Cheap places to live with a good intellectual atmosphere?
Inspired by a thread with the same title from October 2018 [0].
[0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18164189
If you don't mind US small towns and rural life, there are many lovely college towns dotted around upstate New York, Vermont, and Maine that are cheap. And I'm sure there's plenty more across the South, Midwest and Great North.
Mexico City is also definitely a contender - amazing creative energy there.
It really depends on what you mean by "intellectual," I think.
Research Triangle in NC. Cheaper parts of Northern Virginia.
In late 2020 I left the US (San Francisco) and relocated to Italy. Given the Covid-19 situation, it's a bit hard to determine whether this will be my final destination; however, I'm quite happy with the move so far.
Compared to the same post from 2018, the main difference is of course the Covid-19 situation.
It would be interesting to hear from other HNers what their experience has been, in light of that.
College towns. Usually little dots in the countryside. In the town it’s more expensive (relative to the surrounding area). Then drops off precipitously very quickly. Generally they have the amenities of larger places in a more remote setting at a lower cost.
I think this is quite a broad question as different places exhibits intellectuall prowess for niche things . Depends on the type of knowledge you're seeking or willing to be around . Additional information will help you get better answers
10 years ago, there was a case to be made for Austin, TX really fitting this bill.
However now with so many moving there from other parts of the country, it's gotten crowded and more expensive. I would no longer consider it "cheap".
Considering almost everything is canceled or remote now, maybe anywhere can have an intellectual atmosphere through virtual experiences.