Wondering whether a move to Chicago is right for you or not? The lakefront city has everything you need, from rich history to architectural landmarks, clean streets and delicious dishes that will leave your taste buds wanting more.
Whether you are relocating for work, culture, or adventure, this is one city that is easy to fall in love with. Keep reading to find out what you should know before starting the move.
Brace Yourself for the Cold Weather
Winters in Chicago can be brutal. One time in 1985, the temperatures fell to -27 degrees, and inches of snow accumulated across the city. City officials had to send the excess snow to Florida for school children who had not seen snow before.
Sometimes schools will be forced to close since it can get really cold for school children to go outside. So if you are thinking of moving to this city, make sure you carry enough cold-weather gear and keep warm at all times.
Once the cold winters have passed, the city comes to life. Chicago is filled with many rooftop bars and clubs with amazing views of Lake Michigan. The clubs mix the hype of the young people with sleek sophistication, resulting in a perfect night.
The Cost of Living
Chicago is way pricier than cities like Indianapolis but cheaper than New York and San Francisco. The average rent as of 2020 was $1,948 compared to nationwide, which was $1463. The median price for a home currently is $330,350.
The good news though is that housing options are plenty and generally affordable. Moving here from another state and searching for a place to stay temporarily before you can get a permanent home?
Some of the areas that are expensive to live in are River North, River West and Streeterville. The least expensive areas you should consider are The Island, Austin, and West Pullman.
You can consider sharing rent with roommates to make your stay affordable. It will cost you less to pay for a private space in a shared home.
Regardless of the high cost of living, you can still enjoy yourself even with a tight budget. There are tons of places to visit. Start with a tour of the Museum of Contemporary Photography’ which doesn’t charge much. You can also take a tour of the city on a divvy bike. The bike-share culture allows you to cheaply rent a bike for 30 minutes or more.
You can also try a drive-in movie at the Rock Island public house if you have a car. The public house has set up a makeshift screen in its parking lot, and people are welcomed to watch inside their cars.
The Famous Food City
You can’t mention Chicago without talking about its classic dishes. One of the dishes you will find on every menu across the city is deep dish pizza. In fact, the city is synonymous with pizza.
But make no mistake! This particular pizza is not like your regular thin crust pizza. The dough is gently pressed down on the bottom of a high-edge pan to make the first layer. It is then topped with a generous cheese, meat (sausage or pepperoni) and chunky tomatoes.
The chef repeats other layers then finally tops the last layer with a thin tomato sauce. The result is a delicious, somehow messy dish that you enjoy with a fork, knife, and time.
Other signature dishes you should try out here include hot dogs and delicious Italian beef sandwiches.
Familiarize Yourself with CTA
As with other big cities in the US, it’s hard to find a parking space in the city. For this reason, you need to ditch your car and consider using Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), also known as the “L” system, to move around the city.
There are more than 127 bus routes across the city. Buses stop at indicated stop areas which are marked by signs that show the buses’ routes, names, and numbers.
If you choose the train, then there are about eight different routes that lead to 145 stations. CTA is cheap, and it will get you to your destination on time.
Plenty of Job Opportunities
Though the economy took a big hit during the pandemic, there is something to smile about as the pandemic declines. Some of the most significant industries in Chicago are finance, manufacturing, transportation, insurance, information technology, and food processing.
One of the rapidly growing industries is construction, thanks to more residential buildings and offices for the growing population. So, if you have any background training in construction, this is one place you should consider seeking employment.
Now that you know some of the most important things about Chicago, are you ready for the move?
