but man, the cost difference. It’s not just talk. I looked at apartments in both places around the same time. In NYC, or Brooklyn anyway, I was looking at tiny studios, walk-ups, older buildings, and the prices were just eye-watering. Seriously, what you pay for a closet there gets you a decent place in Columbus.
And it’s not just rent. Eating out, grabbing a coffee, groceries… everything felt heavier on the wallet in New York. Columbus felt way more reasonable. I could actually go out to eat without planning my budget around it for the next week. That lack of constant financial pressure in Columbus was a huge difference in daily life.
Getting Around Town
This was a big adjustment for me. In NYC, I relied on the subway almost entirely. It runs all night, goes almost everywhere. Yeah, it can be crowded, sometimes dirty, delays happen. But you don’t need a car. Owning a car there seemed like a massive headache – parking, traffic, insurance.
Columbus? Totally different game. You pretty much need a car. Their public transport exists, the COTA buses, but it just doesn’t cover the sprawl the way the subway covers NYC. Everything felt spread out. I found myself driving everywhere – to the grocery store, to meet friends, to work. It’s just a car town. If you hate driving or relying on cars, Columbus is gonna be rough.
The Vibe and The People
Okay, this is subjective, but here’s what I felt. NYC has this incredible diversity and energy. Anything you want, any type of food, music, art – it’s there. But it can also feel anonymous. Millions of people rushing around, head down, on their own mission. It’s efficient, maybe, but not always warm.
Columbus had that Midwestern feel. People seemed more laid back, maybe more overtly friendly? Strangers would make small talk sometimes. It felt less rushed, less ‘edge’. Now, some might find that boring compared to NYC’s constant stimulation. But others might find it comfortable, more community-focused. I noticed folks seemed to know their neighbors more often in Columbus.
- NYC: Fast, intense, expensive, amazing public transport, endless options, anonymous feeling.
- Columbus: Slower, affordable, need a car, friendly vibe, feels more manageable, maybe less ‘exciting’.
So yeah, spent time navigating both. They offer totally different ways of living. Neither is universally ‘better’, it just depends what you’re looking for, what you can afford, and what kind of pace suits you. I learned a lot just by existing in both places for a while.
