I live in NYC and love the cultural opportunities here but I'm
contemplating leaving for a cheaper place. I will go anywhere that I
would not have too much difficulty learning the language (so should be
a Romance langauge).
I'm not sure these desires go well together. The cities with
equivalent cultural experiences: (London, Paris) are expensive.
I prefer modern art that takes some risks such as the performances one
might see at: BAM (sample artist Ballet Preljocaj (sp?)), Bowery
Poetry Club (Beatboxing performances), Upright Citizens Brigade,
Angelica or Sunshine Cinema (Movie theatres showing things such as:
Angela) or even Barnes and Noble (reading by Douglas Coupland).
If these opportunities didn't exist I would at least want a city with
a vibrant intellectual life.
Other desired properties: safe, get around by walking.
What might be helpful is a ranking going from least expensive but
intellectual life up to expensive with full arts scene.
Obviously there is no one right answer to this question, so I'm
looking for an intelligent response.
Thanks!

Well, if I had a free choice over where to live, one city would stand
out by far over any other for culture, ambience and everything else:
Barcelona
http://www.bcn.es/english/ihome.htm

Move up to Purchase, NY.  It's a lot cheaper than the city.  There's a
lot going on at SUNY Purchase where they have a vibrant school of
dance, theatre and music, and when you need a city-fix, you can just
hop on the train into Manhattan.

I can recommend Berlin.  It's got all the culture you might want; it's
safe (at least in the areas where all the culture is, and where most
people who move to Berlin might live); and it was certainly less
expensive than New York, Paris, or London when I lived there in
2001-02.  Plus you can get by with English and basic German, while you
learn more advanced German.

Oh yes, and you can get around Berlin by walking from the many train
and bus stops -- I never needed a car.

Join to Scott's recommendation abotu Berlin. It is cheap (one could
live from $800-$1,000 a month). Public transpostration is cheap and
safe, and the city is in general safe place to live.

It has: 
- Three traditional opera houses, funded by the state, which means the
tickets are not expensive
- Another alternative opera house, which shows mostly operettes and
alternative/new operas
- Countless museums, most funded by the state; Many more galleries
- Several classical music venues. 
- A vivid alternative culture. 
- An annual film festival, many other cultural events and festivals. 

So, no Latin/Romantic culture or language, but many other
compensations...

If you want me to, I'll post a more detailed answer on the subject.

Sorry about the typos...

I left New York City ten years ago, and have regretted it ever since. 
On a recent visit I found the city booming - the museums, the
theaters, the pubs teeming with vibrant young people. Expensive? 
Sure, but worth the price.  You get what you pay for after all. 
There's an old saying that when you leave New York it's all downhill. 
Trust me, it's true.  Stay where you are.

Sydney or Melbourne, Australia. I prefer Sydney. World class culture.
The cities vie for who does what best.

Not cheap, but I would definitely recommend considering San Francisco
(or the Bay Area in general).  I have a hard time going on holiday
because there isn't a single weekend where there's something
(generally lots of things) going on that I want to go to.  From the
classical (lots of symphonies and opera companies) to the modern (SF
MOMA and more), there's tons to do.  Plus, an easy drive to the
Russian River festivals, Berkeley, Stanford, Monterrey, even
Sacramento.

SF is not the safest place in the world, but I would guess it's safer
than NYC (from what I've heard on the news, etc.)  Getting around
without a car is not difficult in The City itself, and not bad
elsewhere.  We whine and complain about Muni all the time, but in
reality, it's a pretty good system.  BART covers most of the east bay
and gets you in & out of The City.  CalTrain will get you South to the
Valley, and there are bus lines that go all over.  (For a long time, I
didn't have a car -- I only got one for dates and to get to Yosemite
and the Sierras.)

P.S., I don't know about "culture", per se, but the three places on my
list of possible alternatives to The City are Vancouver, BC, Canada,
Portland Oregon, and the Guerneville/Russian River area in California.
 My thing, though, is to get away from the hustle and bustle, and
would be willing to give up some culture.

P.P.S., We've got dozens of independent bookstores in SF that have
readings all the time.  Heck, a guy I work with just heard Salman
Rushdie (sp?) speak a week or so ago.

Los Angeles has it all.

omniscientbeing-ga
Google Answers Researcher