I don't see the benefit of living in a big city unless you work in one. Most of them are corporatised, romanticised, and offer a poor quality of life. Many will say the benefit of a big city is the people. I don't agree. I think most people hang around with the same type of person regardless. My ideal city is small, affordable, and community-focussed. Tallinn and Zagreb come to mind. And don't worry, I get the irony of writing from Paris.