Is Chicago the most similar city to New York city in the US?

Cheaper Chicago with no job, or expensive New York City with a medium income job? Lesser of 2 evils?

• Well I'm currently here in Manhattan from Chicago on a trip staying with a friend. I'm 19, and I haven't been able to find anything in terms of work at all in Chicago for more than a year, even with such menial jobs like McDonalds, Target, fast food, retial, etc. None, 0 zilch, not a single interview, not even a call back. I worked in a warehouse for a bit just barely scraping by to support myself with 60 bucks a day under the table in Chicago, but I've lost that job and I cannot find another job to save my life (literally). Well, since I've been here in New York I've gotten a few interviews (which is huge for me), and one in Brooklyn even invited me back tomorrow for a second interview, where I find out if I get the job. I'm still in shock that I actually got first interviews for jobs, never mind a second one. So I'm thinkin, if this job hires me, I might end up missin my plane back to Chicago, and just work and crash at my friends place until I can save up enough for some crap hole in the Bronx or somethin. The job I think would end up paying around 500 a week, around 2000 a month, not including income tax. So the question is, should I stay in expensive NYC if i get this job and attempt to get by? At least it's something. Or should I go back to Chicago and start from scratch and keep praying for an interview or a job of some sort , and risk becoming homeless? Chicago is cheaper and more affordable, but my lease for my apartment ends in October, so it's crunch time, and something has to happen. And Chicago seems to be moving at 0 miles per hour. But my friend in NYC will probably not let me live with him forever if I get this job, so I would have to get my own place eventually, and I would not be able to afford splitting his rent with him either as an option. But anyways, with that income in NYC, is supporting myself somehow possible? What should I do? There are obviously people in NYC who would be consider poor, but yet somehow they seem to get by, but I have no idea how. So what seems like a better option? I'm so confused about this, and my mind is racing at a million miles per second. Thanks alot.

• Answer:

  Come back to Chicago. At least you've already got some sort of life here. Out there you'll be broke AND lonely.