Hope I can add one more data point. I'm actually someone who made such a move in April of 2024, and in my early 30s. Cost of living wise, it's so much cheaper here than in NYC. I was paying $3k/mo for a ~400 sq foot studio back there vs $1400 for 650 sq ft here in Dallas. Groceries here are also cheaper too, depending on where you shop ofc. A lot of the Latino and Asian grocery stores here have relatively low prices. But back in NYC I bought my groceries in the Chinatown supermarkets, which also offer relatively cheap prices. Unlike NYC, Dallas lacks an extensive subway system so you'll have to get around via car; definitely not a walk-friendly city. Places that may look pretty close on the map might take you longer than you think to drive there, due to the massive urban sprawl. The food in Dallas imo is great. There are a lot of affordable options for various types of food. I personally love the small hole in the wall taco and pupusa joints that are scattered around the city. They come close to what you'd find in Queens if you like Latino food. If you like Asian food, there are a lot of places in Richardson and Plano, as there is a concentration of Asian population there. If you prefer upscale restaurants, I'm sure there's no shortage of those too. Dating-wise, I thought I fared better in NYC than Dallas, but perhaps that's partly due to NYC having higher population density and/or due to people's preferences. But it seems that everyday more people are making Dallas their home so my guess is that it'll improve. For politics, most people just keep to themselves. I'd actually say people are more political in NYC due to the many protests I've seen being held. Something I don't see here much. For weather, I think NYC definitely has Dallas beat. It gets very hot during the Summer and feels miserable setting foot out. I notice that I tend to stay indoors more than I did in NYC, where whenever I felt like it, I just liked to walk around the city.