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Moving to Chicago brings you to the heart of a world-renowned city known for its towering skyline and vibrant cultural scene. Here, the lively streets promise a cleaner and more serene environment than New York. Living in Chicago, you’ll experience a community where world-class architecture meets the warm Midwestern spirit. Are you considering relocating from NYC to Chicago? Embrace a smoother transition and a lifestyle filled with diverse cultural institutions like The Steppenwolf Theatre and The Art Institute. Should you move to Chicago from NYC or anywhere else? Absolutely, if a dynamic yet laid-back urban life is what you’re after!
Chicago is a diverse place, with a well developed public infrastructure and great jobs at large multinational companies. As portrayed on TV, the people of the city really are still rooted in humbleness. Yet, despite the diversity, Living in Chicago the city just works. It is home to some of the nation’s first, biggest, tallest, and most, including:
- The world’s first Ferris wheel
- The country’s oldest zoo
- The tallest building in the Western Hemisphere
- And much more.
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What to Know When Moving to Chicago
Some of the most admirable facts about Living in Chicago is that it is the birthplace of improv comedy, and gospel music. Chicago was the first city to recognize and honor the LGBTQ community openly by erecting rainbow pylons in the streetscape. With such diverse cultural backgrounds, the city is home to people from all races and walks of life, all contributing to making Chicago an entire world in one city.
Did You Know? You might know that Chicago is referred to as the Windy City, but that has nothing to do with the weather. Instead, the windiness stems from the hot air corrupt politicians have spewed over many years. But that’s everywhere, so it should not deter you from moving to Chicago.
One thing you should know before you decide not to move to Chicago for fear of the violence you see in above-mentioned shows and all other publications, is that the city’s violence is not always accurately portrayed in the media. Yes, the city has a hurtful history in terms of segregation, disinvestment, abuse and police brutality. However, after a concerning spike in Chicago’s homicide rate in 2016, the city saw double-digit declines in shootings and homicides in the following two years.
What is living in Chicago like? Unfortunately, the southern and western neighborhoods of Englewood and West Garfield Park have been portrayed disproportionately, leading them with a legacy as bad neighborhoods.
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The Right Neighborhood | Relocating to Chicago
Chicago consists of seventy-seven established neighborhoods in nine districts. Each neighborhood is unique in terms of personality, history, culture and attractions. When you decide that you would like to move to Chicago, we recommend that you try before you buy. Moving from Washington DC to Chicago? Book yourself into an AirBnB for a week or two or three and see what it is like to actually live there.
On average, you will pay around $228,500 for a median home in Chicago. If you’re planning to rent, you can expect to pay around $ 1,750 per month. Although that is somewhat over the national average, it’s significantly less than New York and Los Angeles. Buying property in Chicago depends on affordability and availability, and that’s why many people are buying fixer uppers in the city that fit their budgets, and then remodelling it to make it their own.
Living in Chicago: For some residents, the suburbs feel disconnected from Chicago, which is why many people choose to stay in the city itself. They prefer the city lifestyle, which is lost in suburbia.
Some of the popular areas in Chicago
South: The South Side is a social and cultural hub. There’s authentic cuisine in Chinatown, Museum Campus in South Loop, and Bronzeville with its monuments.
Downtown: Chicago’s Downtown is home to the “Bean” in Millennium Park, and other tourist attractions, including the Historic Theatre District, Buckingham Fountain, and Michigan Avenue’s shopping opportunities, cocktail lounges, and art galleries. While the wealthy residents shack up in luxury condos, Downtown can be a ghost town over the weekends. There’s not a lot of living space here.
Living in Chicago West:
Chicago’s West Side has an eclectic vibe, which is a combination of the churches of Wicker Park, several monuments, ethnic eateries, and beautiful murals.
Living in Chicago North: The Northern suburbs offer much to do and see, especially for the hip, youthful residents. From live jazz performances in Uptown to Cubs games in Wrigleyville and upmarket shopping in Bucktown, you’ll never be bored.
- Andersonville has a great party vibe with a strong LGBT contingent.
- Bridgeport is great for working-class residents, with rents starting from around $850, and houses and condos are sold for about $130,000.
- Wicker Park or Bucktown has always been known as Chicago’s hipster neighborhoods, but it is becoming more mainstream. It’s fashionable and alive with creative types, cool clothing stores, live music (great if you’re moving from Nashville or Atlanta), and classy eateries.
