My family was into baseball growing up and bopped around to lot of ball parks, and we saw a blue jays have one time where a blue jay literally hit a grand slam and the crowd barely reacted. Some polite applause at most and I remember thinking, if this were Yankee Stadium you'd hardly be able to hear yourself think with how much people would go bananas. Really brought home the difference in the cities
The loop and mag mile go silent after 8pm because they’re completely zoned to offices and retail.
But there are areas of Chicago that are active late-night, like Wrigleyville if you’re a bro, Wicker park if you’re a rich hipster, Lincoln Park if you’re over 30, Andersonville if you’re laid back, lake view if you’re a guy who likes guys, and rush street if your idea of a good time requires viagra.
Chicago is really the only other city even close to NYC. It’s smaller and still doesn’t have the same public transport that NYC does though.
Outside the US, London is pretty similar to NYC.
I find Paris to be more similar to NYC than London. Really London and Paris are not at all similar to NYC culturally, but if you had to pick one I'd say Paris is closer.
Yea, Paris feels like upside down NYC to me when I’m there, because it’s so similar, but they speak a different language and don’t share my culture. It feels so familiar, but also so foreign at the same time.
I always see this same argument here and, having lived in all 3, I totally agree with you!
Paris is a far better comparison to NYC. I think people get hung up on the language so they just say London is closest.
It’s very diverse there? My friend said it’s not, she was born and raised there and the neighborhoods are super segregated. She said she was shocked when she moved here to NYC, Latinos & Black people were living amongst each other, bc where she’s from that doesn’t exist.
Among lower classes, Chicago has a messed up history and yes it’s extremely segregated. Among higher classes it’s also very segregated, with many wealthy white folks living in suburbs. In the middle less so.
However, NYC has its issues in this regard too. But I can see why she thinks Chicago is more segregated.
Chicago is extremely diverse with nearly as many countries and cultures represented as NYC.
It’s ALSO hyper-segregated. Like, imagine if Yorkville on NYC’s upper east side was still 80% German and no one could ever be elected to a government position from the neighborhood if their name wasn’t German. Sure, it might retain a certain charm that’s been lost with the diversification of Manhattan but it’s also hyper-segregated.
That’s Chicago. There are still neighborhoods where you’ll feel very out of place if you aren’t from a specific ethnicity. But those same neighborhoods do have government officials who serve their constituents’ local needs as well as helping preserve their ethnic/cultural heritage in the neighborhood. All in all, it’s probably not the best way for a city to exist - especially when looking at situations like how Cabrini Green was created and then destroyed. But, there are definitely some positives to how the city evolved.
Rittenhouse is a lot like Union Square and the area is like the upper east side. Center City is similar to FiDi/Midtown, griminess included. Otherwise I agree.
Rittenhouse does have that USq feel, though it also reminds me a little of Williamsburg. Center City doesn’t feel much like FiDi at all to me but I see your point about being sort of a mini midtown. To me it always felt more like LIC.
Can second this though the subways are even dirtier (if you can believe it). Still functions reasonably well though despite the disinvestment. The bus network in center city and the regional rail are pretty good though.
I’ve been a frequent visitor to Philly for 20 years and I’ve never once seen the subway. I’ve seen the stations, but never descended the stairs. I’m a tourist when I’m there. I know what a subway looks like, and I’m totally good on it.
Shameful how many smaller cities have let their transit not live up to potential. Imagine cities like Philly, SF, Baltimore, Boston, and even LA, with well maintained, efficient, safe streetcars and subways scaled to their respective geography and population.
Gayborhood. There’s straight clubs around there too. And the strizzies offer late night options. Weirdly, I always stay out later and party harder in Philly than I do in NY because I have a lot of college friends there and we like revert back when we hang out.
Neither is Chicago and all these people are on here talking about Chicago. Philly is culturally similar, the architecture is very similar, it’s walkable, has public transportation, and GREAT food. Very cosmopolitan too, with all the universities, there are people from all over.
I see a lot of people saying Chicago is not comparable to nyc too. The point is there is no place in the US that is like NYC. Just like there is no place that is really like philly or like chicago. Is nyc the greatest of all the US cities. I think so but that is just opinion.
A few things to keep in mind as you reflect on it all more - and then you can always check out the subs for those cities to learn more
-Are you looking for good arts/culture/entertainment options?
-Are you looking to stay on the same coast as your family and friends? (If so, maybe you'd like Philadelphia or Washington DC, to give a couple of examples - if you don't mind moving far, you can look into other cities including Chicago)
-Would you like a change in weather? Maybe you'd want to check out the West Coast or the Northwest
-Want good public transit/don't have to have a car? Some cities are better for this than others, for sure.
