During the IR the working conditions were pretty horrible, the wages were extremely low, even the living conditions in the cities weren't really promising. The workers had a tough working schedule with strict rules. Despite alle that, many people moved from the land, where they probably had their farms, to the cities to work under these conditions. How did that happen? Was living on a farm much worse than I expect right now? Or did the factories/cities have other advantages, I just don't see? Were my assumptions at the beginning wrong?

This questions just popped into my mind when reading a text about the revolution. I'm mainly thinking of the UK in the 18th and 19th century now, but appreciate all answers.