Hey guys, 

Recent college grad, thinking of buying an apartment. I was living in NYC and I really like it, however, it's very expensive, it doesn't seem like a good place to live when you are starting out in life. 

I'm looking for somewhere  where I can walk around and see shops, stores and dining. However, that it isn't that expensive. I'm looking for something with a relatively lower cost of living compared to NYC. 

I'm wondering what you guys have in mind?

@Enrique Kratz I just moved out of NYC, I can tell you one thing, I don't know of another city in the US that is like it.  IT definitely has its cons, but theres no city in the US that I know of that is as walkable throughout the entire city.

Now, every city has a more walkable part to it, and that is usually the down town area. But those downtown areas tend to be the most expensive areas to live in those cities (meaning it might be harder to cash flow)

Why does it need to be walkable? Are you ok with living outside of the walkable part but visiting the walkable part when you want? Then you might able to find what you are looking for.

@Antonio Cucciniello

I appreciate your response. I value walkability since I don't like driving. However, I would be open to the alternative you are suggesting. I actually rather live somewhere downtown and then walk around. Which cities do you have in mind? 

@Enrique Kratz I have limited experience traveling so I am not someone to listen to hear on this. But I just moved to Austin.  Downtown is walkable but the city is a driving city. LA seemed to be like that too

Milwaukee definitly checks the box on low cost of living. We call it a 20 minute city, because you can get almost everywhere in 20 minutes. Driving here is a lot easier than in NY, much more passive (sigh) and definitley much less congested.

If you want to live without a car it is definitly possible - I would suggest the Third Ward. With a bike and the occasional uber you are fine there. And right on the lake too. Or Cedarburg, where I live, quaint town, but within the 1.6 million metro area.

Austin TX

Austin Tx is walkable in parts. As a whole its really a driving town. The city voters just approved a 7 billion transit proposition that will create more rail lines for passenger trains throughout the city. https://cbsaustin.com/news/loc...That will make the city more walkable in the future. There are parts of the city that is certainly walkable. In my neighborhood in 78704, I can walk to two coffee shops within a half mile, grocery store within a quarter mile, a number of good restaurants and a few bars. I can uber for a few bucks to nearby downtown. It really depends upon your job. Given that my occupation/business is real estate, I drive all over the metro.  

I second Chicago. Thorough transit system, more affordable areas than NYC, not terrible if you own a car.

Guys, thank you for your responses. How do Chicago, Austin and Atlanta compared to each other. Which one would be the easiest for a young person starting out life?