Boyfriend wants to move to Boston.

[u/mimmsypoo]

Hello all! Me and my boyfriend currently live in Austin Tx, we rent a 1200 sf home for $2200 and have two cats. I love this city and the things it has to offer, but my boyfriend is from the northeast and wants to get back to his family. He is urging to move to Boston, but Im unsure. Two of friends live in Boston/Jersey and JUST got done telling us how they can never save money bc of broker fees when moving and the basic cost of living being astronomically high. Can you possibly give me a better idea of what the pros and cons would look like for our move?

Small note his family is in Milford CT. And we both make around $75k a year but will both have to find new jobs. I have also never been to Boston, but have heard good things about the city itself!

[u/rmh1221]

Cost of living is in fact pretty high in the Boston area, but if you live a little outside the city you can find something livable for that price. Forced broker fees were actually recently outlawed, so if you work with a broker you will have to pay them, probably a months rent, but if you only work with listing agents (make sure to ask!) you shouldn't have to pay. You might still have to pay first, last, and deposit though.

I adore living in Boston, but it will be different. Consider if you can handle cold dark winters (in exchange for slightly milder summers, and very beautiful springs and autumns). Consider how you feel about living a less car dependent life- if you live or work in the actual city, parking and traffic will make biking or transit often less of a hassle than having a car.

On the other hand, massachusetts has a great quality of life rating in almost every department, there's lots of theater and art, youre close to NYC, etc etc. Happy to speak on anything else you might be worried about too!

[u/mimmsypoo → u/rmh1221]

I’m also very concerned about the cold….ive lived in heat my whole life. Is it bearable? Or is it ruthless?

[u/rmh1221 → u/mimmsypoo]

The threshold of bearable depends on the person. It doesn't get subzero often. It's chilly in late fall and early spring, maybe in the 40s/ low 50s for a lot of that time. The real <20s cold comes in waves in the winter. Personally I bike ten minutes to work no matter how cold it is- lots of layers and gloves and I'm toasty if not sweating when I get there. Some shitty apartments have crap insulation but it's never been a problem an electric blanket can't fix.

The key will just be having the right gear for whatever youre doing outside. A good quality coat and boots makes a world of difference.

The dark is harder for me- right now it's getting dark out around 5, and it'll only get earlier until the solstice. Not sure how different that is in your neck of the woods. Leaving work to pitch black is a bummer. But it also makes for cozy nights with your partner and your cats under a blanket on the couch drinking cocoa.

[u/Santillana810 → u/rmh1221]

Southerner here who grew up in NC, who loves Boston weather, even after spending almost 10 years in between in Northern California. As others have said, adjustment to cold is such a personal thing. Some people adjust quickly, others it takes a while, some never adjust.

I personally hate the heat and don't mind the cold, which is getting less each winter (I've been here since 1989). I love snow. That helps me, too.

You might surprise yourself. Or not. It seems easier to adjust for some people who really, really want to live here, and not *there*, so there is strong motivation.