New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco Comparison
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Comparing and contrasting New York City (Manhattan), Chicago, and San Francisco. These three cities have much in common, but there are many aspects of them that make them unique. In this video I discuss the downtowns, walkability, nightlife, crime, cost of living, and more.
Videos on the individual cities:
New York: • What's Up With New Yor...
Chicago: • Chicago City Profile
San Francisco: • San Francisco: City Pr...
Album displayed: Viagra Boys - "Cave World" (2022)
I live in Chicago without a car and it works out great. Of course, it helps that I also work at a place that is in the city along the blue line, but I have more or less everything I need within easy walking distance. But you're right that there is probably a smaller percentage of the city of Chicago in which you could live that way when compared to NY or SF. Also the constant refrain from out-of-towners and media talking heads about Chicago's crime rate is very annoying. Every Chicagoan would agree that, yes, the crime rate is far too high. But Chicago is a very large place geographically, and unless you live in a handful of very specific neighborhoods, Chicago is just as safe as any other city. Chicago's overall crime rate is actually lower than a lot of other cities that rarely, if ever, get called out for their crime issues.
👍
I live in the loop and agree w you.
I might add that Lori Lightfoot has been instrumental in keeping Chicago the world class city that it is.
(that second part is pure sarcasm 😬)
@@briansierzega I was about to say... Lightfoot is a cancer on Chicago.
Also live in Chicago and dont have a car, nor have I ever needed one.
You can’t ignore the crime rate when the southern third of the city is literally an active war zone, and is essentially lawless.
I love the intense urbanism of these 3 places dearly. They make every other city in America look like small towns or just super spread out suburbs.
This is actually pretty sad when you think about it - San Francisco doesn't even have a million people.
Except Philly and Boston
I hate super spread out suburbs.
@@nathanielthrush5581 U took the words right out of my mouth :,)
@@markroberts6926 San Fran may be under 1m but the density makes it feel very much like a city that size.
I’m a native Midwesterner who then spent a number of years living in NYC. New York is great in all the ways you stated, but Chicago (and other Midwestern cities) will always have my heart. The architecture, culture and miles of Lake Michigan lakefront hit my city wish list on the nose.
The hate is propaganda. Great cities!
You didn't mention Chicago's Lincoln Park, which extends along the lakeshore from North Ave to Lawrence. Includes the world famous zoo. More than just a neighborhood park.
The biggest park in Chicago, just not as central
It's from Grand Avenue (500 N.) to Ardmore Ave. (5800 N.).
And then there's Jackson Park, Washington Park, Marquette Park, Humboldt Park, all of which have just about any activity you could ask for, even a couple of public 9-hole golf courses. There's a few prairie preserves and bird sanctuaries along the lakefront as well - which, in a way is one giant network of parks, beaches, preserves, and trails that just goes for miles and miles. And that's not to mention Museum Campus in the middle of all of that.
He only stayed downtown. Of each city it looks like.
It’s smaller than Central Park and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
Northwest Indiana is the New Jersey of Chicago
This is true
Eh . . . not really. New Jersey has a LOT of wealth, a HUGE population, major corporate headquarters, universities, etc. etc. Sure NJ has industrial areas and rough cities like Newark, etc. just across the Hudson but Northwest Indiana is straight up rustbelt. Its basically Youngstown Ohio or Flint Michigan that happens to be right next to Chicago.
@@bhg123ful not true, tons and tons of wealth and education and company headquartered in NWI.
@@mattlukasik2486 I think the original comment was referring to how people from the city proper view that particular suburban area.
Oakland is San Francisco’s New Jersey
San Francisco is the best 💙
If you want to stay in NYC for an extended period of time but are worried about tight living conditions, I would suggest staying in Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island. Brooklyn and Queens are much bigger than Manhattan and also have some nicer, less crowded areas like Dyker Heights in Brooklyn and Forest Hills in Queens, while Staten Island is mostly suburban and is the only borough with fewer than a million people. All three have easy access to Manhattan with the trains in Brooklyn and Queens and the ferry in Staten Island. Next time you come out to NYC, one of these three boroughs might be the better option for you to stay.
I’ve lived in Manhattan and Chicago and spent 5 weeks in SF. They all have positives and negatives. For your average person who wants to live in a big city, Chicago would be the easiest. It’s affordable for most and is definitely exciting. Live off a major train or bus route and you don’t need a car. SF and Manhattan are great but you may feel like a slave to your wages just to live. Cost of living is crazy.
Some people are missing the point. He is comparing Manhattan with Chicago and SF and NOT all of NYC. Manhattan and SF have more things similar than with Chicago. I live in the Bay Area and I still love SF despite all the negative stuff in the media. It is still one of the most gorgeous cities in the world and one of the most popular cities for visitors before the pandemic. Lots to do. The Bay Area has a larger economy than the Chicago area now.
