Relocation Decision Scorecard Template (Use This to Pick a City)
A reusable scorecard template to compare cities with weighted criteria and clear tradeoffs.
What you will get from this guide
- A decision scorecard prevents emotional drift by forcing explicit tradeoffs between cost, safety, career upside, and livability.
- Define 6-8 criteria and assign weights totaling 100. Keep criteria independent to avoid double-counting the same effect.
- Use a consistent scoring scale, such as 1 to 10, with written definitions for each score to reduce subjective bias.
A decision scorecard prevents emotional drift by forcing explicit tradeoffs between cost, safety, career upside, and livability.
Define 6-8 criteria and assign weights totaling 100. Keep criteria independent to avoid double-counting the same effect.
Use a consistent scoring scale, such as 1 to 10, with written definitions for each score to reduce subjective bias.
For each city, capture both score and evidence source. Unsupported scores should be flagged as low confidence.
After initial scoring, run a sensitivity test by adjusting top weights by ±10%. Stable winners are more robust choices.
Add a confidence multiplier based on data completeness and first-hand validation from trial stays.
Include a switching-cost metric: visa flexibility, lease lock-in, and job portability if the move underperforms.
Rank cities by weighted score but review top two manually for hidden constraint conflicts.
Finalize with a decision memo: why this city wins, what risks remain, and what 60-day checkpoints you will track.
A scorecard is useful only if it drives action. Set a firm decision date to avoid endless comparison loops.
Trust & methodology
Written by the Citiory Research Team. This guide is reviewed every 30 days.
Next review date: 2026-03-27 ·Read our methodology
Related guides
How to Test a City Before Moving: 14-Day Validation Plan
A field-tested process to validate neighborhoods, internet, safety, and real costs before committing.
7 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a City to Relocate
The most common relocation decision mistakes and a practical way to avoid each one.
How to Choose Between Two Cities for Relocation
A weighted scoring method to decide between close city options without overthinking.
Pillar clusters
FAQ
How should I use this relocation decision scorecard template guide?
Start with the framework in the article, shortlist 2 to 3 city options, and then validate neighborhood-level costs and daily workflow fit before making a final decision.
How often should this information be rechecked?
Review core assumptions monthly because rents, transport costs, and local conditions can change quickly, especially in fast-moving city markets.
What is the biggest mistake people make while choosing cities?
Most people optimize for one metric only, such as rent, and ignore reliability factors like healthcare, safety, or internet stability that strongly affect long-term quality of life.
Found this useful? Share it.