Chicago, Illinois

**BeyondtheMatrix **/ Living in Chicago / Updated 3yr
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What's it like living in Chicago?

You can do almost anything you think of. Normal stuff like play in a sports league or book clubs or dance classes or cooking classes etc. Less common stuff like improv, burlesque, trapeze, learn sailing. During normal times, on any given night, you have endless options. Pick any cuisine, you can find multiple restaurants. Think of any kind of bar/nightclub ambiance, we have it. Pick a style of music, you can probably find someone playing it somewhere. Or go see a play or stand-up comedy or a cabaret show.

We also have an excellent public transit system so you can get anywhere at almost anytime without needing a car (or a designated driver).

We also have jobs in pretty much any field. Whatever you do … you could probably do it here. Want to change careers? We have other options and also lots of universities and other options to get a degree or training.

And we’re next to a giant lake so we have beaches (a lot of people don’t realize that) for swimming, boating, or just chilling.

But what differentiates is from a lot of big US cities is our cost of living is more attainable than a lot of similar cities.

Some people really hate the winters though. But just get waterproof snow boots and a legit winter coat and you’ll be ok.

Plus we don’t have as much “nature” as other areas, or other nearby cities for getaways.

Bad stuff - it’s a city. Thankfully I haven’t been on the receiving end of any crime or violence but it sucks to hear about it happening nearby. I am cautious about where I go alone at night, when I’ll take public transit, etc. But I’m still able to go about my daily life without trouble.

Pros and Cons of living in Chicago
Living in Chicago / Updated 2yr
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Good for me. I grew up on the south side, Beverly neighborhood. Had a good community upbringing, you knew the same people your whole life that whole thing, went to private school but my family scraped all they had to send me there because at the time the neighborhood public school was bad, it’s a lot better now. I got into a trade Union around 21, started making good money so I left that neighborhood and moved to Pilsen because it was the only place where I had a friend that needed a roomate, lived there for 2 years, pretty fun neighborhood(great if you love carnitas and Latin culture), close to downtown but still it’s own neighborhood feel, then moved to Tri-Taylor, pretty good area but close to the west side crime and drug addicts but still close and accessible to downtown and other fun neighborhoods, never get unsafe living their though despite decent amount of crime in the area. Last 4 years I’ve been in the Near West Side neighborhood, which borders the West Loop, so that’s been fun and now moving to Buena Park with my fiancé and really looking forward to being close to the lake and away from the highway.

Remember, Chicago is all about neighborhoods, there’s 77 of them and they’re all unique, I’d suggest renting in the West Loop or Old Town, being close to transit and traveling the El to different neighborhoods to get a feel for what you like best. You’ll know quickly if you’re in a bad neighborhood because there’s empty lots, tons of graffiti and busted/burnt out buildings, avoid those areas at night and you’ll be safe, they’re mainly west of Western and south of Pershing, although there is a nice area by the lake, south called Hyde Park that is where University of Chicago is. Keep awareness in touristy areas and you’ll be fine as well, in my 30 years I’ve never had an altercation outside of a drunken bar dispute.

What is it like to live in Chicago (city)?
Dave Marques / Lived in Chicago / Updated 2yr
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Winters are cold as hell, but there are some surprisingly mild days interspersed. Spring is rainy, windy, and chilly, but absolutely gorgeous towards the end. Summers are hot and humid but with some nice cool weather mixed in. Fall is wonderful.
Lake Michigan is a treasure. Lots of public beaches and parks along it. The water is a really beautiful cerulean color sometimes and seeing the skyline on the lakefront by night is a must.
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. Downtown (the greater Loop plus River North) is tall and dense, kind of like Manhattan but emptier (especially at night). Outside of that, however, the city is divided up pretty precisely into neighborhoods, each with their own architectural styles, socioeconomic/racial/ethnic demographics, histories, points of interest. They are fun to explore - Hyde Park is very academic and cerebral; Wicker Park and Logan Square are trendy with lots of thrift stores and funky restaurants; Bronzeville has important Black historical and cultural institutions; Boystown is the lgbtq hub of the city. The downside is that they can also be a little insular at times and there are pretty glaring inequalities between neighborhoods, especially on the South and West sides.

What is it like to live in Chicago (city)?
Basim Ali / Lived in Chicago / Updated 3r
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Chicago is hands down one of the best cities in the states.

Cost Of Living: First off, Chicago is incredibly cheap. It’s significantly cheaper than NY, LA, SF or even cities like Seattle and Boston. (It’s cheap compared to most major North American cities. It’s still obviously going to be more pricey than middle of nowhere Texas). Most cities with a relatively cheap cost of living either don’t have well paying jobs, or they don’t have jobs at all. Chicago on the other hand is the 3rd largest city in America, and it has a very diversified economy. Despite this, it remains affordable for such an important city. Even in the desirable neighborhoods in the North Side of the city you can very easily get a studio for $1000 a month.

Things To Do: Chicago has more than enough things to do and there’s something happening every single day in the city. The Magnificent Mile is one of the best shopping streets in America, trumped only by Fifth Avenue. Other places to visit include the Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and one of my personal favorite things about the city: the Riverwalk. The Lincoln Park Zoo is incredible as well (and it’s free). In addition to this there are many river and lake cruises that offer stunning views of the skyline. In the summer the lakefront bursts into action. Throughout the warmer months, there are parties and festivals on the gleaming beaches in the shadow of Chicago’s cloud piercing skyscrapers.

35 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE MOVING TO CHICAGO
In this video I share the 35 things you need to know before moving to Chicago.