- River North is for the wealthy, beautiful people. Here you’ll find the largest concentration of art galleries outside of New York. This is where visiting celebs party with locals on Hubbard Street, where dress codes are enforced.
- Lincoln Park is considered the place to move to when you move to Chicago. It’s a great place to become adjusted to living in the city, and you’ll be close to the Lincoln Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Zoo and it’s easily accessible by bus.
- Chinatown is home to more than 65,000 Chinese residents, and Chinatown Square, the largest Chinese mall in the midwest.
- Humboldt Park with its national pride, brightly colored murals, and Spanish-Colonial architecture celebrates Puerto Rican heritage. Rent starts at about $800.
Chicago is a friendly city
Chicago is a friendly city, much like Seattle. Communities are close-knit, which gives the city a small-town feel, unlike large cities like New York.
Although Chicago doesn’t have an ocean, the city definitely has a beach. That’s right. Lake Michigan is to the east of Chicago, giving the city a majestic, blue 18.5 mile lakefront with plenty of green space to enjoy. Maggie Daley Park and Millenium Park offer plenty of sprawling public spaces to enjoy right on the lakefront. If you enjoy hiking or biking, you can enjoy the Northside’s 606 trail.
The city has even committed to ensuring that every child Living in Chicago was no more than ten minutes away from a playground or a park, and as such, there are more than 377 playgrounds and 1,000 acres of parkland in the city. Much of it can be found along the Chicago River, where you can find industrial projects that have been converted to recreational projects, such as Ping Tom Memorial Park, 312RiverRun, and the Wild Mile. There are parks, walking paths, bird sanctuaries, conservatories, art installations, outdoor pools, and nature preserves, to name but a few.
Chicago may not have a coast, although residents are quite happy with the lakefront beaches. But getting to either the east or west coast is easy enough. O’Hare, the busiest airport in the US is right here, as is Midway International. If you’d rather not fly, you can take the Amtrak from Union Station.
Downsides to moving to Chicago
Of course, there are some downsides to moving to Chicago and living there, and that includes:
- Concentrated areas known for gun and gang violence;
- Significant segregation;
- One of the country’s highest tax rates;
- And crippling state debt.
Did You Know: Chicago has one of the simplest street numbering systems in the world, which makes it super-easy to get around.
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Moving to Chicago from NYC? | Employment in Chicago
We typically recommend making sure you have a job lined up before moving to Chicago, but realize that sometimes, you just have to do what life demands of you.
The good thing is that many thriving business sectors are represented in Chicago, including food processing, insurance, finance, printing, and publishing. In fact, after New York, Chicago has the second biggest publishing industry. You will also find the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, and the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago. All of these industries employ the majority of residents and they often advertise in the jobs sections of websites and newspapers. Furthermore, you can find jobs on Indeed, GlassDoor, and LinkedIn, or speak to employment agencies. Be sure to also check out:
- https://www.builtinchicago.org/Fortune Magazine’s list of the 50 best companies to work for in Chicago.
- The Muse, for the offices of companies such as Crate & Barrel, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Trunk Club, and Pabst Brewing Company.
- Built in Chicago is the place to be if you’re into start-ups, especially those in technology.
However, if you don’t have a job and you’re looking at becoming an entrepreneur or sole proprietor, you will feel right at home when you move to Chicago. The city offers many awesome shared coworking spaces. Be sure to check out:
- Bond Collective
- Premier Workspaces
- Your Studio
Transportation Considerations in Chicago
Chicago is a city measuring 237 square miles, which makes it the third-largest city in the US. The two that are bigger are Los Angeles and New York City. Chicago has over 200 miles of buffered, protected and shared bike lanes.
Speaking of getting around Chicago, it’s important to note that the city has extremely long rush hours that last four hours in the morning and again in the late afternoon. If you’re planning to live in the suburbs, you can always bring your own car when you move to Chicago. That way, you’re able to drive out of the city on weekends and enjoy the outdoors. However, it can be challenging when you live in the city. There are many tow zones and No Parking signs, and it can easily cost you $30 an hour to park downtown.
Moving to Chicago from NYC | Driveway space is limited
When driveway space is limited, people tend to depend on street parking. Chicago enjoys about forty inches of snow every year, and when they shovel a public parking space, residents will assume that they are entitled to the space. They will place random items such as cones, lawn chairs and whatever other objects they can find in order to save the spot.