Chicago has the third highest GDP after NY and LA. So San Francisco definitely does not have a larger economy. San Fran is too small, it's a nice town like Bourdain said, NY and CHI are the only real metropolis in the US
Thanks again Kyle for giving an unbiased take on cities here in the US. As a Chicagoan it gets tiring being talked about so negatively in the media. Crime is very real here, but at the same time I love what my city has to offer and it is absolutely beautiful. If you come to Chicago during the summer months there's an endless amount of street festivals and concerts since people really take advantage of the nice weather. The lakefront is an absolute gem, and I don't think any other city in America has something like it, with skyscrapers basically right next to the lake (apart from Lake Shore Drive of course).
Also, on a different note, many people don't realize the density of universities that there are here. We have UChicago, Northwestern (it's in Evanston, but that's only a few miles outside city limits), DePaul and Loyola for private universities, while UIC is Chicago's massive public university. There's so many more I could name, but my point is that Chicago has a massive amount of educated young people, something that is great not just for Chicago but for America as a whole. Not to even mention U of I Urbana-Champaign, which is like 2.5 hrs from downtown. Something like 1/3 of my HS class went there. I think our large number of young professionals is part of the reason we have such a large economy, and also why we didn't go full Rust Belt like other Midwestern cities.
The winters here are intense, but I've lived here my whole life and I've come to enjoy certain aspects of them. One of my favorite things about winter is going out after (and sometimes during) a big snowstorm at night. There's almost no one else on the roads except for snow plows and it is just so calm and peaceful. The snow blankets everything and I find it intensely beautiful.
Well this comment turned out pretty long, so I'll leave it there. Again, thanks for another great video Kyle and I hope you visit us again sometime!
I was there in sprimg and I got the Chicago treatment "if you don't like the weather wait a few minutes". It was in the low 50s grey and drizzling and then a couple of hours later it was in the low 80s and as humid as the South. But still loved it. I'll be back soon.
I'm a U of C alum and Chicago is a great college town. I loved my time there (both for undergrad and grad school). And even on the South Side, the crime isn't as bad as certain types of media like to portray. It's a little hard to get around if you're in a more distant neighborhood from the Loop and not near an L line, but I still managed without a car fine (just had to seriously bundle up in the winter lol).
@@GeographyKing 😂😂😂Yeah sounds about right. As I'm writing this, tonight will go down to about 35 and cloudy. This weekend will be mid 70s, possibly even 80 with some sunshine. Oh well 🤷🏽♂
@@aidanb.c.2325 I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your time here :) , and congrats on going to U of C, Incredible school, and I love their campus, it's absolutely beautiful!
All of these cities suffer from relentless negative attention in the media. All bad news. All the time. 24/7. Some of the criticisms are valid. But as you say they tell an incomplete story. No attempt is made to contextualize anything. And I do get the feeling that much of it is "poverty porn" designed to make certain audiences feel better about themselves and their choices in life rather than a genuine attempt to discuss urban issues as such.
Lincoln park is the big park of Chicago and you could spend a day there it’s lovely although grant park is in downtown
Prior to the pandemic; Chicago was an almost 24/7 city but it depended on what L stop you were at. If you were at Damen on the Blue Line in Wicker Park? Bars are open till 4-5 AM and constantly busy with so many people stumbling around and tons of tamale guys wandering around trying to sell fresh tamales. Same with stations in Logan Square, a whole lotta people walking around and minding their own business and random pop-up restaurants selling you good ass tacos and whatnot. Pandemic ruined the Chicago night life and it's interesting to see it personally as a sociology and urban planning person.
I'm really curious about your comment that you need a car in Chicago. It's really very easy to get anywhere in the city or nearby suburbs on buses and trains. Honestly I find transit in Chicago much more convenient than it is in the Bay Area.
I was thinking along the lines of things like grocery hauls or other shopping trips. A lot of people in Manhattan and SF have personal shopping carts, will walk to the neighborhood grocery store with their cart and then walk back home. But also that it can actually be a hindrance to have a car in NYC or SF. I can certainly see myself living in Chicago without a car, but having one could also be useful as opposed to a hindrance.
@@GeographyKing They have that in Chicago too man. You just was downtown. You gotta get in the neighborhoods of the city. It’s 3 million people who live here.
As a foreigner to the USA, if anyone were to select 3 cities to visit, these 3 would be my pick. All unique, fun and interesting.
I get San Fran and New York. But what about Chicago might attract someone to visit?
