• I visited two Costco stores, one in the Midwest and one in New York City.
• New York City's Costco store was smaller, which made it feel more crowded.
• The prices and offerings were mostly identical, though the food courts featured different sodas.

As someone who grew up in Wisconsin and moved to New York City a decade ago, I enjoy analyzing the similarities and differences between the two regions I call home.

As part of a series comparing nationwide chains like Target and Trader Joe's in the Midwest and New York City, I visited Costco locations in Wisconsin and Manhattan in 2023. My Gold Star membership, which costs $60 per year, grants me entry to all Costco stores.

Costco remains a popular brand across the US and the world, offering bulk items at lower prices than many retailers. Its net sales added up to $249.6 billion in the 2024 fiscal year, a 5% increase from 2023.

While its stores are pretty standardized, which I found when I visited a Costco in Iceland, I was still interested to see if there were any regional variations in their prices, items, and shopping experiences.

Here are the most surprising differences I noticed.

During a trip home to Wisconsin in November 2023, I visited a Costco store in Grafton, Wisconsin, measuring 151,000 square feet.

A large technology section was set up at the entrance.

There were also tables full of winter coats, sweaters, and other apparel.

The store wasn't too crowded on the Thursday afternoon I visited, with plenty of room to move in the aisles.

The Kirkland bakery sold cookies, pastries, and birthday cakes.

The produce was located in a walk-in refrigerated section.

The samples were plentiful, with Costco employees handing out veggie crisps, granola-bar pieces, and cups of sparkling water.

I spotted a few local products like cheddar cheese curds produced in Ellsworth, Wisconsin.

This Costco also stocked coffee beans roasted in Door County, Wisconsin.

The lines for both self checkout and cashiers were only a few carts deep and moved quickly.

The food court was located beyond the checkout counters and sold pizza, chicken bakes, sandwiches, hot dogs, and desserts like churros and ice-cream sundaes.

A sign on the window notified customers about potential allergy issues.

The soda fountain included Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Tropicana lemonade, and Starry lemon-lime soda.

Next to the food court, there were plenty of tables where customers could sit and eat before heading to their next destination.

When I returned to New York City, I visited Manhattan's sole Costco location in East Harlem.

The Costco store is part of East River Plaza, a shopping complex that also includes stores like Aldi, Marshalls, and Ashley Homestore.

Unlike in the Midwest, where free parking lots are the norm at most stores, parking in the East River Plaza's garage costs $6 for up to two hours.

People were already lined up and waiting to get in when I arrived a few minutes before the store opened at 10 a.m. on a Friday in January.

At 110,000 square feet, New York City's Costco store was noticeably smaller than the one I visited in the Midwest.

At times, I found it difficult to navigate my cart through the crowds and smaller aisles.

New York's Costco store had many of the same warm clothing items on display.

There was a large selection of cheeses, but no Wisconsin cheese curds.

Some signs varied slightly between stores — for example, a sign at the Midwest Costco indicated "fresh produce," while the New York Costco just said "produce."

The New York City Costco also had a kosher bakery section where cakes and pastries were prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws.

Costco's famous $4.99 rotisserie chickens cost the same at both stores, though they flew off the shelves in New York as shoppers waited for each fresh batch.

I was surprised there weren't any samples available to try, but a Costco employee later told me that the stations hadn't been set up yet so soon after opening.

Both the cashier and self-checkout lines stretched out into the aisles with large numbers of people jostling for spots.

Above the checkout lines, signs advertised the food court's offerings, which were identical to the Wisconsin Costco's menu and prices.

One difference I noticed in the food court was that unlike in the Midwest, no allergy information was posted on the display case.

Additionally, the soda fountain in Manhattan offered Brisk iced tea instead of Starry.

Compared to the Midwest, New York City's Costco felt like a more cramped, hectic shopping experience to me, but the low prices and huge selection make it worth the trip in any region.

• In January, I moved from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina.
• So far, I've enjoyed the better weather and exploring the growing city.
• I was surprised to learn that beer and wine are sold in grocery stores.

After graduating from college in the spring of 2023, I was determined that there was only one place in the world for me: New York City.

So, when I had an opportunity to relocate there for my first job in January 2024, I took it. My boyfriend and I moved from our respective hometowns outside Washington, DC, to a one-bedroom apartment in Jersey City, New Jersey, where the Manhattan skyline and my new job awaited beyond the trees outside our window.

Unfortunately, expectations don't always meet reality, and as the months progressed, we realized how much we missed having extra living space. My flexible, hybrid schedule meant we both were working from home three or more days a week (my boyfriend's job is completely remote), and the lack of square footage made it difficult for each of us to have a comfortable workspace.

