Are you thinking about living in Chicago?
Youre in good hands.
I have been living in Chicago for the past 8+ years and was asked to share my experience.
Pros & Cons of Living in Chicago | (Shutterstock/Sean Pavone)
Not everyone will feel the same way.
In any case, I hope you find it helpful.
Lets get to it!
First, the Pros of Living in Chicago
#1.
Ive lost count of the number of helpful interactions Ive experienced personally while living in Chicago!
#2. you could actually enjoy living here because its not cost-prohibitive.
Regardless of the reason, you wont find me complaining, thats for sure.
#3.
In fact, Chicago ranks asone of the bestcultural cities in America.
Living in Chicago (Shutterstock/f11photo)
#4.
The Food Scene
If you plan on moving to Chicago, one thing is certain youll never go hungry.
You read that right.
Moving to Chicago (Shutterstock/Maria Sbytova)
I can tell you from firsthand experience that it lives up the hype.
The diverse food scene is impressive, especially in terms of ethnic restaurants.
Anyway you slice it, you will be exposed to an awesome food scene while living in Chicago.
Living in Chicago (Shutterstock/Rudy Balasko)
#5.
Chicago Is A Diverse City
Chicago is considered one of the mostracially diverselarge cities in America.
Ive found it fairly easy to befriend both native Chicagoans and recent transplants.
Winter in Chicago is a definite con (Shutterstock/Greg-K__ca)
#6.
And it seems like Im not alone in this regard.
#7.
Also worth mention, the metro system is very effective at connecting the suburbs to the downtown core.
Based on personal experience, living in Chicago without a car is a breeze.
#8.
Housing Cost
Considering the size of Chicago, housing is surprisingly affordable by big city standards.
As of 2021, the median cost of a home in Chicago clocks in at$340,000.
Let me tell you, as someone that hails from New York, this price seems surreal.
But wait, it gets better.
Chicago has the 4th highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the US (36 companies total).
The Sports Culture
Ready to hear the understatement of the century?
If youre a major sports fan, youre going to LOVE living in Chicago.
#10.
Thankfully theres plenty to admire in Chicago.
Cons of Moving to Chicago
#1.
Winters in Chicago Are Brutal
Lets address the elephant in the room, shall we?
The perk of winter in Chicago?
So I guess its not all bad?
I will also add that winter gets easier to manage after you live through one or two.
One thing I cant recommend enough for folks moving to Chicago it topick up one of these bad boys.
#2.
If you find yourself in this camp, allocate a lot of time to traffic.
#3.
Chicago doesnt offer much by way of outdoor recreation.There, I said it.
Not to mention you might only do that a small portion of the year before the cold sets in.
#4.
High Crime Rate
Chicagos crime rate is a contentious topic.
So lets focus on facts and statistics instead.
But fair warning these stats are grizzly.
This doesnt imply that the entire city is unsafe, rather there are certain pockets to avoid.
Youll need to do extensive research before moving to Chicago because crime is a factor.