Chicago vs New York City
Definition
A perennial urban rivalry contrasting the Midwestern stoicism, deep-dish pizza, and manageable cost of living of Chicago against the frantic energy, thin-crust pizza supremacy, and exorbitant rent of New York City.
A comparative exercise in civic pride often serving as a litmus test for whether a person prefers their skyscrapers served with a side of Midwestern humility or a healthy dose of neurotic, fast-paced hubris.
Examples
Choosing between Chicago and New York City is essentially deciding whether you want your existential crisis to happen while waiting for an L train or while missing your third subway connection of the hour.
New Yorkers claim their city is the center of the universe, whereas Chicagoans claim it is the center of the country, conveniently ignoring that both will cost you your entire paycheck just for the privilege of a studio apartment.
The debate over Chicago vs New York City usually ends in a stalemate, with both parties eventually agreeing that at least neither of them has to live in the suburbs.