2019 Moving to Chicago Relocation Guide
Welcome to 2019 Ultimate Moving to Chicago Relocation Guide! Before this big step, find out all important information about Chicago.
Take a look at the list of basic daily expenses, transportation costs, basic leisure, and recreation costs and housing and utilities cost in Chicago.
Every information regarding costs and pricing is compared with average US pricing.
For moving tips in general check out our Moving Checklist and Paperwork page.
Celebrations, art, culture, architecture, nature, food, sports and more. Welcome to the third largest city in the USA, with an extremely diverse population of nearly 3 million people. The city that goes by the name “The City That Works” is full of new opportunities, chances to learn and grow. Driving around Chicago’s immigrant neighboorhood can feel like a short ride around the world. You will find almost any culture here. Chicago City promotes differences, and it has 24 sister cities and an annual festival that celebrates them.
Chicago City is an international hub for culture, industry, technology and finance, city of skyscrapers and festivals, city of culture. Apart from cultural diversity, you will enjoy the diversity of the city landscapes that go from the clean nature to the fields of abandoned industry. Chicago is the second most visited city in the USA and it is constantly attracting new people with remarkable nature, large culture scene and recognizable high architecture.
Learning about Chicago City pros and cons will help you get prepared for living in this beautiful city. Pros and cons of living in Chicago work great together because there is always one pro that will make a certain con negligible. For instance, one of the biggest cons of living in Chicago City is the bad traffic and the huge parking problem, but there the public transportation in this city is so great that you will want to ditch your car anyway. Go ahead and read all about the pros and cons of moving to the City of Chicago:
Chicago offers a great number of work opportunities in all sorts of industries. There are also many start-up companies in the city. The only catch is that in order to get a dream job you need to be connected, connections in Chicago will bring you better job opportunities then the best CV.
The City of Chicago is home to the second-largest public transportation system in the United States. There are so many bus and rail options and lines that you do not need to own a car.
Chicago is the second-largest market in the United States for starter homes. The median price of these properties is $295,000, which is much more affordable than in the other USA major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York. Renting in the city is cheaper too.
Lake Michigan is one of the largest of its type in the world. Over 30 miles of beach are accessible in the city. Here you will find one of the most important landmarks of the city, Navy Pier that offers 50 acres of parks, shops, restaurants and attractions. Almost 2 million people visit the beach each year. Apart from that Chicago has extensive parkland, including 3,000 hectares of city parks.
Chicago City is a place of architectural innovation, and it is the birthplace of modern skyscrapers. The architecture of Chicago is unique, defined by the combinations of traditional and modern. Every single neighboorhood has its own mix of styles. Some of the world most famous architects, like Mies van der Rohe, Frank Gehry, and Frank Lloyd Wright left their extraordinary marks within the borders of the city.
The list of art galleries and museums is really long. There are aways various new cultural events in the city, and you can spend weeks just visiting all of the art venues. The best thing about Chicago culture diversity is that you have the opportunity to explore the whole world without leaving the city. In Chicago, you can explore any type of art, whether you are interested in visual art, music, dance, movies or architecture.
The City of Chicago offers the most dance festivals in the USA. It is a birthplace of the house genre. Apart from that, you will also enjoy many traditional yearly festivals like the one that happens on St. Patrick’s Day. The city adds green dye to the Chicago River and it flows green for a while. You will find the largest free outdoor food festival in the country.
Chicago is one of the most walkable cities in the United States. You can walk to almost any wanted destination. Bikes are also really popular and there are bike routes throughout the whole city.
Chicago City has worlds famous hot-dogs with combinations o toppings and flavors. You will want to try all of the local specialties like deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style popcorns and much more.
Living in Chicago is great for the people that want to travel a lot. O’Hare International Airport is the second-busiest airport in the world, and you can travel to any destination that you wish to see.