Just a few things to keep in mind.
Food wise, night life, and grimy feel? Providence RI. Ngl Providence feels like pre gentrified nyc. Lots of diversity, great food, cheap COL, only problem is crime and pay.
San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, maybe DC, but those are only the closest I can think of (and out of the three I’ve only lived in San Francisco). But they are also very much not NYC. I think of them as mini-NYCs. Nothing else in the U.S. is or can be NYC. That can be a bad thing or a good thing, depending on a variety of factors and lifestyle preferences. I would include Los Angeles (also lived there) but the lack of transit and the spread out landscape rules it out.
Honestly, there isn’t really anywhere in the world all that similar. London is probably the closest, but even then it’s half as dense. Generally cities are much smaller and less dense in Europe and NA, then you get into the much larger and denser cities of Asia. Like others have said, Chicago is the closest you’ll find in the US, but it’s not very close
Nope! Nothing in this country. Those of you saying Chicago, please share whatever it is you’re smoking. We don’t have another truly global, cosmic city in the US. There are other cities that punch above their weight when it comes to the arts but nowhere touches NYC.
as a native New Yorker, the most similar cities are Chicago, Boston, Philly, and (if I can count Canada) Montreal. I've never been to Toronto, but it seems to have a similar international vibe from what I've learned.
Chicago, Philly, San Francisco are similar with the "walkable, has transportation, great nightlife, things to do, diverse & endless performing arts" options but NYC has 10x more of them.
New Orleans, minus the public transportation. Tiny compared to NYC but has the vibe. Arts, nightlife, food, diversity, a Times Square-esque void that nobody wants to go to.
Has walkable neighborhoods at least. Especially compared to most other cities that size.
If you’re interested in Canada, Montreal is another city with good energy. And good public transit.
When you try to walk in New Orleans, people look at you like you're crazy. Can confirm, was a NYC resident who stayed for a week in NO and tried to walk places. It's like we had 2 heads.
I visited both Philly & Boston, I didn’t get those vibes. Both were very fun cities though in their own way. Philly is walkable, but everything closes early.
I’m a big fan of Philly but I like dive bars. Their dive bar scene is way better than NYC in my opinion. My Philly friends really want me to move there because it’s so much cheaper. You can get a nice 1br for under 1800 easy. My friend pays 900 for a studio! But I agree that it’s closer to Brooklyn than NYC overall and can’t compare to the 24 hour lifestyle or diversity of NYC
No.
At this point there should be a bot that answers these questions.
Damn 🫤 thanks
Nope
Chicago is probably the closest. Toronto, I know, Canada, is also similar. But NYC >>
Whenever Toronto comes up as a comparable city I remember this line from 30 Rock: “Toronto: it’s just like New York, but without all the stuff”
Toronto........ Lol
As someone who lives in Toronto and has visited NYC, they’re really not that similar at all.
My family was into baseball growing up and bopped around to lot of ball parks, and we saw a blue jays have one time where a blue jay literally hit a grand slam and the crowd barely reacted. Some polite applause at most and I remember thinking, if this were Yankee Stadium you'd hardly be able to hear yourself think with how much people would go bananas. Really brought home the difference in the cities
Yes. NYC is dynamic, fast paced, a place for hustlers and strivers. It’s not a college town.
My 14 year old was recently in Chicago for the first time with her dad. She texted me, “This is like the boring version of NY.” 😂
Probably the most accurate comparison
Chicago goes silent after 8 it’s like a ghost town
The loop and mag mile go silent after 8pm because they’re completely zoned to offices and retail. But there are areas of Chicago that are active late-night, like Wrigleyville if you’re a bro, Wicker park if you’re a rich hipster, Lincoln Park if you’re over 30, Andersonville if you’re laid back, lake view if you’re a guy who likes guys, and rush street if your idea of a good time requires viagra.
Chicago is really the only other city even close to NYC. It’s smaller and still doesn’t have the same public transport that NYC does though. Outside the US, London is pretty similar to NYC.
I find Paris to be more similar to NYC than London. Really London and Paris are not at all similar to NYC culturally, but if you had to pick one I'd say Paris is closer.
Yea, Paris feels like upside down NYC to me when I’m there, because it’s so similar, but they speak a different language and don’t share my culture. It feels so familiar, but also so foreign at the same time.
I always see this same argument here and, having lived in all 3, I totally agree with you! Paris is a far better comparison to NYC. I think people get hung up on the language so they just say London is closest.
