What to know before moving from Los Angeles to Seattle?
The US fascinates people exactly because two big cities within the country can be so different from one another. Though both Seattle and Los Angeles are technically West Coast, they are largely unique.
One of the first things that will likely blow you away is the difference in cultures. If Los Angeles attracts artsy folks, Seattle falls more along the lines of tech cities. That largely determines how people interact with one another. Here is a good myth to bust right away!
How real is the Seattle Freeze?
If you do not know, the Seattle Freeze refers to how cold people tend to be in that city. Throughout the years this has grown to quite the stereotype. Fortunately, most of it turns out to not be true.
While many Seattle citizens are introverted (being a tech city), they cannot be classified as cold. A lot of them simply dislike get-togethers, as they prefer solitary activities. Yet if you need any help at all, they will be there for you.
There has even been some science done on this subject. A study has found out that Washington State ranks quite low on the extroversion scale (48th of all states, to be exact). What does that mean? You would likely not find big cliques of party-goers. With that said, many consider this a pro, not a con. It all depends on what you expect.
What are the pros and cons of owning a car in Seattle?
Some US cities have amazing infrastructure and public transportation. Seattle does in fact rank higher on the list in terms of the latter. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. As Seattleites will tell you, without a car you would have to rely on shared-ride services.
See, buses are convenient for the most part, but they are not always on. They have buses reserved strictly for commute hours, and most of them only go through the major transit centers. That makes it virtually impossible to go about your daily tasks only via public transport. On top of that, your bus stop may be a mile or so away from your location. That means you will have to face Seattle weather during commuting!
If you have to rely too much on taxi-like services, a car will be cheaper and faster. So, you should definitely ship your car there, and not get rid of it altogether.
Moving to Seattle with a car
Once you get to Seattle, you will have 30 days to get your new driver’s license and Washington plates. That is if you move there permanently. In such a case, visit a Washington DMV for state licensing. Be prepared for additional car insurance costs as well.