If you live in a city, then you could be sitting dreaming of rolling hills and fresh air as another speeding car flies past your apartment window.
But if you’re already living in the country, there’s also a strong chance you could be yearning for the excitement of the city.
Us Brits are never happy, are we?
But on a more serious note, there are a host of pros and cons when it comes to city life or living in the country, so we’ve taken a look at some of them here…
Country vs city living: Pros and cons
The decision on whether to live in the country or a city isn’t just a choice on pace of life.
Many other factors can come into play.
The pros and cons of country living
Peace and quiet
It stands to reason that the further you are away from the hustle and bustle of a city, the quieter things will be.
This is a hugely appealing factor if you have grown out of the noise of city living and are seeking a more peaceful way of life.
However, for some, the ‘hear a pin drop’ nature of living in the countryside can be unnerving.
City living comes at a cost, we all know that.
In the UK, the closer you live to a city, generally the more you will pay for your property.
However, while you might get more house for your money out in the sticks, you should also consider how much extra money you’ll be spending to commute to work or drive to the shops twice a week.
Quality of life and space
City living can be compact at the best of times, so moving to the countryside can have huge lifestyle and health benefits
Gardens tend to be larger than in cities or towns, where sometimes outdoor space is even non-existent, while having the countryside on the doorstep means plenty of fresh rural air for great health.
A sense of community
There may be more people living in cities, but more people usually means less conversation and communication.
City lives are busy and over-crowding can be stressful, so moving to the country can be great for getting to know neighbours and local businesses like coffee shops and butchers.
That feeling of community can be hugely beneficial when it comes to settling in quickly.
Slower pace of life
As we outlined above, city life is busy, hectic and can be stressful.
Rural neighbourhoods are generally safer, with lower crime rates, as well as experiencing fewer problems with traffic and fewer people on public transport.
The pros and cons of city life
More opportunity
If you live in the countryside, there’s a strong chance you’re still having to commute to work – depending on what you do, of course.
And if your heart is set on working in the countryside as well as living there, that can mean fewer opportunities or limited options for employment.
Big businesses are, more often than not, based in towns and cities like Bristol and this can mean better opportunities and pay prospects for those choosing an urban life over a rural one.
Better transport links
Living in a town or city will almost certainly give you more options when it comes to transport.
Those living in rural areas often find themselves stranded when it comes to public transport, meaning a long drive to reach amenities.
Access to amenities
And you might not even need a transport option to get to amenities if you live in a city.
Shops will almost certainly be within walking distance for city dwellers, meaning ease as well as great exercise and a positive contribution to their carbon footprint, too.
Services like WiFi are also generally better in cities and towns so if you need online access for work, rural living may not be for you.
Better choice for social activities
Cities and towns generally have more choice when it comes to restaurants, bars, theatres and cinemas, meaning far more options for those fun nights out with family and friends.
And if you are into something a little more niche, there’s a better chance of finding like-minded people in a city than a rural area.
Something else to consider
If you’re looking for the best of both city and rural living, you should consider living somewhere in between.
It’s obvious, but some people can be put off by the suburbs.
In the south west, we are quite spoiled really as we get the best of both worlds regardless.
The city of Bristol is a major employment hub and a growing city with a whole host of different things happening every day.
But a short hop north to Gloucester or Cheltenham means you are close to the heart of the Cotswolds – and country life doesn’t get any better than that.
And whether you’re looking to live in the centre of Bristol or in a suburb like Southville, Bishopston, Bradley Stoke, Clifton, Downend, Henleaze, Kingswood, Redfield or Westbury-on-Trym, you’re never far away from the bustle of the city.