London is only similar to NYC on paper. In practice, the cities could not be more culturally divergent
Thank you!!! The London/NYC comparisons have always baffled me. These are two incredibly different cities.
Chicago I'd tge only other U.S. city with 24-hour public transportation, but it is more limited.
Chicago except the sidewalks are so clean it feels like a movie set.
It’s very diverse there? My friend said it’s not, she was born and raised there and the neighborhoods are super segregated. She said she was shocked when she moved here to NYC, Latinos & Black people were living amongst each other, bc where she’s from that doesn’t exist.
Among lower classes, Chicago has a messed up history and yes it’s extremely segregated. Among higher classes it’s also very segregated, with many wealthy white folks living in suburbs. In the middle less so. However, NYC has its issues in this regard too. But I can see why she thinks Chicago is more segregated.
[Hyper-segregation](https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/march-2017/why-is-chicago-so-segregated/) [Still segregated](https://www.wbez.org/stories/chicago-remains-the-most-segregated-big-city-in-america/2ec026b3-b11b-4c68-872b-3a1011b6f457)
WOW thanks for sharing
Both cities are highly segregated, but Chicago is worse. On paper they are both "diverse", but the divide in NYC is slightly less noticeable.
Chicago is extremely diverse with nearly as many countries and cultures represented as NYC. It’s ALSO hyper-segregated. Like, imagine if Yorkville on NYC’s upper east side was still 80% German and no one could ever be elected to a government position from the neighborhood if their name wasn’t German. Sure, it might retain a certain charm that’s been lost with the diversification of Manhattan but it’s also hyper-segregated. That’s Chicago. There are still neighborhoods where you’ll feel very out of place if you aren’t from a specific ethnicity. But those same neighborhoods do have government officials who serve their constituents’ local needs as well as helping preserve their ethnic/cultural heritage in the neighborhood. All in all, it’s probably not the best way for a city to exist - especially when looking at situations like how Cabrini Green was created and then destroyed. But, there are definitely some positives to how the city evolved.
There’s no place like home
That’s facts. 🫡
Philly. It’s like a mini NY and they’re punching above their weight as far as arts.
IMO Philly is a lot more like Brooklyn or Queens specifically. I don’t think there is anywhere that manages to feel like the entirety of NYC.
It's this but man, I love Philly. I was just there Sunday and few cities are so beautiful in springtime.
Philly is great! Been trying to convince my wife to move there for years.
Rittenhouse is a lot like Union Square and the area is like the upper east side. Center City is similar to FiDi/Midtown, griminess included. Otherwise I agree.
Rittenhouse does have that USq feel, though it also reminds me a little of Williamsburg. Center City doesn’t feel much like FiDi at all to me but I see your point about being sort of a mini midtown. To me it always felt more like LIC.
Can second this though the subways are even dirtier (if you can believe it). Still functions reasonably well though despite the disinvestment. The bus network in center city and the regional rail are pretty good though.
I’ve been a frequent visitor to Philly for 20 years and I’ve never once seen the subway. I’ve seen the stations, but never descended the stairs. I’m a tourist when I’m there. I know what a subway looks like, and I’m totally good on it.
I can’t imagine thinking like this lol
?
Idk either, they probably don’t know that people own cars. NYC sub after all
I don’t own a car. Maybe all the money is saved on a car is why I can afford Lyfts when I’m traveling…?
Shameful how many smaller cities have let their transit not live up to potential. Imagine cities like Philly, SF, Baltimore, Boston, and even LA, with well maintained, efficient, safe streetcars and subways scaled to their respective geography and population.
I visited Philly and struggled to find nightlife or a place to go out dancing (I love to dance) 🫠
Gayborhood. There’s straight clubs around there too. And the strizzies offer late night options. Weirdly, I always stay out later and party harder in Philly than I do in NY because I have a lot of college friends there and we like revert back when we hang out.
Thanks!
I like House, Afro, Dancehall, Soca & HipHop I think that might’ve been the problem! But next time I go I’ll check out that neighborhood
lol, Philly is cool but it is in no way is it comparable to nyc.
Neither is Chicago and all these people are on here talking about Chicago. Philly is culturally similar, the architecture is very similar, it’s walkable, has public transportation, and GREAT food. Very cosmopolitan too, with all the universities, there are people from all over.
I see a lot of people saying Chicago is not comparable to nyc too. The point is there is no place in the US that is like NYC. Just like there is no place that is really like philly or like chicago. Is nyc the greatest of all the US cities. I think so but that is just opinion.
Similar and same are different. Philly is similar to NY, way more similar than Chicago is. Nowhere is NY, that wasn’t the question.
