New York vs Moscow: in which of these cities is it better to live?

New York. Photo: Depositphotos

Material Arseny Kalashnikov for Russia Beyond in translation ForumDaily.

I lived for some time in Moscow and in New York, so I can compare the pros and cons of each of these cities. It’s not so easy to determine where people are happier and enjoy life more. Therefore, I decided to make a list of comparisons between the capital of Russia and the “Big Apple”.

This is hard to believe, but these cities are in many ways similar. Here are some examples.

New York and Moscow never sleep. When I see a huge queue of ice cream gathering at Williamsburg at midnight, it doesn’t surprise me at all. First, it is still early, and secondly, in Moscow at this time you can still buy shoes, a new car, and even a postcard in a bookstore on Tverskaya.

Most people spend everything they earn. It doesn’t matter that wages in New York are 2 times higher than in Moscow: the price of everything from food to housing is also higher than 50-60. But at the same time there are a lot of temptations to which you can lower your earnings: great performances, wonderful restaurants, beautiful clothes and educational opportunities. In both cities, most people spend everything they earn in trying to reach the “American dream” or “Moscow life”. Sometimes I want to move to a small Texas town.

New York. Photo: Depositphotos

Angry and tense people on the streets. Recently, a large woman leaving the bank hit me with a bag and told me to get out of the way. I was not surprised: I grew up in Moscow. Various troubles can happen to you, and I am always ready for the coming day to prepare.

If I say that there are things that are better in Moscow than in New York, then this will be an understatement. There are things much, much better.

People in Moscow care about each other. Perhaps the Russians are noisier than the super-busy New Yorkers who are constantly on the run and think about themselves more often than about anything else on the planet. Perhaps Muscovites are simply more intense and more worried about what is happening around them. I don't know the reason, but they really care about each other more. Of course, this is not a plus, but a minus, if you strive for privacy.

If you lose your ticket on the subway in New York, no one will notice. But in Moscow, your grandmother will catch up with you right on the street in order to give the travel card and tell you that you are a hurrying fool and confused ... And where is the "thank you", by the way? Mom did not teach good manners?

Moscow. Photo: Depositphotos

Service is much better. This may surprise you, but service in Russia, especially in Moscow, has greatly improved since the days of the Soviet Union. No one is trying to push you out of the restaurant to free up a table for other customers, and does not bring a check that you did not ask for. Russians know what real hospitality is and no one expects tips for really bad service. Therefore, the majority of Moscow waiters are very helpful and attentive to customers.

Moscow. Photo: Depositphotos

Public transport in Moscow works. New Yorkers are very fond of their subway - but at the same time it is dirty, it works poorly, it’s rather disgusting, difficult to understand, it smells bad there, rats run around and it’s just scary. The train can wait forever, and on weekends it may not come at all, because the repair. New Yorkers like it, because they do not know anything else: they have not been to Moscow, where the subway is simply excellent. At the same time, they praise the main advantage of their metro - it works around the clock. New Yorkers are very proud of this, despite the fact that after a midnight train you can wait a whole hour.

New York. Photo: Depositphotos

A logical question may arise: so why do I live in New York, if Moscow is so good? I am ready to add to my list the benefits of living in the “Big Apple”.

There are many more features. Yes, it is not easy to live in New York, and sometimes it seems that you are beating your head against a wall, such a huge competition and many excellent professionals in every field - music, business, cinema, dance, architecture, and anywhere. But if you do not give up and work hard, then the result will not take long. Living in New York, you can feel that nothing limits your dreams.

In Moscow, whatever you do - from developing your own business to selling your music to top international labels - this is more difficult. The market in Russia is much smaller, more bureaucratic, it has less money and more restrictions. That is why New York attracts the best professionals in the world. They just want to do what they love and get more in return.

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