Why do people still choose to live in expensive, unsafe capital cities?

[Babyseal23]

I have family that live in London and i really don't understand the appeal especially in this day and age. My aunt works two jobs as does her partner just to pay rent they have two teenage children who can't play outside or meet up with friends because the city is so dangerous yet they still insist on living there because its the "London lifestyle" what kind of life is it being a wage slave and having to lock up yout children for safety doesn't sound very glamorous to me..

They weren't born in London either and it was there choice to move there. Maybe in the early 2000s it wasn't so bad but in 2026 London is a shit hole and is only fun for the super rich. My aunts partner looks like something from the walking dead, they have all holes in there clothes they've had to buy second hand and are painfully thin but they'd probably say that was "chic. They own nothing and there children will never own anything either.

I had the same thoughts when I went new york why would anyone actually want to live there. Its so dirty, crime riddled, expensive, loud etc why would you get yourself in debt living there when its that horrible.

Id much rather pay the same on rent on living in a beautiful neighborhood were I felt it was clean and safe.

I will just never understand the appeal

[exitseven]

I do not know. I never saw the allure. I worked in the city for 20 years and I hated it. I moved the business out of the city and it was like I died and went to Heaven.
I hear about some of the rents people are paying to live in a small crappy apartment than I would not let my dog live in and am amazed.
Everyone complains how expensive it is to live in the city. Yet the majority of the residents are minorities and they keep electing the same democrats year after year and everyone wonders why the place is a mess.

[Iron_Man]

Do you think small little towns are safe? there’s always some crook out there. Or some kind of foul play. People live in big cities because there’s a lot of opportunities and a lot of action and a lot of things to do. What is there to do in a small town it’s boring

[Babyseal23]

I don't know for new york but I've spoken to people who live in London and they tell me as soon as they get home they lock the door and dont go out after because of how unsafe it is now. Plus wages just aren't worth it yes your on more money but thats so you can just get by in the city

[Babyseal23]

In Europe we have walkable towns too and there is still plenty to do from outside the door. It takes me 7 minutes max to walk to my closest supermarket, hairdressers, cafe etc. I even have a antiques store and pokemon shop on my street. We have a cinema and plenty of nice places too eat. We have markets on the weekend too. This is very common in small eourpean towns.

I've been America a lot and I understand it must be different for you guys as everything is like half an hour to an hours drive away. You can't just walk out the door and get what you need

[Iron_Man]

That’s because it’s so large and so spread out. It must be really hard to walk to the grocery store to get a lot of groceries and buy water and carry them back in your arms. It’s much easier to drive and put them in your car and drive back. Most people lock their doors at night anywhere but I don’t lock my door. I’ll leave it open. I’ve never had a problem here but people tell me I should lock my door just to be cautious.

[Babyseal23]

If we're doing a big shop will drive but its nice to know in a emergency were I might need milk, eggs, toiletries I can just run out the door

[Iron_Man]

Well, that’s nice. Good luck in your town.

[loveyouoak]

Well, what do you want them to do? Go back to their boring villages?

[Babyseal23]

Not all villages are boring

[choco-latte]

Many people live there for work

[strateguy632]

for being near jobs

[Badtobad]

Maybe they have no choice