Choosing where to start your career isn’t just about a job title or salary. It’s about planting yourself in the right environment to maximize your potential. While the suburbs offer affordability and comfort, the big city offers opportunity, growth, and a network that will catapult your career in ways you may never have imagined. Here’s why I’m 100% convinced that if you’re in your 20s or early 30s, you should make a beeline for the nearest major metro.

Big Cities Means Big Opportunities

A major city is a career accelerator. The density of top-tier companies, startups, and industry leaders clustered in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco is unmatched. In fact, 80% of Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in metropolitan areas.

These cities aren’t just job markets; they’re ecosystems where innovation thrives. Startups often rise and fall within the same block, and traditional industries are disrupted daily. This constant churn creates an environment rich in opportunities for those willing to hustle. You’re not just applying for jobs—you’re navigating a landscape filled with chance encounters and career-defining moments.

The Power of Proximity: Who You Know Can Change Everything

We’ve all heard the saying, It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Well, nowhere does this ring truer than in major cities. When you’re living and working in a dense urban environment, your chances of meeting influential people skyrocket. Networking events, coworking spaces, industry meetups, and even casual after-work drinks can turn into opportunities.

Living in a city allows for face-to-face interactions that go beyond LinkedIn connections. According to a LinkedIn study, 85% of jobs are filled through networkingsent in a city lets you become part of the conversations happening around you, building authentic relationships that can open doors later.

More Than Just a Paycheck: Accelerated Career Growth

A big-city job isn’t just about a higher starting salary (although that’s often the case). It's about how quickly you can move up. Urban professionals are promoted faster, often because they are immersed in environments that demand continuous learning and quick adaptation. In cities, mentorship opportunities abound, and being in close proximity to senior leaders can accelerate your trajectory.

In contrast, suburban areas often have a slower pace of growth. Smaller companies mean fewer leadership roles and less frequent lateral moves. While that stability might be appealing later in life, in your 20s and 30s, when you’re building momentum, the fast-paced, ever-evolving city job market is where you want to be.

Learning by Osmosis: The Value of Being Present

Remote work has changed the game, but there’s still an undeniable value in physical presence. Learning happens in hallways, over impromptu brainstorming sessions, and during those crucial side conversations that can’t be replicated over Zoom. In big cities, you’re in the thick of it, absorbing knowledge from seasoned professionals simply by being in their orbit.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. During the height of the pandemic, I worked remotely from incredible places—Costa Rica, New Zealand, Chicago—but nothing compared to the organic collaboration that happened in person. Returning to in-office environments later made me realize how many intangible skills I had missed.

If you’re young and eager to grow, don’t underestimate how much being in a physical office alongside mentors and peers can supercharge your career.

City Living: Not Always Easy, But Always Worth It

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—cost. Yes, city life is expensive. Rent is high, commutes are long, and $8 lattes can feel like a punch in the gut. But consider this an investment. Your time in the city will pay dividends in the form of higher lifetime earnings, faster career growth, and an expansive network of people rooting for your success.

A recent Harvard Business Review study revealed that professionals living in urban areas tend to earn 20% more than their suburban counterparts, not just due to the cost of living adjustments but because of the sheer density of opportunity .

ocial Capital of Big Cities: Elevating Your Circle**
In cities, you’re constantly exposed to people pushing boundaries in their industries. Whether it’s tech innovators, creative marketers, or bold entrepreneurs, these are the people who will elevate your career just by being around them. You’ll find that surrounding yourself with ambitious peers doesn’t just motivate you—it pushes you to reach higher.

Compare this to suburban life, where professional isolation is more common. You might have fewer people challenging you, fewer sparks of innovation, and fewer opportunities to connect with movers and shakers in your field. The energy of a city is contagious, and that energy feeds growth.

What You’ll Gain—and What You’ll Miss

Let’s be real: Suburban life has its perks. You’ll find quiet, space, and lower rent, and you’ll avoid rush-hour chaos. But here’s what you’ll miss: dynamic job markets, a network that expands daily, spontaneous coffee meetings that turn into partnerships, and the chance to push yourself harder and further than you ever thought possible.

You might also miss out on the incredible growth that comes from discomfort. The city forces you to grow—faster than you would in a cozy, predictable environment.

Final Thought: Choose the Challenge

If you’re in your 20s or early 30s and trying to decide where to start your career, my advice is simple: Choose the city. Choose the challenge. You’ll emerge with a network that supports you, skills that differentiate you, and stories that define you. And trust me—when you look back, the investment will have been worth every penny.

Why Starting Your Career in a Major City is the Best Decision You’ll Ever Make