Economy and cost of living better off in a big city or a small city?

Question

I was living in Clarksville, TN around the military base at Ft. Cambpell, after I got out of the Army. I was getting paid at $5.75 an hour, and then I went to live in another city a little bigger and was getting paid $9.70 an hour. The apartment prices and costs of products were actually about the same. Now, I met a friend who lives in a even bigger city than the city I lived in. I noticed that the costs of living is the same. The pay rate raises even higher though. It seems to me the bigger the city you live in the easier it is to make it. I always thought this was the opposite. What do you think? Anyone ever lived in a small city then to bigger city and notice the change or from bigger city to a much small city. Like example, Clarksville, Tennessee to Chicago, Illinois or Jackson, Mississippi to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A huge difference of city location and way of life?

Answer 1

The cost of living generally increases with city size because the available land within commuting distance to city center is in more demand and housing cost more. If you live far out you can get cheaper housing but you must add commuting cost, so it is still more expensive. The extreme example is New York where the cost of living is double the national average. For the salary level and cost of living to US cities see
http://www.homefair.com/find_a_place/calculators/salarycalc/index.asp?cc=1

Answer 2

small towns are usually cheaper but not this one cuz theres a lake here and alot of rich ppl living on it soits too high here...i have to go to other exits for shopping and eating out