Reasons to Move to Chicago

Chicago Has All Four Seasons

Like many Midwestern cities, Chicago allows you to experience all four seasons, and none of them are truncated or missed out on. You’re going to get snowy Chicago winters, warm weather in the summer, and everything in between. Because of this, there are a lot of outdoor activities that go on throughout downtown Chicago and the surrounding city.

Lincoln Park and Millennium Park, along with multiple other Chicago parks, are some of the nicest in the country and there’s always a music festival, family fun event, or other activities, no matter what time of year it is. The lakefront beach on Lake Michigan is often busy in the spring and summer, as well.

Terrific Luxury Apartment Options

Chicago has great opportunities to live in upscale environments, more than you’d find for a similar price in other cities. Since the cost of living is lower (which we’ll explore more later on in this guide), you will notice that luxury apartments fall into a reasonable range.

Luxury apartment options, like Coeval in the South Loop and high rises in the River North neighborhood, often have several options when it comes to floor plans and arrangements. And, they’re all over the city. You can find a high-rise apartment, a penthouse, or a simple luxury townhouse if you know where to look and what specifics regarding layouts and neighborhoods are the most important to you.

On top of that, luxury apartment amenities are some of the best in the country. Swimming pools, dog runs, and all sorts of other options make a difference when you’re trying to choose between the luxury apartments that you want to rent. So, as you look around, be sure that you know what you want – you’re likely going to find an apartment that meets those wants!

Public Transportation is Easier Than in Other Large Cities

The Chicago Transit Authority, or CTA, is one of the most well-organized and most affordable transportation systems in the entire country. With single passes starting at less than $3, and transfers costing less than 50 cents, you can get around the city quickly and without a vehicle. Many families will only have one car because of this.

While traffic can get rough during rush hour, cars and the CTA aren’t the only ways to get around. As we will discuss below, biking and walking are both reasonable options that you can consider if you’re looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of a typical rush hour in downtown Chicago.

The Cost of Living is 20% Less than Other Larger Cities

Chicago rates as one of the best large cities to live in, primarily because the cost of living is so much less than other cities of similar size (like San Francisco and Los Angeles). It’s approximately 20% cheaper to live in Chicago than it is to live in New York City, which is typically used as the baseline concerning the cost-of-living index.

As mentioned above, most transportation options are affordable when compared to the national average, which is important when you want to be sure that you are going to save money living there. Rentals and real estate are also more affordable, with a median cost of $1600 for standard apartments, and around $2700 a month for luxury style apartments.

Prepared food taxes in the downtown area and at the airports (O’Hare and Midway) are 1% higher than the rest of the city, which tops out at around 10.75%. Groceries, on the other hand, have a tax of less than 3% (with some items not being taxed at all). As a result, the average individual is going to spend around $299 on food of all types monthly.

The People Are Friendly and Diverse

Chicago has become a city where all sorts of people have made their home. One of the big reasons to move to Chicago is that it’s very, very global and diverse; people of all backgrounds are living together in this huge city, and more people than ever choose it as their home. Every neighborhood in Chicago is different and provides a unique living experience.

For example, Pilsen is filled with great food and art. On the Northwest side of town, you’ll see architecture reminiscent of Poland in the 1800s.

As an homage to the diversity of the city, there are several dozen heritage museums, each dedicated to a different culture. The American Indian Center is the oldest urban center for indigenous persons in the United States. So, not only does diversity exist in Chicago, but embraced and celebrated, which makes it a lovely place for any family.

On top of that, the people in Chicago are nice and friendly. They’ll say hello to you on the street and will answer your questions if you’re having trouble finding something. While it’s not so much that you feel like you live in a small town, it is enough that you aren’t going to feel invisible when you’re out and about in the city.