Chicago living costs are not as high as in other major cities in the USA but the problem here are the tax rates. Even groceries are taxed here ( at rate of 2.25%). Restaurant tax is 0.25%. You will be charged with 10.25% sales tax. Chicago also has the second highest property taxes in the country.
Crime rates of the City of Chicago are very high, both property and violent crime. The city also struggles with a large number of gangs and there is a problem with bribery. Historically, the city was home to the icons of the midwestern crime and you can find memorial markers around the city.
Drivers of Chicago lose many hours of productive time. You need to plan for extra wasted hours if you decide to drive, and also plan for the extra time for finding a parking space. People in Chicago usually call dips on parking spaces by leaving personal items all around the shared parking spaces.
You will experience all 4 seasons in Chicago. Winters are really cold and summers are really hot. The wind is also something that you need to be prepared for, because of the presence of Lake Michigan.
If you find yourself a house close to the river, get prepared for the floods.
Moving to Chicago is a big, challenging step and the city itself offers so many different opportunities. Whether you are moving for work or for pleasure you will find our tips useful. Here are 10 TIPS about moving to Chicago, 10 facts that will help you prepare for this step.
This ultimate moving checklist will help you complete your moving without stress.
There are certain costs associated with moving that most people tend to neglect. Even if you have opted for a self-moving job that does not involve hiring a professional moving company, you will have to pay extra for certain things. Here is a list of moving and packing costs you may have forgotten.
If you plan to move on a budget and want to fo the packing yourself, you must know that you will need to invest in packing supplies like boxes, tape or bubble wrap.
During the move something almost always brake. Getting moving insurance is always recommended. Most of the moving companies offer insurance and you can decide how much to get, considering how valuable your things are.
For renting new space start-up costs include things like your first and last month’s rent, a security deposit, a pet deposit or an application fee.
If you are buying start-up costs are much bigger. They include closing costs for your new mortgage which is often measured in thousands of dollars. Average closing costs typically range from 2% to 5% of the cost of your home. These costs include things like a fee for running your credit report, a loan origination fee, attorney’s fees, the cost of a home inspection, a title search, an appraisal fee, and a survey fee, etc.
You can expect extra costs for boarding your pets. Often enough, people tend to move their pets overnight, that way pets are not exposed to the stress.
Some of the moving companies will ask you to pay a stair fee.
It is always best to check with moving companies about extra fees and inform them about your large items, like piano or pool table, in advance. That way you will avoid surprises on a moving day.
There are professionals who are trained to handle valuable items. Packing and moving valuable items is more complex than regular moving. So you can expect to pay extra on moving those kinds of pieces.
Sometimes, you don't want to bring all of your things to your new home, but you don't want to throw them either. If you find yourself in this situation you will have to find storage space for those things. Having to store items could mean an additional monthly expense.
While you shouldn't get rid of everything before a move, there are going to be some items that you're not going to want to bring to your new space.
Your movers are doing a lot of hard work and heavy lifting, and they deserve to be compensated. Just note, that tips are always expected by your movers.
Here you can find a list of shipping costs. Please note that the cost of international shipping (calculated with reallymoving) is solely the cost of shipping itself, while the cost of shipping within the United States (calculated with moving.com) also includes other additional expenses. Costs are calculated for moving entire two bedroom home, in the next three monts.