@@JusNoBS420 best architecture in the country, world class museums + cultural institutions, gorgeous lakefront - there's a reason Conde Naste Traveler has voted it best big city in the US 6 years in a row
@@funkymonk816 okay thanks for pointing some good things out. Appreciate it 😊
@@JusNoBS420 Yeah for me it would be NYC San fran and Miami or Atlanta or LA
@@JusNoBS420 Chicago has a lot of offer. It‘s the quiet American jewel.
You gotta go to Brooklyn, best borough by far
This channel is getting to be well balanced in all geography related aspects of the US.
Love your videos.. I grew up in Chicago and I travel a lot so i really appreciate your take on things. That said, you missed a few key elements of Chicago night life. Bars are open until 6 am on weekends and 4 am i believe on weeknights.There are several key nightlife areas that you left out. It's not uncommon at all to come out of a club at 2 or 3 am and see people everywhere , well when the weather is good anyways..haha.. I would say that I have a harder time finding late night food in Ne York than in Chicago. Keep up the amazing videos..
The media bashes these cities out of insecurity. Nobody wants to live in Jackson Mississippi
Great video! Just moved to Chicago from St. Louis and I love it here!
Chicago to St. Louis, St. Louis to Chicago Ándale Ándale E.I, E.I
I know this video is old by now, but I gotta show some respect. As a native San Franciscan I just wanna say THANK YOU. I'm so used to people talking negatively about my city and I'm tired of it. Your video has no agenda and shows no bias. You show love, but also acknowledge the negatives of my city. I appreciate that.
As someone who’s main goal In life is to live in San Francisco, I 100% agree with you! The media is way too negative about it, you are a very lucky person❤
@The-San-Francisco-Treat appreciate the comment! San Francisco is a great city! Extremely diverse and lots of hidden gems. Hope you manage to achieve your dream of living in SF.
I live in the Bay Area and I love going to the city. It’s just so beautiful.
As a native Chicagoan, thank you! It's a beautiful, clean and affordable city with so much to do. The media tends to only show you the gang warfare that happens in and unfortunately controls about 10% of the city's neighborhoods. The rest of the city is spectacular, with each neighborhood having its own feel and distinctions from the others. Not to mention, it's incredibly cheap and easy to get almost anywhere in the city via L train, bus, bike or by walking.
Chicago, mostly peaceful riots l. You would be happy if your wife was 90% faithful.
Yeah right. There's a reason why Gotham is often compared to Chicago. Horrible place.
Not affordable, real estate is through the roof. High tax democrat controlled area.
Is it genuinely affordable? I will be graduating from UW-Madison soon and may be looking to move there
@@tomtodd6143 Seriously? Jesus.
Makes sense to compare San Francisco to the others more than LA. San Francisco might be tiny, but at least it is dense enough to feel like a city and not just a massive suburb.
Yeah Los Angeles doesn't fit in with this crowd. I'd compare it to Dallas, Houston, and Miami.
@@GeographyKing haha nice 🤣
Kyle, did you know rock climbing as a sport was invented up in the Hudson valley from NYC, and that the national fly fishing association is in NY, beautiful paddling opportunities from ocean, to lake, to river within minutes of the city that never sleeps
san francisco is my number 1
I live in Raleigh so used to more suburbia. I’ve been to all 3 of these, Chicago is my favorite one. The food is unmatched there. It gets a bad rep but it’s a really beautiful city and it’s a lot cleaner than San Francisco and New York. It’s affordable and cheaper than Raleigh as of now. Happy u made this video Chicago is a really nice city. Central Park New York is also really cool.
From someone who just recently moved from Raleigh to Chicago. I agree.
3 things: 1) As always, I love your awesome takes on these great cities, people really need to give them as much of a fair shake as you clearly do!! 2) You absolutely do not need a car to live in Chicago. I and several other people I know live car free in Chicago, and we all have very different lifestyles/employment. 3) The winters aren't impossible to handle, just dress well and you'll be fine. If you can handle a NYC, Boston, or even a Seattle winter you can handle Chicago's with barely any mental adjustment! Even if you are used to the sun belt, just prep properly and you'll be able to embrace and enjoy the winter as I (and countless others) have! :)
NYC winters are in every way more mild than Chicago. You may be confusing NYC with Buffalo or Boston.
@@slomojy "every way more mild" is (to say the least) not helpful in my view. But regardless more or less mild wasn't my point dear friend. My point was that the weather is close enough that if a person can manage and handle a winter in Boston, NYC, or Seattle well, they will be able to handle one in Chicago as well. Chicago's winters are not as wintery as people think, and they certainly aren't as snow-covered as Buffalo's (which I only bring up because you mentioned it). :)
@@slomojy NYC is on average only 8 degrees warmer in winter 😂 yeah way more mild! I've lived in both cities and felt absolutely no difference in winter. Winter was cold AF in both. I prefer LA or Miami because I hate the cold.
