Benchmark
Forget Paris, France. You're Better Off in Paris, Texas
U.S. namesakes outperform European cities in income, employment and rental affordability
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From "An American in Paris" to "Roman Holiday," European capitals hold a special place in the heart of Americans. It's where writers found their muse — Tennessee Williams in Rome, Ernest Hemingway in Paris and Henry Miller in Athens. The living was easy. Now, not so much.
Aspiring expats should check out "Paris, Texas," by German film-maker Wim Wenders, and ask if in today's economic climate the U.S. versions of Paris, Rome and Athens might just not make more sense. Compare and contrast the median household incomes, unemployment and median monthly rent in the storied cities with their less glamorous American namesakes, and make up your mind if a room with a view is worth it.