| International | Cost |
|---|---|
| Vancouver (Canada) | $4,800 - $6,500 |
| Sydney (Australia) | $5,400 - $7,500 |
| Auckland (New Zealand) | $5,400 - $7,400 |
| Beijing (China) | $5,700 - $7,700 |
| Tokyo (Japan) | $5,400 - $7,500 |
| Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | $4,400 - $7,300 |
| Mexico City (Mexico) | $4,000 - $6,700 |
| London (United Kingdom) | $4,600 - $6,300 |
| Dublin (Ireland) | $4,500 - $6,200 |
| Singapore | $5,400 - $7,400 |
| United States | Cost |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $4,309 - $5,480 |
| New York, New York | $3,060 - $3,855 |
| Washington D.C. | $2,743 - $3,439 |
| Austin, Texas | $3,281 - $4,139 |
| Los Angeles, California | $4,196 - $5,331 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $3,174 - $4,001 |
| Miami, Florida | $3,495 - $4,418 |
| Seattle, Washington | $4,187 - $5,319 |
| San Diego, California | $4,204 - $5,342 |
| Denver, Colorado | $3,228 - $4,070 |
Chicago may not be as expensive as other major cities, but it is the 9th most expensive place to live in the USA. Basic living costs are close to the US average but there are some differences, including really high tax rates. If moving to Chicago is the next step you will probably need to get informed about the cost of basic and personal necessities in this city. For more information about living costs visit numbeo or expatistan.
$127.73
$0.16
$61.56
4.34
| Food | Chicago | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Meal in Inexpensive Restaurant | $15.00 | $14.50 |
| Mcmeal at Mcdonalds (or Equivalent) | $9.00 | $7.00 |
| Water (1.5 Liter Bottle) | $2.38 | $1.45 |
| Milk (Regular), (1 gallon) | $3.03 | $3.11 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | $2.55 | $2.36 |
| Eggs (Regular) (12) | $2.35 | $2.27 |
| Chicken Breasts (1 lb) | $4.73 | $3.85 |
| Potato (1 lb) | $1.04 | $1.1 |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.15 | $2.02 |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $4.88 | $4.74 |
| Child Care | Chicago | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Monthly | $1,122.92 | $886.18 |
| International Primary School, Yearly | $16,040.00 | $17,116.12 |
| Self Care | Chicago | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Private Doctor Short Visit | $89 | $112 |
| Box of Antibiotics | $14 | $17 |
| Tube of Toothpaste | $1.68 | $1.78 |
| Hair Shampoo 2-in-1 | $4.60 | $4.77 |
| Deodorant, Roll-on | $3.28 | $3.39 |
| Toilet Paper - 4 Rolls | $2.81 | $3.41 |
| 1 Box of 32 Tampons | $5.92 | $7 |
| Transportation | Chicago | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Local Transport - One-way Ticket | $2.50 | $2.20 |
| Local Transport - Monthly Pass | $105.00 | $70.00 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $3.25 | $3.25 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | $2.25 | $1.71 |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.09 | $2.77 |
| Housing | Chicago | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 Bedroom) - City Centre | $1,836.43 | $1,291.27 |
| Apartment (1 Bedroom) | $1,166.81 | $1,015.10 |
| Buy Apartment in City Centre - Per Sq Ft | $3,516.10 | $239.62 |
| Buy Apartment - Per Sq Ft | $2,056.74 | $173.92 |
| Hourly Rate for Cleaning Help | $22 | $21 |
| Leisure and Recreation | Chicago | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club Monthly Fee, 1 Adult | $48.76 | $36.17 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $25.12 | $15.14 |
| 2 Movie Tickets | $25 | $25 |
| 2 Theater Tickets (Best Available Seats) | $210 | $171 |
| Coke/pepsi (Small Bottle) | $1.88 | $1.80 |
| Cappuccino (Regular) | $3.89 | $4.07 |
| Domestic Beer (500ml) | $5.00 | $6.00 |
| Bottle of Wine | $14.50 | $12.00 |
| 1 Cocktail Drink | $13.00 | $12.00 |
| Marlboro Cigarettes 20 Pack | $12.00 | $7.25 |
| Clothing | Chicago | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 or Similar) | $52.70 | $43.12 |
| Summer Dress (Zara, H&m or Similar) | $39.87 | $34.67 |
| Pair of Nike Running Shoes | $82.66 | $73.84 |
| Pair of Men Leather Shoes | $113.95 | $94.36 |
| Laundry Detergent (3 L.) | $12 | $11 |
Chicago has an extensive public transportation network, with many different options. Walking is one of the biggest perks of living in Chicago if you are not a fan of public transportation rush you can always take a walk or ride a bike. Driving is not the best option, but the public transportation network is wide and you can get anywhere you need safely.