I'm in Milwaukee. I can handle those winters.
There's plenty of space for more people in SF. The problem isn't geographic. It's NIMBYs prevent density.
Paris is the same size as San Francisco and it has 2 million residents. San Francisco should be able to fit in that much but would need a crap load of mid rise apartments
Does Paris have earthquakes?
@@wankertanker1813 Tokyo does, and is the densest of all.
@@vucub_caquix ahh...yes. of course
bingo
Also been to all 3 and I completely agree. Chicago is the best all around city. SF and NYC are definitely a very specific lifestyle.
You sound like you’re from Chicago lol .. San Francisco wins for best views, and more to do.
@California Made nope. I used to live in Sacramento, so I've been to San Francisco many times. I live in Missouri now and visit Chicago a lot. It's a much better city overall, minus the views.
Except for my college and grad school years, I lived in Manhattan from the age of 8 until the age of 58. My perspective on the city and the world is completely influenced by this simple fact. Those who don't live there see Manhattan through the eyes of a tourist, and as such can only assess the city as a visitor. To be a resident, you see the city as home, and all that comes with that label. Tourists get excited by Times Square and the Statue of Liberty; I avoid the former and have never been to the latter.
When a tourist sees the New York skyline, they are often awestruck, whereas for me, after having been out of town for business or a vacation, the skyline is like seeing the front porch light of the house you grew up in.
The most consistent and incorrect trope about NYC is that the people there are unfriendly or rude. That perception comes mostly from tourists who slowly sightsee, ambling leisurely on the sidewalks of Park Avenue, where those of us who live there are working. Imagine if each morning you got into you car to go to the office, and there were several hundred people loitering in your driveway, standing between you and your place of employment, making you late or forcing you to change your route or navigate through a sea of people on vacation. You'd likely say or do something that might leave these folks with the impression that you were "rude".
I have a t-shirt that was given to me by a friend that, one the front reads, "Welcome to New York!" and on the back reads "Now leave." Are there days when this sentiment is not far off the mark? Oh yeah. But, I also take great pride in my home town and am very happy to offer lost tourists direction, guide them through the subway system, recommend museums and restaurants, and offer an insiders guide to let them see some of the less touristy aspects of the city.
I'm glad I lived there for 50 years, got married there, raised a child, had three dogs, two cats, and never once owned a car. I've seen and chatted with more movie stars than I can remember, witnessed more history than most could imagine (I was in an elevator in 1 WTC when the first plane hit; was at Yankee Stadium when Reggie hit his three home runs on three swings in three at bats in the World Series to beat the Dodgers, once saw Michael Jackson walking hand in hand with Brooke Shields down Third Avenue in the East Village.
But the single most amazing thing I saw was one 4th of July, returning from a trip on a South-North approach to LaGuardia around 9:15 pm, the captain suggested those of us sitting on the left side of the plane to take a look at the East River, which was awash with the annual, enormous fireworks display. Seeing it from above, with the bright lights of Manhattan beneath, I couldn't help but realize my "little home town" was unlike any other hometown in the world.
So, yeah, I'm a proud New Yorker, but I welcome everyone to come visit, at least once in their life.... And then leave. 😉
Perfectly said. Thanks for sharing.
@@JimmyNasium How very kind of you to say.
I was born/raised in San Francisco, and currently live in the Richmond district. (I believe that I've heard you say that you're from northern California, and know the City well.)
-- For a "major" city ... but a small city ... we are blessed with The Presidio, as well as Golden Gate Park. Granted, it's a National Park, as opposed to a municipal park. But, it's pretty massive. And, the "Lincoln Park/Land's End park area is also considerable. The Richmond district is adjacent to all of them.
-- San Francisco is also different, in terms of governance. We are a city/county combination. There are no smaller towns, or unincorporated areas, in "The City and County of San Francisco."
I've only visited Chicago once. And, I very much enjoyed my brief stay. I LOVE New York, and have been there many times ... but east coast weather is not for me. Little boys/girls who grow up in SF, are "weather wimps." 😉
New York (Manhattan), and SF are also comparable in that we have no land, on which to expand. "Up," is the only place that we can go. We're both hemmed in by water, and/or a separate county. Many years ago, when the Presidio, and Treasure/Yerba Buena Islands were de-commissioned as military bases, San Francisco received a bit of a land "windfall." Treasure/Yerba Buena Islands are in the process of being integrated into a "district," of the city ... while The Presidio opened to some private living, and a number of commercial entities.
I very much like your channel.
