City Life Vs. Country Life -Which Is Better for Minimalists?

Are you trying to simplify your life? Are you interested in the minimalist lifestyle?

A lot of what drives us to simplify our life may lie in where we live. If you live in a tiny apartment you may be pursuing minimalism because of that tiny apartment. If you have a large home you may be pursuing minimalism because you are having trouble keeping up with too much stuff. If you move a lot you may be keeping things simple because of that.

So that begs the question: Is minimalism easier in some locations than it is in others? If you were to look at city life vs. country life which would be better for a minimalist? Are you wondering where to move to live a simple life?

It’s an intriguing question I’ve been thinking about for some time now. I don’t live in a big city and I don’t really live in the country either. I live in a neighborhood in a medium sized American town. That being said I grew up with a lot of people who lived in the country and I have visited and observed life in some of the biggest cities in the world including Denver, San Diego, New York, London and Paris.

So let’s break down this city life vs. country life debate with some simple questions and you can decide for yourself where to move for the simple life. Maybe you won’t have to move at all.

1: City Life vs. Country Life -How Much Space Do You Have?

I think a lot of people picture a simple life in the country. But does that mean that people in the city do not keep life simple?

Not necessarily. According to my observations, people living in cities are much more likely to be minimalists for one simple reason. They live in smaller homes and apartments. Because of that they tend to own less stuff.

Think about it, Parisian fashion is made up of a handful of simple classic staples because the Paris apartments and the closets that are in them are very small. People in New York have to haul everything they own up and down multiple flights of stairs and most of my friends and family in San Diego share their homes with extended family.

While it is absolutely possible to own less and live in the country your space does not necessarily incentivize minimalism like living in the city does.

You could say then, that as far as space is concerned city living is going to win in the city life vs. country life competition.

2: How Much Time Do You Have?

Now what about time? The minimalist lifestyle is all about time. The whole point of having less is to have more time for the things that really matter to you.

So as far as I’ve observed city life vs. country life it seems that that you would naturally have more time in the country. There is less to do in the country. At 10 pm on a Saturday night I would be hard pressed to find something to do in my small town. But if I lived in the city there would be a million options. Also, city life is often more expensive. That means that people who live in cities often work more than their country counterparts.

That’s not to say people in the country aren’t busy. They have lots of hard work to do and lots of things they can enjoy with friends.

It’s also not impossible for a person who lives in the city to simplify their schedule and work less.

Still, in the debate of city life vs. country life and the minimalist lifestyle, you might have more time if you live in the country.

3: How Much Flexibility Do You Need?

Now what about flexibility? Many minimalists pursue the simple life because they need to keep their options open. They may have a job that moves them around often, family in several different parts of the country or the world, or even just a generally nomadic spirit.

If you live in the city you may be living in a more flexible culture. You understand that you may need to move to a different apartment or an entirely new neighborhood rather quickly. You might be planning on moving with your job to another city. Roommates and family may affect your plans as well. All of these things will certainly motivate you to live a minimalist lifestyle so you can be more flexible.

On the other hand living in the country might mean a more settled way of life. You may be planning on staying near family, buying a home and having a family of your own. The simple life in the country may involve settling in a more permanent way so you can take care of those things.

In this aspect of flexibility and country vs. city living, the city is probably going to lean you more towards the minimalist lifestyle and greater flexibility.

I will add one proviso however. I think that people in big cities have less job and housing flexibility because there is so much competition so that can make you feel stuck, even in an environment that should technically be more flexible because it offers more choices.

4: Do You Need More Money?

Another reason the minimalist lifestyle is so popular right now is because it seems that everyone is dealing with financial strain and at least some of that has to do with the consumer society we live in. We have gotten into the bad habit of buying stuff we don’t need and minimalism fights that tendency to help us get out of debt and better enjoy what we already have.

So is it better to live in the city or the country if you want to save money and live more minimally?

This is probably the trickiest question of all. Why? Because the facts aren’t as simple as they seem.

Of course living in the city is generally more expensive than living in the country as far as housing costs are concerned. But that may be offset somewhat by the fact that when you live in a city you have access to resources that save you money. For example, if you use public transportation all the time you might opt out of owning a car. If you don’t have a big yard or a home of your own you save money on maintenance. Also, high competition in cities drives better prices on some things like groceries.

When you live in the country you will probably save money on housing costs but you will probably spend more on your property, your vehicles, gas, and so forth. Your entertainment might cause you to spend more money up front if you choose to buy RVs, four-wheelers, dirt bikes, and boats.

Ultimately I can’t say either one wins in the city life vs. country life debate. Minimalism can help you save money no matter where you live. It just depends what kinds of luxuries and services matter most to you.

5: What Are Your Values and Goals?

So if you are wondering where to move to live a simple life in America, or anywhere else for that matter do you have a better idea what would work for you in the country vs. city living debate? Do you actually have to move to live a simple life?

I guess it all boils down to your values and goals. If you value family living, free time, staying home, gardening and space a simple life in the country would be ideal for you. If, on the other hand, you are career oriented, want to travel a lot or enjoy more entertainment options you can totally pursue simple living in the city.

The city life vs. country life debate is not dependent on whether you want to be a minimalist. It is totally dependent on what kind of goals you have.

The City Life Vs. The Country Life – Which One is the Simple Life for You?

If you have been wondering where to move to live a simple life I hope this post has given you some comfort. Every place has it’s pros and cons. You can live a simple life in the country but you can also enjoy simple living in the city. A simple life in America is totally possible too! You don’t have to move to another country to make the minimalist lifestyle work for you!

The question is this. Do you want to live a simple life in the country? Or is city living more your style?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Do You Want to Enjoy the Minimalist Lifestyle?

Are you interested in the minimalist lifestyle? Does the word minimalism scare you? Or are just not sure where to start?

I can help! In my e-book Doable Simplicity I give practical actions steps that will help you simplify your home, your schedule and even your chores so you can figure out what really matters to you and reach your biggest goals!