Chicago public transportation is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). CTA operates mass transit in Chicago, some of its surrounding suburbs, including the trains of the Chicago "L" and CTA bus service.
After moving to Chicago, you will want to explore VENTRA. Ventra is a payment system for public transport in Chicago. You will need to purchase a card for $5, you can do so at any CTA train station or at some grocery stores.
$3.25 with a range from $3.00-$3.85
$2.25 with range from $1.80-$3.50
$24 with range from $20-$30
$3.09 with a range from $2.59-$3.57
$20,955.00 with a range from $20,000.00-$25,000.00
The "L", short from -elevated- is public train system split beewtwen subway, ground level and elevated lines. Chicago trains serve 144 rail sttions and they are one of the most efficient and afforadble transportation methods available. There are 2 lines that operate 24/7. Blue Line - connecting downtown with airport and Red Line - connecting North and South side.
There are over 100 bus routes, and there are sveral lines that operate 24/7. Bus stops are on every few blocks and bus is great alternative for the "L". If you are not using VENTRA card you can pay in the exact cash amount.
The commuter rail system in Chicago City is called Metra. These trains are making only a few stops in the city and then they go to the suburbs, they are your best option for transportation between the suburbs and the city. These trains are faster then CTA trains but they run less frequently. You can use Ventra card to pay for Metra too.
Water taxis go from North Avenue to south Chinatown and they make stops throughout the city. A single ride will cost you $6 but there are other passes available.
$2.5 for CTA bus or train.
Seniors over 65, Millitary personnel, and children under 7 can ride for free.
$1.10 (Bus), &1.25 (Train) for children between 7 and 11
$10 - 1 Day Pass
$20 - 3 Day Pass
$28 - 7 Day Pass
$105 - 30 Day Pass
$2.75 - Single Ride
$27.5 - 10 Ride Pass
$3.00-8.00 - Single Ride
$11.00-29.00 - 1 Day Pass
Average Yearly Salary in Chicago is $63,345
Currently, most popular and best-paid jobs in Chicago are:
All the information is provided by Glassdoor and Payscale where you can get more detailed information about the job of interest. If you don't have a specific job in mind, you can also check this list of 10 common jobs and professions in the United States with an average salary for each of them.
| Job | Chicago | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $23,123/yr | $22,711/yr |
| Receptionist | $29,556/yr | $29,844/yr |
| Repair Technician | $32,177/yr | $32,606/yr |
| Actor | $38,004/yr | $37,208/yr |
| Registered Nurse | $66,322/yr | $69,270/yr |
| Secretary | $33,070/yr | $31,279/yr |
| Preschool Teacher | $30,128/yr | $28,973/yr |
| High School Teacher | $58,646/yr | $51,027/yr |
| Lawyer | $114,136/yr | $117,188/yr |
| Truck Driver | $56,623/yr | $57,062/yr |
In Chicago City, all public primary, secondary and disability schools are part of one unique system called CPS. CPS system is the second-largest employer in the city. Most of the schools have restricting area boundaries, and they can choose to accept applications from other areas only in certain circumstances. Only “Magnet Schools” can accept citywide applications. There are two most important magnet schools in Chicago: STEM Magnet Academy (science, technology, engineering, and math) is one of the first schools in the USA to offer STEM curriculum, and Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) which is the only performing and visual arts school in the CPS system.
Elementary Schools:
Public preschool programs are mostly operated by Head Start and Chicago Unified School District. You can also find, private for-profit and private non-profit and family childcare providers. Chicago offers preschool education for all children through the Preschool for All program. Chicago has nearly 300 preschool programs for early childhood education.
