A weekend visit tells you whether a city is enjoyable. It rarely tells you whether the school run, commute and rent will work together. Compare places by imagining a routine weekday after the novelty has faded.
Plot the fixed points
Put the workplace or university, plausible neighbourhoods, childcare or school options and a major supermarket on one map. Check public transport at the hours you would use it. A lower rent can lose its advantage when two adults face long, inflexible journeys.
Read rental listings critically
Warm rent and cold rent are not interchangeable. Note what utilities are included, whether a kitchen is present and how much cash a deposit and temporary overlap could require. Ten attractive listings do not prove that your household will be accepted at that price.
Include administrative friction
Municipal services, immigration offices and childcare allocation differ locally. Read official city sources, but do not choose a home only for a supposedly faster appointment. Jobs, support networks and an affordable long-term routine usually deserve greater weight.
Score each city against the same concrete criteria. The goal is not to find a perfect winner; it is to see which compromise your household can sustain.
Official procedures change. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before acting.