_DataVenia t1_j7u5n3w wrote on February 9, 2023 at 12:53 PM

Reply to comment by chocosunn in Commute from Boston by chocosunn

I did that same commute until I moved from Boston to RI a few years back. The train isn't bad. Look into the Amtrak pass, if they still have it. I've taken both Amtrak and the commuter rail. Both are a lot easier than driving. Amtrak is generally more pleasant and has a cafe car for coffee or drinks.

Providence is slightly cheaper than Boston, but not enough to justify the move. There's not as much to do here. What I miss the most about Boston is that the food scene is much better there. And my wife misses the shopping in Boston. We tend to go away for a weekend every other month or so just so we can do shopping and eat better meals. There are some good restaurants here, but most of them are just okay. Compared to Boston, RI's dining scene is lacking in both diversity and quality.

TheSausageFattener t1_j7ujumg wrote on February 9, 2023 at 2:48 PM

After a few years in both cities I feel like I need a car to fully take advantage of living in Providence versus in “Boston” I could take transit most places pretty quickly.

I put Boston in quotes because the transit connections mean you can pretty cheaply and quickly go all over the entire region. When I wanted to go to Lincoln Woods I’d usually have to drive unless I caught the 54 bus. But, in Boston I can do a pretty cheap $30 day trip to Newburyport, Rockport, Salem, Wachusett, Hull, Quincy, etc. I actually did the Providence Ferry over the summer after taking a train in and while it was a pain in the ass to have to transfer, that was a good feather in the cap.

The fact of the matter is it’s tough to run out of stuff to do in a well connected metro area. Theres plenty of neighborhoods to explore.

_DataVenia t1_j7x4cys wrote on February 10, 2023 at 12:45 AM

The public transportation options from Boston were amazing. We lived right next to North Station. Feel like going to Portland? Amtrak is right there and gets you there quicker than driving. Provincetown? The fast ferry is a short walk away and avoids all that Cape traffic.

TheSausageFattener t1_j7x9ppa wrote on February 10, 2023 at 1:25 AM

Thats one of the things that sold it for me, that and more career growth options. If I miss Providence, I go there for $10 round trip for a day or even a weekend with friends. Come Sunday I can usually leave satisfied. Boston’s got so much you’d have to do that a lot to exhaust your options.

As you pointed out its a literal hub for so many destinations too. Living in Providence lets you live near Boston, but living in Boston lets you get to a bunch of cities sized like Providence.

Also, not gonna lie, its not that much cheaper. Its variable by the age of the units on the East Side but many of the studios and 1 beds are in a similar range, especially near transit hubs. On the aggregate its cheaper, but Im also in the camp where I felt like I needed to spend $300 a month on having a car in Providence.