As a point of correction, Golden Gate Park is a city park. You may be thinking of Golden Gate NRA, which is managed by the NPS but is NOT a national park, but a national recreation area. SF is a beautiful city in a truly beautiful part of the country. People complain about it being expensive, but at the end of that day sometimes you get what you pay for 😅
@@Wgravelle Yep, Golden Gate Park is definitely a city park, and the largest of the city parks maintained by Recs and Park. The second largest is Mclaren Park. The Presidio and Lands End are federally operated. But the best is Dolores Park 😎
@@Wgravelle Sorry, for mis-wording. I meant that the Presidio is a national ... not municipal park. GG Park is municipal.
Kyle is from the Central Valley. He grew up in Visalia.
Please do a similar video for Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver!
Probably a Montreal vs. Toronto but I'm not familiar enough with Vancouver to include them. I'll be in Toronto in April and would love to update my knowledge on the city since my last visit in 2016. I was last in Montreal I 2017. Love them both.
@@GeographyKing Fantastic! I would love to buy you a beer while you're in the city sir!
The three Canadian cities I've actually been to! (Oh, I forgot about Victoria. And Windsor, if that counts.) I fell in love with Toronto immediately. I wish I could have spent more time there. I guess that applies to everywhere I've visited up north. Canada friggin rules. ✌️
Thanks Kyle! I live in a high rise in SF at mid-Market St and keep reminding myself that I love it here after 12 years. But man, the pandemic did a number on SF; it's so different. Me and my lifer-SF pals have nicknamed it The Walking Dead. The previously terrible homeless problem seems to have quadrupled and spread all over this tiny, 49 square mile space, so the space-to-screaming, naked, scary person ratio really sucks. I walked two blocks to Whole Foods today and saw 2 people defecating on the sidewalk though 4 is my record, ha. Don't ask what I pay for rent! But I l still love SF, I think!
Leave there, and come live in West Loop Chicago. Thank me later. California is overrated bro. When winter time comes here, grab a North Face coat and dress accordingly. Chicago is so worth it dude. Don’t believe the media. Chicago is the best city 🏙️
Ew, NEMA…
You live in the worse part of San Francisco 😂 mid market - Tenderloin. Those problems you said do not exist in other areas of the city, it’s not very welcoming in mid market 😂
Good info! I wish you’d do a video comparing and contrasting Denver, Phoenix, and SLC
I enjoyed your video. I lived in San Francisco for about 30 years. I went to most of my schooling in the City. But I'd like to add that San Francisco has a few other large parks: The Presidio at 1,491 acres which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area located at the northern part of the City, and John McLaren Park in the southern part of the city (313 acres). Golden Gate Park is 1,017 acres which is smaller than The Presidio. In all three parks, there are places of total isolation and quiet.
Thanks for doing the research and giving us a good overview of geography. Keep up the great work, Kyle!
I think you may have forgotten Lincoln Park in Chicago, or mixed it up with Grant Park as if they were one.
My stimulus obsessed adhd brain would probably explode if you put me in manhattan LMAO. Also, I would legit kill to live somewhere where you can actually survive as a night owl. It pisses me off living in a major city feeling like i'm in an amish village because you literally cannot go to a store after 11 o clock.
I think comparing all of Chicago to just Manhattan, and just the city of SF is a bit off. If you live in certain parts of Chicago it's very common to live without a car.
I’d love to see one of these videos with Boston and Seattle. Gotta be two of the most similar cities in the nation at least from an aesthetic standpoint.
Very true
And yet there must be differences in culture and heritage, making the comparison even more interesting.
Huh???!!???
Denver and Minneapolis are two other cities that are surprisingly similar.
@@Aaron-pz9tr yeah Denver reminds me a lot of Minneapolis and I haven’t even been there yet.
Don't people that live in Manhattan have to walk past huge piles of garbage every day? Growing up in Chicago, we're really proud our alleyway system that keeps garbage off the main roads, and I always heard horror stories about New York. I've never been there, but have always been curious if the garbage issue is a real thing over there.
Alleys! - all the way. One of Chicago's best architectural/city-planning features.
It's not all that bad. Most buildings have dumpster areas. Occasionally you walk by some piled up trash bags, but I've never had to, like, walk over them or squeeze past them. "New York's Strongest" (the sanitation dept) do pretty robust work.
One thing to point out that a lot of people miss: San Francisco is in a naturally beautiful part of the country. Access to mountains, beaches, beautiful national parks and recreation areas. Chicago is… not. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the lake is a beautiful as is the city itself, but you have to drive to the upper Midwest to get to any half decent wilderness. I’ve never lived in New York so I can’t speak to it but I’d imagine it’s probably more toward the Chicago end in terms of access to nature and outdoor recreation. This is a big part of what’s possessing me to move back ti California after spending a couple years in Illinois.
New York has pretty easy access to the Catskills. The Rockaways, Snug Harbor, and parts of NJ have some nice beachy areas.