Add traffic, the high cost of living, and the fact that both of us are perpetual homebodies, and we soon realized that neither of us was making the most of city living … but we were still paying for it.

That's when Charlotte, North Carolina, came into the picture. We were looking for somewhere that could provide us with more space (minimum two bedrooms) for less money and better weather, but still a young, diverse population.

After we conducted plenty of internet research and took a visit to tour apartments, Charlotte became our top contender and we decided to take the leap when our lease ended in January.

Turns out, we aren't alone. In August 2024, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance reported that 117 people moved to the region daily from July 2022 to July 2023 — more than 55,000 were from New York and New Jersey — citing perks like the area's "vibrant culture, robust job market, and affordable cost of living."

In just a couple of short months, it's been easy to transition to our new home, but it hasn't come without a few surprises. From wine stocked in my local Target to plastic straws at restaurants, here are seven things I've been surprised by since moving to Charlotte, North Carolina.

There's alcohol in grocery stores.

I had no idea that North Carolina residents can purchase alcohol at grocery stores.

However, the alcohol available at stores like Target and Walmart is restricted to beer and wine, and there are a variety of state laws limiting when and where individuals can purchase alcohol.

For example, liquor can only be purchased at liquor stores, and those are closed on Sundays. Meanwhile, beer and wine can only be purchased after noon on Sundays as well.

Still, this was a surprise to me. In Maryland, where I grew up, state law prohibits the sale of beer and wine in most grocery stores, so these products (and liquor) are usually sold at dedicated locations like liquor stores. In New York, beer is available in grocery stores, but wine and liquor are not, and can only be found at liquor stores.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, it's legal for beer and wine to be sold at grocery stores, but in practice, it's rarely available because of limits on distribution licenses.

Though I'm still getting used to the new rules, I have to admit it's been pretty convenient being able to purchase a bottle of wine and ingredients for dinner in one stop.

Stores and restaurants still provide plastic bags and plastic straws.

In New Jersey and New York, plastic straws were made available only upon request starting in November 2021, while plastic bags were banned in 2022 and 2020, respectively.

This meant I was accustomed to bringing reusable shopping bags and being responsible for bagging my own groceries, so I was shocked when the attendant at my local Walmart in Charlotte started bagging my groceries in plastic bags.

I was similarly shocked when I ordered a milkshake and received a plastic straw without requesting it.

In North Carolina, state law prevents any rules that "restrict, tax, charge a fee, prohibit or otherwise regulate the use, disposition, or sale of an auxiliary container," The News & Observer reported, adding that an "auxiliary container" can include everything from straws and plastic bags to take-out containers. Still, businesses can choose to provide free alternatives.

Even though the plastic bag and plastic straw bans do not exist here, I still plan to bring my reusable bags with me going forward, though I would appreciate help from the attendees.

People are more likely to ask for your phone number than your social media.

Growing up outside DC and working in New York City, it was commonplace to ask for a person's Instagram or another form of social media after meeting them for the first time.

Here in Charlotte, though, I've found that other Gen-Zers are much more likely to ask for phone numbers directly, which came as a bit of a shock.

In my experience, starting conversations on social media first allows both parties to investigate each other's feeds and generally be less committed to continuing conversations or making plans, while a direct phone number feels more intentional.

Of the people who shared their numbers with me, I was happily surprised by how comfortable I felt reaching out, which has led to more plans for future hang outs.

I already have a much richer social life.

In New York and New Jersey, the majority of social events I attended were related to networking primarily because they were the only group events I felt were worth the necessary time and money to attend. As a result, most of the conversations I had with new people revolved around careers and how we could all benefit each other professionally.

Meanwhile, in Charlotte, the cheaper cost of living has afforded me with more disposable income to feel comfortable going out more frequently and to experiment with hobbies.

This, along with access to free parks (which I'll get to later), has allowed me to build a far more robust social life than I had in New York, complete with pilates classes, pickleball, trivia at a local bar, pick-up soccer games, and more.

It's easy to meet people in organic settings because navigating the city is a breeze.

I cannot overstate how much I missed having my own car before moving.

In New Jersey, limited street parking, excess traffic, and parking costs made having more than one car impractical, so my boyfriend and I got used to sharing his Ford Escape.

Now that we're in Charlotte, though, we have an entire gated parking lot dedicated to our apartment community, so I was able to bring my own car.