But if you don’t want to sit in traffic every weekday before and after work, you can choose one of the many offers from the Chicago Transit Authority, which covers pretty much the entire city. Options include:
Getting Around can be Fun
Ride sharing – Cheaper than a taxi, you could use Lyft or Uber from your smartphone to get to your destination. Both companies also offer a carpool option, known as Lyft Line or Uber Pool, which will further reduce your costs by picking up other passengers heading in the same direction.
Cabs – There are many taxis in Chicago and most of them accept debit or credit cards. Use Hailo to hail a cab from your phone if the weather is unpleasant.
The L – The CTA has a well-developed system of elevated trains or buses, known as the L that are under $3 per ride. You can save more money by getting a ventra card. Simply tap your card by the turnstile entrance and they will automatically deduct the money from your account. You don’t need to carry cash on you to use this.
Bike – Chicago is a great city for biking; so much show that Divvy launched a bike-sharing company with rental stations across the city. This is ideal for people who don’t want to walk or be confined to public transportation time schedules.
Pedway – Chicago’s pedestrian walkway – Pedway – is a system of overhead bridges and underground tunnels that connect more than forty blocks in the Central Business District. It’s a safe, convenient way to quickly get around downtown, especially in winter when it is cold. Thousands of commuters use the Pedway every day.
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Be Prepared for the Weather in the Windy City
If you’re Moving to Chicago from NYC, you need to be prepared for the weather. Locals don’t want to hear new residents complaining about the weather. Simply invest in plenty of layers and waterproof boots, and an umbrella with wind vents. Do your best to avoid black ice, as it can be extremely sleek.
During your first winter after moving to Chicago, you will be introduced to the lake-effect. The wind will sweep over a nearby lake, and bounce off nearby skyscrapers. Snow-days are common in schools in Chicago, because it is dangerous for students to go outside. Chicago can be bone-chillingly cold in winter, with a windchill of minus 40 at times…
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On a more positive note, summer is a good time to be in Chicago. During Festival season, which runs from May through October, the different neighborhoods put on local street fairs to celebrate their heritage. Each year sees more than 150 events, with great music and awesome food and lots to drink.
Education in Chicago, IL
If you’re considering moving to Chicago with your family, you’re bound to receive an education in architecture. That’s great for homeschoolers, of course. But what about working parents who move to Chicago for work?
In 2019-2020, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) reported that they were overseeing 642 schools, which included 477 elementary schools and 165 high schools serving 355,000 students. The majority of these schools were district-run, and there were one SAFE school, nine contract schools, and 118 charter schools.
Students attending Chicago Public Schools attend the schools closest to their residences. This does not apply to selective enrollment, magnet or charter schools.
In recent years, Chicago’s public schools have made the city proud. Students learned faster than 96% of all the other school districts in the US. Their test scores were also the most improved in the country.
High school students may also attend charter schools, career academies and military academies.
Becoming a Part of the City
Getting to know people in Chicago is fun and easy, and it’s a great city to explore with friends. There are three main food-groups in Chicago, namely:
- Deep-dish pizza
- Italian beef, and
- Chicago-style hot dog.
Moving to Chicago from NYC: But you will find many other fantastic eats in the city, which features more than 8,000 restaurants, including many ethnic delights. The bustling bar scene is extremely lively in Chicago, and most places are open until after 3 a.m. For a classy night out, check out a speakeasy.
Hotel rooftops are popular for summer night parties, and restaurants have Michelin Stars. Whatever you do, don’t put ketchup on your hot dog in public in Chicago. Instead, Chicagoans enjoy all-beef dogs encased in poppyseed buns, topped with mustard, celery salt, spicy sport peppers, tomato wedges, sweet relish and diced onions.
Then of course, there’s the ongoing Cubs / White Sox feud. Chicagoans are big sports fans and they celebrate hard.
Moving to Chicago without a lot of money
If you’re moving to Chicago from NYC without a lot of money, you’ll be happy to know that the city offers plenty of free activities for old and new. Illinois residents receive free entry to museums such as Shedd Aquarium or the Art Institute on certain days. Enjoy improv? Head to the iO Theater for free weekly performances. The Cultural Center, Garfield Park Conservatory, the National Museum of Mexican art and the Lincoln Park Zoo are free every day.