I live in Chicago without a car but I'm lucky enough to live in a 15 minute neighborhood. I've lived in some areas of the city where I absolutely needed a car to get to school/work and run errands. It really depends where you live but the number of car free Chicagoans is slowly growing. Of course I get friends and family to drive me sometimes but usually I bike and take public transit. Unfortunately most Chicagoans can't live this way because the city can be quite spread out and empty in certain parts. Most people don't feel safe without a car which is understandable. It's definitely not nearly as walkable as San Fran or NY but it's still more walkable than most American cities and it's been improving a lot in recent decades
I would say Chicago is more bikable than walking it but to reach the furthest parts of the north nw or west or south sides you gotta jump on the el n bring yo bike
Chicago is a very walkable city. It’s a grid! What are you all talking about. I walk straight down Michigan Avenue to get to my apartment a few time a week 😂
@@Mr102185 so you've always been fortunate enough to live in a walkable part of Chicago? if you're within a 1-2 mile radius of the loop or the lake, it's usually pretty good, but much of Chicago is not as walkable as NY or SF. Like I said, I'm lucky enough to live in a 15 minute neighborhood now, but a lot of the west and south side and some of the north side is not like that. real walkability means having of grocery stores, restaurants, and public transit within walking distance. once you get away from downtown or the lake, you'll only find some pockets of true walkability in areas like Chinatown, Hyde Park, Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, Pilsen, and a few other spots. but there are a lot of food deserts in chicago too. a lot of people can't walk to a grocery store from their house so their neighborhood is not walkable. or there's a lot of neighborhoods where the only restaurants you can walk to are shitty fast food places
@@Mr102185 grids don't make cities walkable. I like the grid for navigation but walkability is about being able to live your life without a car. but a lot of Chicagoans who live far from the loop need a car to go to work, get groceries, etc.
These comments was a year ago but it’s all walkable here in Chicago some of it may be power walk though… but in most neighborhoods there is a grocery, a few schools, laundry and lots churches or places worship for sure all within a few block to a couple of miles tops.
Chicago has balance. You could live with a car or not. You could also have a house, within the city. You could also have a house party and play house music in your house in Chicago 😆
FYI, I have lived in Chicago for 22 years without a car. Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass, but I still get by.
I will help you out....
San Francisco is the best Asian city in the US.
Chicago is the best Hispanic city in the US.
NYC is the best Asian-Hispanic city in the US.
I am elated to hear someone give an authentic description of the differences in the nature of crime across metropolises rather than hand wringing over summary statistics. Thank you.
Manhattan has two central business districts. Lower (financial district/Wall St) and Midtown. While technically, yes, directly in the financial district, the streets empty out for the most part after business hours, there is plenty of activity just north of it. Also, midtown Manhattan has plenty of activity after business hours.
Having lived in NYC, Chicago, and California, pretty accurate
Chicago is definitely the best out of these three.
SF>The Chi>NYC
You know Geo King is old when he says, you can be out until 10 at night, and that is considered late.
Ha I thought that at first too, but actually I think what he meant there was that downtown SF and NYC are absolutely dead at 10pm whereas that isn't as true about Chicago. Especially since later he says he was out until 3am in midtown NYC.
Fantastic breakdown brother. San Francisco and New York are in my top 5 US cities for sure. I just wish we had mountains within a couple hour drive of Chicago. We get outside of city limits, you could see Indiana, Wisconsin, or Iowa if you look in their respective directions. 🤣🤣
Indiana Dunes are cool though!
I hear a lot of negative publicity about Los Angeles, Portland (OR), Baltimore, & Washington DC.
I’ve never been to Chicago, but New York and San Francisco are my two favorite cities.
Hi Kyle, if I could make a future video suggestion. Most popular tv show/movie based in each state. Similar to your video of most popular musician/band from each state. Always enjoy your videos and how you break things down. Hope you see this
i LOVE the nyc content lately. i hope you come check out the outer boroughs soon!
I'll be back in spring and I intend on at least an entire day in the other boroughs.
@@GeographyKing check out italian food on Arthur Ave in the Bronx, to make up for your missed italian restuarant. it's better there than little italy anyway (;
The only other place that is acceptable to be out at 4AM is Bourbon Street 😂
In Chicago it is entirely possible, and somewhat common for people to live without a car. Especially younger people who live closer to mass transit. The city of Chicago tends to prioritize parking more than NYC or San Fran so it encourages more car ownership. But plenty of people go carless.
Man, I feel we're really missing out on the NYC aspect by not including the other boroughs.
Friend from Chicago visited recently and she was absolutely amazed how much different the outer boroughs can be while still being NYC.
