Ok this might need a little bit of explanation. If you crave a big city lifestyle but want to save on big city prices, you might search for the most affordable major cities where your dollar stretches the farthest. Or, you could find a city that suits your day-to-day while also offering you convenient access to a legitimate big city. Below I’ll give you my top five cities for the latter option. These are ranked by my preference of the city pairs as well as the ease of commuting between them.
#5 – Providence, RI (60 minutes to Boston)
Providence, home to prestigious Brown University, is a bit of a government hub as the capital of Rhode Island. Its historic downtown has been well-preserved and there are a number of hip, exciting neighborhoods around the urban core, like Federal Hill and West End. Sure, there may be some suburbs of Boston that are more affordable, but if you want to live in a vibrant, urban environment, Providence could offer this at a discount to what you would pay in Boston’s Back Bay or Fenway, for example. And before you think Providence is all business, it is home to the world-renowned Rhode Island School of Design, and there are a number of tax incentives for professional artists.
Want to keep your job in Boston? Commuting from downtown’s Providence Station to Boston’s South Station can take as little as 30 minutes, with Amtrak and MBTA both operating routes throughout the day. Amtrak fares start at $10 each way but are usually much higher. MBTA is $12.25 each way but there is a $378 monthly commuter pass and a $10 unlimited weekend pass.
#4 – Milwaukee, WI (90 minutes to Chicago)
Milwaukee is an oft overlooked mid-sized midwest metro in the shadow of Chicago. But this lakeside city deserves to be known for more than beer, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and the hugely popular Summerfest, billed as the world’s largest music festival. Milwaukee is home to an internationally acclaimed Calatrava-designed art museum, an impressive contiguous urban fabric surrounding downtown, and major sports franchises like the Bucks and Brewers. Core neighborhoods like the Third Ward and East Town are thriving, but popular suburbs like Shorewood and Whitefish Bay also offer walkability and vibrancy outside the city. I have not visited since the opening of The Hop, a 2-mile streetcar system in the urban core, but I can only imagine that it has contributed to more infill development and increased vibrancy.
Downtown Milwaukee to Downtown Chicago is currently served with 8 daily trips by Amtrak, with the total ride taking about 90 minutes. There are also several intercity bus options under 2 hours each way. For this trip, Amtrak tickets are often available starting at $15 each way.
#3 – Sacramento, CA (90 minutes to San Francisco)
San Francisco has become arguably the priciest real estate market in the country. Tech workers whose salaries could buy a 5,000 sq ft mansion in other places can barely afford rent for a shoebox studio here. Enter Sacramento, a 90-minute Amtrak ride from Richmond Station on the East Bay, where you can connect to the BART system. Yes, Sacramento prices have gone up quite a bit of late, but it’s still a significant discount from prices in SF city. Sacramento’s urban core may not compare to SF’s either, but it does offer a charming Old Town, a dense downtown and a vibrant Midtown. As more and more people get pushed towards the fringes of the Bay area, Sacramento will continue to see an influx of people, jobs and amenities. The Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council estimates over 130,000 Sacramento-area residents commute to the Bay Area everyday (the US Census’ American Community Survey data from 2009-2013 suggests a number closer to 30,000)
Amtrak fare starts at $16 each way, and that only gets you to the BART station in Richmond, which means the transfer into SF will be about $5-6 more. In addition to the Amtrak options, there are several bus routes scheduled at 2 hours each way, although when traffic gets bad it will take much longer than that. There are many rideshare drivers who commute to SF from Sacramento so you could even strike a deal with one of them.
#2 – Baltimore, MD (60 minutes or less to Washington, DC)
Unsurprisingly we are back in the Northeast Corridor, where our nation’s capital is quickly reaching unaffordable levels. Baltimore, despite its negative reputation for crime, vacant homes and generally being a poster city for post-industrial struggles, actually has a whole lot going for it. Amazing urban neighborhoods and architecture, a surplus of fantastic waterfront, and a burgeoning arts and tech scene all serve to attract an upwardly mobile, younger demographic. Inner Harbour is the postcard image, but lots of other great neighborhoods like Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Hampden, Canton, Little Italy, Fell’s Point, and so forth offer arts, vibrancy and nightlife. And if that’s not enough, all the amenities of our nation’s capital are less than a 60-minute train ride away. ACS data, again from 2009-2013, shows 6% of Washington, DC workers commute from the Baltimore area. Conversely, 5% of all Baltimore city residents commute to DC or its inner suburbs.
Served by Amtrak (both express and regular trains) as well as MARC commuter trains, travel to and from several parts of Baltimore into the capital city could not be easier. Amtrak prices are routinely $11 each way while MARC trains are $8. However there are unlimited pass options for the MARC, including a monthly pass for only $216. This is perhaps the biggest advantage that Baltimore has over other cities on this list: its convenient and affordable connectivity to DC.
#1 – Philadelphia, PA (90 minutes or less to NYC)
New York City is indisputably THE major city in the United States, and there’s almost nothing that the big apple is lacking in terms of opportunity and amenities. Affordability is another matter though, and while not cheap, Philadelphia can offer a little bit of relief from NYC prices. The City of Brotherly Love has plenty to offer itself and in many ways is a NYC-lite. Arts and culture, dining, sports, vibrancy, international influence…Philly has it all in spades. Center City is as lovely and charming of a downtown as you can imagine, while neighborhoods like Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and Society Hill offer a wide array of urban amenities. Amtrak regular service gets you from the 30th St Station (right outside Center City) to Manhattan in under 90 minutes, while Acela Express is a little faster for more money.
Starting at $29 each way, it’s not cheap and as a routine commute the costs will be considerable. But if you’re working and living in Philly, this is a fine way to put one of the world’s premiere cities at your doorstep. There are also many cheaper bus options with a travel time of 2-2.5 hours.
Final Thoughts:
Obviously commuting any of these routes daily is less than ideal. But if I was seeking an affordable location to build my life while still having decent access to a larger city for all of its amenities and resources, then each of these options is worthy of consideration. Also remember that Amtrak tickets require pre-purchase to lock in lower fares. However, Amtrak does offer discounted passes or multi-ticket options for regular commuters on the popular routes listed above.
