Living in the city and living in the suburbs are two completely different lifestyles. Which one suits you?

You've probably taken an online quiz from Buzzfeed titled 'Are you a City girl or a Suburb girl?', expecting the internet to find the answers you're trying to find. Put the quizzes to one side and begin to ask yourself some questions: what type of life would you want to live? What type of people do I want to surround myself with? Do I want to be surrounded by people all the time?

Cities: Advantages & Disadvantages

City life has its advantages, especially if you are younger and if you require some kind of community and vibrancy in your life. There are many more job opportunities in a city compared to a suburb, and the diversity is also much greater in terms of what you can do and where you can work. City life offers convenience and has many advantages socially, economically, and, of course, culturally.

Alternatively, living in the city has its drawbacks, as there's higher crime, less space, and much more noise and crowds. Depending on which city you choose to be in, the population and level of busyness vary, though there's always hustle and bustle, no matter which city you choose.

Image Credit: Matt Jones from Unsplash.

Take the Quiz: Which Generation Matches Your Personality?

Discover the generation you truly belong to!

Suburbs: Advantages & Disadvantages

In suburban areas, there's more space, less congestion, and quieter environments. The cost of living is generally lower in suburb regions because the demand that needs to be met isn't very high.

However, if you don't have a car, mitigation in suburban zones is not easy. If you were to live in the suburbs, you'd be required to have a car for transportation and longer commuting journeys. There are also fewer job opportunities, less cultural diversity, and a lower chance of meeting people (especially younger people since suburban regions and countrysides consist of predominantly older populations).

In suburban areas, it may feel isolating too, especially because you're living in such a secluded space with a lot less of everything (people, jobs, cars, facilities, restaurants, buildings, etc). As for communities, though, fewer people are living in one area; therefore, an opportunity to find closer connections is more possible. Deeper roots and tighter bonds are likely to be discovered in a smaller region, and being a suburb person can open doors to make closer-knit ties with local residents.

Image Credit: Eilish Garvey from Unsplash.

Am I A City Person or a Suburban Person?

Being a city-goer would mean you enjoy a more fast-paced environment, with access to lots of shops, restaurants, and clothing stores. You'd usually prioritise social interaction and career opportunity over a more easygoing, simple lifestyle.

As for living environment, you'd prefer to live in a smaller home with less space, but in an area that is close to lots of facilities.

You'd be more of a suburban person if you prefer a more relaxed life, prioritising tranquillity and peace over a more chaotic, busy life.

Image Credit: Jason Hawke from Unsplash.

Here are some questions you might consider to decide which category you fall into:

• Do you value diverse entertainment or a close-knit community?
• Are you more of a 'friends' person or a 'family' person?
• Do you prefer public transport or driving long distances?
• Do you enjoy constant activity or slower rhythms?

If you answered the latter, you'd probably be more suited to suburban life, whereas choosing the first option on most questions would mean you'd be more adapted to city life.

If you're a Gen Z trying to discover what's best for you, then ask yourself these questions and become familiar with what is comfortable for you. Then, it'll become much easier to find out exactly what you want to do and where you want to live. Cities and suburban areas have their unique landscapes, and the cultures and routines that people in those areas have are also extremely different; finding which one matches your preferences will answer the big question of whether you're a city or a suburb person.

Facts and Experiences

There's nothing wrong with trying both out; living in the city for some time, then taking temporary accommodation in a more countryside-oriented space. That way, you can make the best of both worlds and see what you prefer.

A blog by The Grit and Polish talks of how this particular couple felt burned out in their jobs, with a long commute, and moving every year. They moved to the countryside and felt as if it gave them lots of benefits, such as more outdoor space, more locally sourced produce, and, of course, a lower pace, not like the hustle and anxiety you'd get from a city. Road rage is lower, traffic jams are minimal, and life seems to be kinder and happier in these areas.

This outlines how positive and attractive suburban areas and countryside regions are, but the blog also discusses how the couple initially lived in the city for all of their 20s, and there were many benefits that arose from it. The wealth of food, easy access to everything, energy, job opportunities, and diverse activities.

Conclusive Points

There's no right way to decide if you're a city or a suburb person. You can personally decide what life you'd prefer to live (at the end of the day, only you know what's right for you).

Image Credit: roger geach from WikimediaCommons

People's preferences and tastes often change the more they grow up (for instance, most people when they're younger probably would opt for city life, but as they age, they may want a more slow-paced way of living, thus move to the country for a quieter life).

I don't think you'll know straight away what type of life you want to live; that only comes with experiences and just simply living. Then and only then will you understand yourself more, therefore realise which area of the world is calling to you, as cliché as it may seem.