I know these two cities are super different from each other in pretty much every way, but has there been anybody who has lived in both who can compare? Me and my SO (both 25) are relocating from abroad and have these two in our sights. I am entering the plumbing industry and my SO is an esthetician. I visited both last year to figure out what city is a better move. We are looking for a place we can eventually buy a house or a condo in the next 10-20 years.

The vibrancy and walkability of Chicago is absolutely a positive, but the crime and cold weather also turn us off quite a bit as well. We don't do a lot of partying or barhopping or any of that, we are pretty boring people when it comes to activities, we're more into exercise and this sort of thing so Sacramento's all year warm weather sounds super attractive. The sprawl and skyrocketing housing costs are our worries for there, however.

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We are open to other options as well, but has anyone had any experience living in both?