Secondary Schools:
Selective Enrollment high schools accept applicants based on a point system. Points are divided between middle schools tests, high school testing and 7th-grade grades. Some of the best High Schools in Chicago are: Albert G Lane Technical College Prep, Walter Payton College Prep, William Jones College Prep, Whitney M Young Magnet High School and Northside College Prep.
In addition to selective high schools, you can also find military academies and career-focused academies.
Chicago Charter Schools:
There are 122 charter schools in Chicago and Chicago network of charter schools was named the best performing large public charter school system in America.
There are over 400 private schools in Chicago and they serve over 75.000 students. The average yearly cost of private schools in Chicago is over $7.500 for elementary and over $16.000 for secondary schools.
Chicago is a world center of higher education with many research centers, universities, and post-baccalaureate studies programs. Some of the best universities in Chicago are the University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Columbia College Chicago, DePaul University and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Chicago City is full of free unique events and things to do, you will never run out of things to explore, whether you like music, dance, movies in the parks, magic show, comedy shows or you love to be a part of fairs and festivals. In addition to social networks, you can follow Chicago's events on these three websites:
Moving to Chicago? Here is the list of 10 attractions to explore when you move to Chicago, so you can get to know the most important sites and start feeling local.
Frequently voted for number 1 museum in the world by TripAdvisor Art Institute of Chicago hold an extensive collection of artwork of all ages from all around the world.
One of the top 25 museums in the world, named also by TripAdvisor. This museum was a part of the Columbian Expo of 1893, so the museum itself is as important as the collection inside.
One of the most important Chicago attractions. You will enjoy everything the Navy Pier has to offer, from the Ferris Wheel to the museums, theaters, food, art, and amusement park rides!
On the 96th floor of the John Hancock building, you will find the observatory that offers 360-degree view if the city from above. You will also have the chance to see the in-depth views of most advanced buildings in Chicago.
Similar to the 360 Chicago, SkyDeck Observatory is made of panoramic windows and it will provide you with the best possible views of the city. SkyDeck is located a the top of the Willis Tower.
The river cruise is a great way of getting to know the city. There are organized tours, curated by architects. Get to know some of the most famous Chicago building along the river.
Take a walk or ride a bike all over the abandoned elevated rail line. Apart from recreation, you will enjoy the art passing by famous murals and graffiti along the rail line.
Chicago City is home to many famous comedians and comedy shows are a big part of the city. There are a lot of comedy show venues, some of the most popular ones are the Second City and Under the Gun Theater.
You can go to Chinatown by Water Taxi. You will enter the whole new world, completely different from the rest of the city, with many hidden attractions that many people don't know about, like the secret ping-pong club in the back alley of the Chinatown.
Record Stores are the big part of the Chicago city culture. There is a large number of small record stores, and they are really diverse, you can go and explore them all the way from retro to modern sounds.
Chicago City has a great art and culture scene. The city is famous for architecture innovations, developing house genre, innovations in performing and street art. Chicago is home to some of the world best museums and art galleries and was a place of great advancements in many music and dance genres.
Chicago is home to some of the best professional sports teams. Take a look at the list of Major league teams in Chicago Bay Area.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Chicago Cubs play at Wrigley Field on the North Side, while the Chicago White Sox play at Guaranteed Rate Field on the South Side. Baseball season starts in March and runs until late September.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls play at the United Center, located on the Near West Side. Basketball season starts in October and runs until late April.
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears play at Soldier Field. Football season starts in Septmeber and runs until January.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks also play at the United Center, located on the Near West Side. Ice Hockey season starts in October and runs until late April.
Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire play at SeatGeek Stadium (originally Toyota Park), a soccer-specific stadium located in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview near Midway Airport. Soccer season starts in March and runs until early November.
Moving to Chicago is a great opportunity for meeting funny people and making important connections. When you find yourself in a situation where you are moving to a new city completely by yourself, meeting people and making friends is one of the biggest challenges. Here are some tips for meeting people in Chicago.