I definitely underestimated how nice it would be for each of us to have our own transportation, especially on weeknights when we have overlapping commitments. It also helps that most drives in the city take a maximum of 20 minutes, a far cry from the 40-minute minimum I was used to navigating between cars, trains, and walks in and around Jersey City and Manhattan. Oh, and I rarely have to pay for parking.

So, although we each have to pay for car insurance, the other benefits definitely outweigh the additional cost.

There are plenty of public parks to enjoy.

As a new pickleball enthusiast, I was happily surprised to learn that there are multiple free courts in our area.

Most parks I've seen so far have a mix of free, open-play courts and others that can be reserved ahead of time.

As the weather continues to get warmer and the sun shines for longer, I anticipate that booking courts will become much more necessary to ensure we don't have to wait too long to play, so the only thing we'll have to learn is how far in advance we need to book a time slot.

Charlotte reminds me of home and I don't feel like an outsider.

Despite this being the farthest I've ever lived from my hometown, what's surprised me most is how much it reminds me of home.

With its abundance of shopping centers, green space, and residential areas, Charlotte feels like the perfect blend of city and suburban living.

And, as a city of transplants, it's clear that everyone wants to make friends, which has helped to expand our network far faster than I thought was possible.

Though I'm more than willing to return to New York, I'm grateful for the flexibility to try something new and enjoy a different pace of life, at least for a little while.

• I grew up in California but by the time I was 30 I no longer felt like its lifestyle was for me.
• I moved to Spain to teach English and ultimately ended up starting my own business as a freelancer.
• I used to think living life meant keeping busy but my time in Spain has changed my outlook.

I was born and raised in California and thought that living my life meant keeping myself busy.

So, when I was offered the opportunity to move to Jaén — the capital city of a province located in the Andalusia region of Spain surrounded by mountains — I was apprehensive.

Unlike its more celebrated, larger neighbors — Granada, Seville, and Málaga — Jaén isn't known for being a lively place.

However, after living here for five years, Jaén has taught me that slowing down and enjoying the subtle beauties around me makes life more enjoyable.

Why I left California

After spending most of my life in the sunny state, I wanted to see more of the world.

In 2017, I moved to Panama for two years to teach English. In my absence, my friends moved on with their lives, advancing their careers and getting married.

By the time I returned to California — I had just turned 30 — some of my friends were having their first child. I felt like an outsider and pressured to figure out my life like everyone around me.

I spent three months in this limbo state until I decided California wasn't for me anymore.

I started over in Spain

When I came to Spain, I spent my first three years teaching English but eventually left the program due to a low salary — 700 euros (about $730) a month — and late payments.

Looking for a different option, I applied and was accepted for an autónomo (freelance) visa. Starting my own business in Spain as a freelance writer came with its own challenges.

The visa process was demanding. It required me to write a business plan in Spanish, provide documents from Spain and the US, and complete an interview in Spanish.

Plus, even though the information for applying seems straightforward online, the immigration office asked me for additional documentation like contracts from clients, bank statements, and tax documents that weren't listed on the website.

I also pay more self-employment taxes than the US. In the US, there's a 15.3% self-employment tax, but in Jaén, I face a progressive tax rate between 19% and 47%. If my income increases, so does the percentage I have to pay.

Fortunately, the lower cost of living in Jaén helps me balance out the higher tax rates.

I spend about $100 less on groceries per month compared to California. My rent is $417 per month compared to the more than $1100 I was paying in the US. And because Jaén is a walkable city with public transportation, I don't need a car, which saves me about $500 a month on car payments and insurance.

I have no plans to leave my life in Spain

With the money I'm saving, I can pursue interests and passions that I couldn't have afforded in the US. For example, twice a week, I take Flamenco lessons in the morning and Latin dance classes at night.

My weekends are filled with Flamenco shows, salsa dancing, hiking, and eating homemade Paella with friends.

My social life has also improved. I meet with friends weekly for brunch because a tostada and cup of tea cost around 6 euros ($7). In California, going out to breakfast was something I could only afford to do maybe once a month.

Even though Jaén doesn't have the population or attractions of bigger cities, it doesn't play small in events. Every weekend, there is either a city fair, massive bonfires known as lumbres, live music in the streets, and so much more.

Whenever I need a little more excitement, I can take a bus, train, or BlaBla car (a ride-share service) to a bigger city such as Granada, Sevilla, or Madrid and get a taste of the big city life.

Even with my upper intermediate Spanish, adapting to the various accents of the Spanish people has been an adjustment. Plus, there are fewer vegetarian and vegan options here. Overall, though, I can't complain.

I'm content with my life in Spain, and I can't see myself trying to reintegrate into US culture. I'm on a two-year visa and plan to renew once I reach my limit.