I'd love to have been able to visit at the very least Brooklyn and Queens while I was there recently but just couldn't work it into the schedule. But I'll be back in the spring
@@GeographyKing Brooklyn has its own CBD as well.
Everyone says Chicago is cleaner than NY. From what I am seeing SF isn't all that clean. So Chi-Town wins this one.
Love the channel, never miss a video! Next time you're in NYC, you must do some exploration of the other boroughs. I'm a Brooklynite so am biased in saying you should visit there first. Think you'll find a ton of interesting contrasts with Manhattan. Keep the great videos coming!
Of course Brooklyn has its own central business district (downtown) as well.
Brooklyn is the best borough to live in IMO, but I'm also biased. It offers you more space than Manhattan depending on the area, while also having great walkability and subway access. Plus, it has its own nightlife but affords you the ability to go out in Manhattan too.
@@lhiggs999 Brooklyn also has NYC's third central business district. No other "outer borough" technically has one (downtown Flushing, Queens, for example is an unofficial CBD).
Thanks Geography King! Out of the limited travel I've done in the U.S., San Francisco is my favorite U.S. city. After watching your urban analysis on it and hearing how it was your favorite U.S. city at one point, I took a trip there and it was easily the most unique U.S. city. I'm 30 minutes away from Manhattan and I love how the city feels like a limitless urban jungle where anything is possible, but nothing compares to San Francisco. With all your recent videos discussing the positives of Chicago, that will definitely be my next trip! I'd rank my favorite U.S. cities I've visited as 1) San Francisco 2) Boston 3) Seattle 4) Washington D.C. 5) New York
When you come to Chicago it will blow your mind!
I also love San Francisco!!!!❤🌁
Europeans might have the Chicago image biased by movies - I recall darkness, cold and crime in Chicago. I t might be the best city out of those 3, but many just don't dream of it.
ny city has a lot more iconic places than chicago. ny city has the most famous bridges, iconic places like rockefeller plaza, times square , central park , the most iconic theather district { broadway} the most iconic buildings. Ny city is more important in finance , fashion and culture and is much more influential than chicago
Isn't Washington, D.C. also a very expensive city in which to live?
Chicago has two huge parks: Lincoln Park and Grant Park. Yeah, they're both beside the lake, but they're not the same.
The way you did the moving from Houston to Cleveland comparison made me laugh out loud 🤣 Great video as always Kyle, you're the man!
Thanks for giving an honest overlook of these cities. Far too much anti-NYC/SF/CHI propaganda these last 5-6 years.
I'm originally from Chicago Heights. I think that you nailed your description of the city perfectly.
As a native Californian, San Francisco is obviously the best. 😁
Golden Gate Park is bigger than Central Park in area (and better).
I would love to see a comparison between Chicago and Philadelphia. I think they have a lot in common.
As for large parks, San Francisco also has McLaren Park (about a third the size of Golden Gate Park, but still pretty big) and New York has Flushing Meadows (actually larger than Central Park) and Prospect Park (just over half the size), to mention large parks I've been to.
also Van Cortlandt park!
And Pelham Bay Park
oooo and Fishkill out in staten island. never been to it but I hear it's beautiful. also very interesting that it's built on top of what used to be one of the biggest landfills in the country.
I know a lot of people have this notion that New Yorkers are rude. I've been there several times for work and pleasure and have some close colleagues there. In my experience, they are no more rude than anywhere else... with the sole exception being if you stand still in the middle of the sidewalk. If you do that, you will experience rudeness but, if you look at what is going on around you, you would realize that you deserve it.
Some cities in the world just have a magic about them and a personality. Paris and Mumbia have that. New York and San Fransisco have it too.
7 ehh 10 at night… late?! Your country is showing. Love your channel
Oh Kyle. This comparison video is so gerrymandered! I live in NYC, have a backyard and play my music loud...its called Brooklyn! It's about the same size of Chicago and 4 times as populated as SF, yet part of the greatest city on earth. San Francisco, I agree, is unique and has the natural beauty that is California, Chicago has cool architecture and is less expensive than coastal cities, but nothing, nothing compares to living in NYC.
Great summary of three special places! Thanks!
No matter which city you live in, you need a car to shop at Costco.
It would be cool to see region ranking videos. Like one for the best to worst of metro’s or cities on the West Coast, East Coast, The South, the Midwest etc
I heard people moved out of them due to crime, which is why they live in suburbs. I hope the West Coast solves its homeless problem
4:38 People don’t just party in the Chicago Loop either. We have 200 neighborhoods here lol You can party all over the city. Just New York is a whole city. Just just Manhattan.