Chicago has a large number of meetup groups that gather very often, are diverse and you will certainly find your own among them. You can explore opportunities on the meetup website. If you can't decide for yourself these are some of the most popular meetup groups in Chicago:
This is one of the best ways to connect with people, you are helping others while making connections and finding friends. You can choose among numerous volunteering programs online or you can use VolunteerMatch.
Some live events in Chicago inspire conversation, choose your type of live events and you will meet awesome people that share your interests. Got to live sports events, music or comedy shows and start new friendships.
Joining the class is a great opportunity to meet new people while learning something new. There are public classes for almost anything in Chicago. By attending public classes you will meet people that share your interest, your hobbies and are passionate about learning. Make your choice on coursehorse, here you will find listings of all available courses, and by adding filters you can find your best match.
Working out can help you make friends whether you decide for gym workouts or weekly running sessions. Sports are a big part of Chicago, so if you don't want to engage yourself in sports activities you can just attend live games or watch hem with a bunch of people from the local bars.
Even though Chicago is a city with high crime rates there are several neighborhoods that are safe, quiet and not so crowded. We prepared the list of five Chicago neighborhoods that are mostly chosen by families, neighborhoods filled with all the qualities that families are looking for. If you are moving to Chicago with your family you will be attracted by great schools, parks, and family-friendly activities.
Edgewater is a historic neighboorhood by the lake. It has some of the best public schools in Chicago, and it is one of the best neighborhoods for families that enjoy outdoor activities. Apart from that, the crime rate is lower than the Chicago average and housing costs are close to the USA average.
Some top public schools are serving Beverly, family-friendly neighboorhood with low crime rates and great parks and open spaces. You will also find great private schools and highly rated daycare enters in Beverly.
West Loop is a multicultural neighborhood filled with great schools and safe streets. Some of the perks of living in West Loop are great restaurants, beautiful homes, and family-friendly local events. Housing costs in West Loop are in a wide range of prices, but you can definitely find an affordable home in this neighboorhood.
Hyde Park is education-oriented neighborhood, filled with great elementary, middle and high schools. Hyde Park is in the vicinity of the University of Chicago. Living in a college neighboorhood also means that you are living close to many libraries, bookstores, theaters, and other cultural venues.
Lincoln Square is another safe, family-friendly neighborhood in Chicago. Also multicultural with famous authentic restaurants and with frequent family events. Lincoln Square is filled with parks, playgrounds and sports fields that your kids will love.
Chicago offers great entertainment for children. You will find numerous child-oriented museums, various family events that are held daily, numerous parks and playgrounds, and there are many attractions to visit with your family. Here are just five of them:
City and County of Chicago
Located on the shores of freshwater Lake Michigan, Chicago is the county seat of Cook County, the second most populous county in the United States.
chicago.gov
illinois.gov
English
Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Tagalog, Chinese and other
312,872 and 773,872
60007, 60018, 60106, 60131, 60176, 60601-60634, 60636-60661, 60706, 60707, 60714, 60804, 60827
Water 6.80 sq mi (17.62 km2)
Land 2,122 sq mi (5,496 km2)
Metro 10,874 sq mi (28,160 km2)
| Chicago Demographics by Race | ||
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,337,911 | 49.14% |
| Asian | 169,458 | 6.22% |
| Other Race | 304,527 | 11.19% |
| Black or African American | 830,626 | 30.51% |
| Two or More Races | 71,500 | 2.63% |
| Native American | 7,723 | 0.28% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 841 | 0.03% |
Single Filing Status, Average Chicago Salary ($63,345) Taxes:
Percent of income to taxes = 38%.
For more personal information calculate your taxes with smartasset.
The city's overall crime rate, especially the violent crime rate, is higher than the US average, apart from that Chicago is considered the most gang-infested city in the USA. Chicago crime index by numbeo is 63.81 (high).
List of flight costs, from Chicago to other major cities. Based on the cheapest flights from skyscanner, booked one month ahead.
