Copenhagen - pro fascinating large city - many many folks speak English - city is safe and clean and on the water

con - very expensive - relatively isolated from Europe proper for weekend get-a-ways, etc.

Gent

smaller city but with a historic center full of churches and Flemish art museums - also a legal red-light district a la Amsterdam (could be a pro or a con!) - but key point for Gent IMO is that it is MUCH better situated for trips to nearby places on weekends and vacations - London is only a few hours by Chunnel train from nearby Brussels - Paris is only a few hours as is Germany and Amsterdam - Switzerland and France are close enough for long weekend get-a-ways.

Gent folks also speak a lot of English.

I'd chose Gent for its better location and better weather - Copenhagen is so far north that days can be very short in winter and often IME wet and dark all day - Gent can have this too but days not so short, etc.

Copenhagen has far more to see and do in the city and immediate area - but will be substantially more expensive - and visiting many other places will require flights. (Have you looked at housing costs there?)

Ghent is a much smaller town - but there are other many other charming/fascinating places nearby. Also, costs are likely to be much less (although still high by US standards). And - IMHO Belgium has by far the best food in all of europe.

I would look into logistics/living costs before you make a final decision.

ttt

OK, haven't been to Copenhagen, so can't make a valid comparison, but I love Ghent as a small city - interesting and vibrant, nice cafes, etc. Best of all, as others have said, very easy and cheap to do quick trips to other wonderful places: Brugges, the beach, Amsterdam and other parts of Netherlands, Paris, London, short flights to much of Europe from Brussels. Unless Copenhagen had some other super special draw, I would pick Ghent just based on that.

Unless Copenhagen had some other super special draw>

well if a pothead then the ability to buy cannabis over the counter on Pusher St in Christiana could be a reason for some - now that Holland has decided to close coffeeshops to non Dutch residents.

Gee, PalenQ, something else for the OP to consider. LOL

I adore Copenhagen. But, full disclosure, I was there in June and the weather was spectacular. I have not been to Ghent, but I have been to nearby Bruges and Brussels. I agree with a lot of the comments, except from my own personal experience, I think there are a number of inexpensive flight and travel options from Copenhagen. SAS and Easyjet fly often from Copenhagen to London, Edinburgh, Rome, etc. Also, Stockholm, Hamburg, and Berlin are less than 5 hours away by train. I would definitely pick Copenhagen, as I think it is compact and walkable, yet very exciting and cutting-edge in many areas!

And yes Christiania is very fun too, haha