Miami V Houston????
Hi all, could anyone offer us a little advice pls? We are a Brit ex pat family of 3 currently living in Christchurch NZ. However we have been offered potential transfers to either Miami or Houston (OH works for a large american company)
We have started to research and both places look considerably cheaper on cost of living (we have been advised salary is similar to NZ), but other than that neither of us has any previous experience of living in the states. Could anyone offer any advice on pros and cons of Miami and/or Houston. We have a 4 year old so will want good schools and good standard of living. We are just struggling to decide between the 2!! |
Re: Miami V Houston????
Miami is more expensive than Houston. Miami is more cosmopolitan. Houston is probably a slower pace of life. You have the heat to deal with in both cities but Houston gets milder in the winter so you get a break. Education is mixed - you would need to get into a good school district.
I would choose Houston but DH would not touch Texas with a barge pole. |
Re: Miami V Houston????
NZ or TX? are you off your rocker? What do you like about NZ? Unlikely to find it in texas. There's more to life than money honey
|
Re: Miami V Houston????
Originally Posted by petitefrancaise
(Post 11429034)
NZ or TX? are you off your rocker? What do you like about NZ? Unlikely to find it in texas. There's more to life than money honey
|
Re: Miami V Houston????
yeah, we did that.
if you're closer to family and friends, that's a good reason! Is it cheaper? Dunno. Bills keep coming in that surprise me. I would give a lot to try out NZ. I came from SW France and I miss the countryside/mountains/food more than I thought. |
Re: Miami V Houston????
Houston would be my vote.
YMMV |
Re: Miami V Houston????
Originally Posted by Boiler
(Post 11429065)
Houston would be my vote.
YMMV |
Re: Miami V Houston????
That was not an option.
Anyway snowed last week. |
Re: Miami V Houston????
Originally Posted by petitefrancaise
(Post 11429049)
yeah, we did that.
if you're closer to family and friends, that's a good reason! Is it cheaper? Dunno. Bills keep coming in that surprise me. I would give a lot to try out NZ. I came from SW France and I miss the countryside/mountains/food more than I thought. Are you in Texas then? What I was really hoping for was some pointers on the differences between Houston and Miami. |
Re: Miami V Houston????
Miami is VERY Hispanic now, and has a huge and cosmopolitan population from just about every country from Mexico south, and operates as a defacto Latin American city in many respects with many companies operating branches to support expats. There are many foreign banks operating either branches, or have bought an American bank, and market it to serve expats. Latin American performers will do concerts/ shows in Miami but few if any other American cities. And it has become a "bolt hole" of choice for the mega-wealthy because of crime and/or unfavourable tax regimes in their home countries. Miami is only a few miles from being tropical.
Houston, like the rest of Texas also has a large Mexican population, but is not cosmopolitan like Miami. It is certainly less "sophisticated". ..... So in short, personally I don't think either choice is "great". Are there any other possible cities that your husband's employer has locations in? :unsure: Both Miami and Houston are at risk of hurricanes, but I would guess that the risk is much greater in Miami. How do you feel about invasive species of animals, such as ball pythons that can reach 20ft long, and monitor lizards big enough to eat small dogs? :unsure: ..... And don't forget native alligators. :eek: |
Re: Miami V Houston????
Originally Posted by Bnet36
(Post 11429026)
Miami is more expensive than Houston. Miami is more cosmopolitan. Houston is probably a slower pace of life. You have the heat to deal with in both cities but Houston gets milder in the winter so you get a break. Education is mixed - you would need to get into a good school district.
I would choose Houston but DH would not touch Texas with a barge pole. |
Re: Miami V Houston????
Originally Posted by Pulaski
(Post 11429070)
Miami is VERY Hispanic now, and has a huge and cosmopolitan population from just about every country from Mexico south, and operates as a defacto Latin American city in many respects with many companies operating branches to support expats. There are many foreign banks operating either branches, or have bought an American bank, and market it to serve expats. Latin American performers will do concerts/ shows in Miami but few if any other American cities. And it has become a "bolt hole" of choice for the mega-wealthy because of crime and/or unfavourable tax regimes in their home countries. Miami is only a few miles from being tropical.
Houston, like the rest of Texas also has a large Mexican population, but is not cosmopolitan like Miami. It is certainly less "sophisticated". ..... So in short, personally I don't think either choice is "great". Are there any other possible cities that your husband's employer has locations in? :unsure: |
Re: Miami V Houston????
As somebody said its a Big Country.
|
Re: Miami V Houston????
Originally Posted by bellebellec1
(Post 11429073)
Which cities do you think are "great" then?
|
Re: Miami V Houston????
Originally Posted by bellebellec1
(Post 11429073)
Thanks, yes Jacksonville (don't know anything about that) & Fort Myers (although we researched and decided that would be too small for us), but we are fortunate in that we could theoretically go almost anywhere. Which cities do you think are "great" then?
New York was too expensive for me, but others love it, I wouldn't completely rule out returning, but I'd need about four times my current salary before I'd consider it! :lol: DC is also pricey, but not as much of a pressure cooker as NY. If I had to choose a big city I'd probably take Chicago, but I don't mind winter, though in Chicago I might get too much of a good thing. . |
All times are GMT. The time now is 6:40 pm. |
Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.