Additionally, Night Out in the Parks lists thousands of free events across the city, including nature walks, circuses, yoga classes, dance and theater performances, and movie screenings and much more. Attending these functions would be a great way to get to know people when you move to Chicago.
Connect with the community
For those moving to Chicago and looking to connect with the community, you might want to explore social groups that align with your interests. A good place to start is the wide variety of social groups listed on Meetup, where you can find everything from young professionals’ gatherings to outdoor adventure clubs and book clubs for every genre (Luxury Chi Apartments).
If you’re settling into Chicago life and need some tips and guidance, Time Out offers a comprehensive guide with everything from choosing a neighborhood to navigating local food staples and public transit. It’s a great resource for both newcomers and those who’ve been around and want to dive deeper into what the city has to offer (Time Out Worldwide).
By tapping into these resources, you can start building your social circles and get a better grasp of living in Chicago, making your move not just about a change in location, but about becoming part of a vibrant community.
Final Thoughts on Moving to Chicago
Yes, Chicago has a few drawbacks. But if you stay in the city for a couple of weeks while deciding whether to move to Chicago, you will quickly see why locals love the city:
- There’s a kinship among locals.
- The air blowing in from River North smells like chocolate.
- Each neighborhood has its own charm.
- The architecture
- The affordability
- The history
- The community gardens
- Baseball
- An abundance of transportation options
- The food
- The many activities that happen throughout the year…
If you’re an independent person on-the-go and you don’t want to leave your car behind, that’s no problem. You could own your car and still enjoy the convenience of the public transit options. Worried about driving in the snow or on the black ice? That’s no problem either. Drivers at Nationwide Auto Transportation who cover this route have many years of experience in handling their trucks on the city streets. They can safely deliver your vehicle to you, or from you to someone else.
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Auto Shipping When Moving to Chicago
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Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Chicago
1. What should I know before moving to Chicago from NYC?
Moving to Chicago offers a vibrant urban lifestyle with a rich cultural tapestry. Before relocating, consider the diverse neighborhoods, local climate, and transportation options. Chicago’s cost of living is more affordable compared to cities like New York but varies widely between neighborhoods. Understanding the nuances of winter weather and the local job market can also make your transition smoother.
2. How does living in Chicago compare to other major cities?
Living in Chicago provides a unique blend of midwestern hospitality and urban sophistication. Unlike New York City, living spaces in Chicago are generally more spacious and less expensive. The city boasts extensive public parks, world-class museums, and a dynamic food scene that stands out even in the diverse American landscape.
3. I’m considering moving to Chicago from NYC; what should I expect?
Moving to Chicago from NYC offers a noticeable change in pace. You’ll find the cost of living to be lower, with more affordable housing options and a less crowded public transport system. The community vibe is more laid-back, and the city is well-planned with ample green spaces. Chicago’s winters are harsher, so preparing for colder temperatures and more snow is essential.
4. Is moving to Chicago a good idea for me?
Deciding whether moving to Chicago from NYC is a good idea depends on your personal and professional needs. Chicago is known for its robust job market in industries like finance, technology, and manufacturing. The city’s cultural diversity, culinary scene, and quality of life are high, though it’s wise to consider the higher state taxes and winters when making your decision.
5. What are the pros and cons of living in Chicago?
The pros of living in Chicago include access to a world-class cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, and strong economic opportunities. However, potential cons include the challenging winters, relatively high taxes, and some lingering concerns about safety in certain areas. Balancing these against the city’s vibrant life and amenities will help you make a well-informed decision.
6. What are some tips for relocating from NYC to Chicago?
When relocating from NYC to Chicago, plan your move carefully to adapt to the different lifestyles. Consider hiring professional movers experienced with interstate transitions and research neighborhoods to find one that best fits your lifestyle and budget. Also, familiarize yourself with the local transportation system as it differs from New York’s, and prepare for the colder and longer winters.
Helpful Guide about Living in Chicago
Need a relocation guide for another city / state?
- Questions to Ask Auto Transport Companies.
- Are you Moving to Indianapolis: What You Absolutely Need to Know.
- Moving to Des Moines, Iowa—One of the best cities for young people.
- You are Moving to Nashville: Everything you need to know to relocate to the Music City.
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- Moving to Austin.