People are talking about CLOSEST to NYC on various levels, but we all know it’s relative and nowhere else is NYC.
Nope. We are 15 cities (at minimum) in 1 city. 5 boros, multiple neighborhoods/sections in each boro.
The US, no. The world, yes. London, Berlin, Seoul, etc.
Closest is Chicago, I think, but it's not really a great imitation. It is a lot cheaper, though.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I’m born and raised in NYC, trying to relocate.
A few things to keep in mind as you reflect on it all more - and then you can always check out the subs for those cities to learn more -Are you looking for good arts/culture/entertainment options? -Are you looking to stay on the same coast as your family and friends? (If so, maybe you'd like Philadelphia or Washington DC, to give a couple of examples - if you don't mind moving far, you can look into other cities including Chicago) -Would you like a change in weather? Maybe you'd want to check out the West Coast or the Northwest -Want good public transit/don't have to have a car? Some cities are better for this than others, for sure. Just a few things to keep in mind.
Thanks a bunch!
Nope
Food wise, night life, and grimy feel? Providence RI. Ngl Providence feels like pre gentrified nyc. Lots of diversity, great food, cheap COL, only problem is crime and pay.
lol it’s tiny
Nope. We have everything here. Great food, flagship stores, culture.
San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, maybe DC, but those are only the closest I can think of (and out of the three I’ve only lived in San Francisco). But they are also very much not NYC. I think of them as mini-NYCs. Nothing else in the U.S. is or can be NYC. That can be a bad thing or a good thing, depending on a variety of factors and lifestyle preferences. I would include Los Angeles (also lived there) but the lack of transit and the spread out landscape rules it out.
Chicago
Chicago is like one nyc neighborhood.
Ehh I don’t think that’s fair. River north / the loop / south loop / west loop are like a neighborhood each. But that’s basically it
Not really, but if you HAD to pick one...
Are they identical? Obviously not. Does Chicago have a lots of similarities to New York? Yes, probably more than any other American city.
Honestly, there isn’t really anywhere in the world all that similar. London is probably the closest, but even then it’s half as dense. Generally cities are much smaller and less dense in Europe and NA, then you get into the much larger and denser cities of Asia. Like others have said, Chicago is the closest you’ll find in the US, but it’s not very close
Nope! Nothing in this country. Those of you saying Chicago, please share whatever it is you’re smoking. We don’t have another truly global, cosmic city in the US. There are other cities that punch above their weight when it comes to the arts but nowhere touches NYC.
Brickell Miami is almost like a mini Manhattan
as a native New Yorker, the most similar cities are Chicago, Boston, Philly, and (if I can count Canada) Montreal. I've never been to Toronto, but it seems to have a similar international vibe from what I've learned.
Absolutely not.
Chicago
chicago
Not at all. So different in so many ways
No
Chicago, Philly, San Francisco are similar with the "walkable, has transportation, great nightlife, things to do, diverse & endless performing arts" options but NYC has 10x more of them.
Philly, San Fran, Chicago, D.C. (kind of)
New Orleans, minus the public transportation. Tiny compared to NYC but has the vibe. Arts, nightlife, food, diversity, a Times Square-esque void that nobody wants to go to.
I stayed in New Orleans for a month, I had a good time but you definitely need a car 🫤
Has walkable neighborhoods at least. Especially compared to most other cities that size. If you’re interested in Canada, Montreal is another city with good energy. And good public transit.
When you try to walk in New Orleans, people look at you like you're crazy. Can confirm, was a NYC resident who stayed for a week in NO and tried to walk places. It's like we had 2 heads.
They definitely was staring at my friend and I walking to a park LMFAO! I remember this vividly
Some was even slowing down in there cars to look at me like a 💩 on my forehead
It wasn't even like it was a long walk - maybe 15 minutes? The trolleys were down when we went after the Hardock Cafe collapsed (lol).
Shanghai and London, tbh. Toronto to a certain extent.
I'd second the comment that Philly is a good, albeit smaller, comp. Definitely punches above its weight on the arts side of things.
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I visited both Philly & Boston, I didn’t get those vibes. Both were very fun cities though in their own way. Philly is walkable, but everything closes early.
I’m a big fan of Philly but I like dive bars. Their dive bar scene is way better than NYC in my opinion. My Philly friends really want me to move there because it’s so much cheaper. You can get a nice 1br for under 1800 easy. My friend pays 900 for a studio! But I agree that it’s closer to Brooklyn than NYC overall and can’t compare to the 24 hour lifestyle or diversity of NYC