I see people comparing Boston and San Francisco a lot
I see no mention of the most important quality of life variable of all: weather. San Francisco is between 40º and 80º year round. No hot summers, no cold winters. Last time it snowed here was 1975, and it was gone by lunch time. Moderate rain, mostly sunny days. No flies. I've thought of moving to NYC, but I just couldn't face the weather.
oo id love for this to become a little mini series if youre interested in doing that! comparing similar cities across all of the states is always interesting and i always come out of it learning something new
In New York, "downtown" is a direction, not a place; south is downtown, uptown is north, wherever you are. No one would call the Financial District "downtown New York." By some of definitions, downtown is everything south of 14th Street, others draw the line in other places. New York doesn't have a downtown, it has many. Few people are out at night in the Financial District and Midtown because they're all about offices, but as you saw, there are lots of other areas with activity at other times of day. 80% of households in Manhattan do not own a car; they're are a liability, the exception, not the rule. One of the joys of living in the city is not having to own a car. If I ever moved somewhere else, I would have to relearn how to drive. A lot of things that used to be open all night aren't anymore; the trend started even before the pandemic. New York may still be the city that never sleeps, but to me it went to bed.
If by “downtown “ you are referring to lower Manhattan, then I would agree it is specifically a financial district but in no way shape or form is Chicago’s downtown “much more active “ than Manhattan in after hours. That is simply untrue
My 3 favorite American cities so good choice for a video topic. Let us know when/where we can make a one-time donation .... otherwise, I'll continue supporting your channel by always giving you a thumbs up and watching from start to finish.
Thank you! I really appreciate that. If you enjoy the videos that's good enough for me. I'll try to keep it up
Huh? ….. U don’t need a car in Chicago or NY San Fran once you get outside of the main area yeah you do we talkin bout California after all. I was so surprised when he said that….I lived in Chicago most of my life … I’m almost 50 and I haven’t had a car in 10yrs just got one though.
Depending on your definition of downtown, it can be dead in Chicago too. The loop is dead outside of business hours, if you go to the Sears Tower at night for example that area is dead except for the tourists going to the top.
I lived in SF for 15 years, and NYC for 23 years. SF has great weather, but NYC offered a better life, career opportunities, and the most stuff to do. When you get tired of Manhattan, and need more space, Brooklyn and Queens have some great neighborhoods with excellent public transportation links to Manhattan. Chicago is great to visit, but the winter there would be too harsh for my taste, plus my ex lives there, and that's a huge minus.
I was in Chicago first in June of 1968, right when Robert Kennedy was assassinated. We did some things downtown, went to a movie, and walked around.
I went to NYC in 2017, it was pretty cool, I enjoyed it alot, riding the subway, and the food was superb, but the place just stunk. the stench of urine is quit stifling.
I went to SF in the spring of 1971, with the same best friend I went to Chicago with 2 years earlier. Wow was I stunned into desire! I wanted to live there more than anything. but we just visit, maybe >6 but less than a dozen times.
SF is my clear choice, but I guess the threat of an earthquake kept me out of moving to Cali.
Another great video, keep up the great work!
Makes no sense to approach it that way. Manhattan is only part of New York City. The vast majority of people living in New York City don't live in Manhattan. They live in Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx. So to say you're going to focus on the CITY of Chicago and the CITY of San Francisco but only the Manhattan section of New York City is ridiculous. You can't equate the other 4 Boroughs of NYC to the surrounding suburbs of Chicago and San Francisco. Because those areas are not part of those cities whereas Brooklyn, Queens,The Bronx and Staten Island MAKE UP THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CITY ITSELF. So right off the bat you're pissing off a lot of hardcore New Yorkers dude. 👎
As someone from Maine who's been to New York a couple of times.
Big, loud, I feel like I'm in someone's way every time I just step out of line to go take a whizz
Nice concept, nice presentation -and an interesting, impressionistic alternative to the more stats-and-data-focused City Nerd. And a fairly comparable trio -though in terms of scale, even Manhattan alone dwarfs the other two. That said, L.A., largely due, perhaps, to its sprawl, belongs in another category that could include places like Phoenix, Dallas-Ft. Worth and the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area. And how about a comparison of Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle? Thanks ...
Great video. May I add 2 things:
1. The motto of Chicago is “Urbs in Horto,” that is, “City in a Garden.” Thus the reason many parks (some huge) are placed all over the city. Also, I appreciate the chosen limitation to city limits, but the Cook County Forest Preserve has huge, huge amounts of wooded space throughout Cook County including in the city.
2. I've lived in Chicago for 33 years and never needed to own a car.
Please make a video on the California High-Speed Rail and the Cross Valley Corridor. You're brilliant, and your videos are well made; I know you're from the area, and I would really appreciate your views.
Oh Kyle, it is so frustrating when people treat NYC like it is only Manhattan! Excluding the other boroughs while discussing NYC is like talking about pizza but excluding the cheese.