Considering a move to Chicago. (apartment, rent, home)

[metallic07039]

I am a recent grad, working in NYC, living at home in NJ.

Why I am considering a move to Chicago:

1) My current commute is difficult.
2) Tired of living at home (I lived at home during college too) and NYC rent is way too expensive. I seems to me that in Chicago the salaries are about the same, the cost of living is lower, but the quality of life is the same (apartment wise, etc.).
3) NYC gets to me sometimes.
4) It seems that the nightlife in Chicago is comparable to NYC.
5) Chicago has less traffic.
6) It isn't as hot.
7) I want to try some place new.
8) There is a possibility I will be able to get a job in my company's Chicago office.

Did I get this right?

I am looking through apartment listings on Craigslist. What are the good areas to live in Chicago? I know absolutely nothing about the neighborhoods. Also, is it difficult to find parking spaces in general over there? In NYC to park your car in a lot for a whole day is $35 average.

Thanks for your input in advance!

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by metallic07039

I am a recent grad, working in NYC, living at home in NJ.

Why I am considering a move to Chicago:

1) My current commute is difficult.
2) Tired of living at home (I lived at home during college too) and NYC rent is way too expensive. I seems to me that in Chicago the salaries are about the same, the cost of living is lower, but the quality of life is the same (apartment wise, etc.).
3) NYC gets to me sometimes.
4) It seems that the nightlife in Chicago is comparable to NYC.
5) Chicago has less traffic.
6) It isn't as hot.
7) I want to try some place new.
8) There is a possibility I will be able to get a job in my company's Chicago office.

Did I get this right?

I am looking through apartment listings on Craigslist. What are the good areas to live in Chicago? I know absolutely nothing about the neighborhoods. Also, is it difficult to find parking spaces in general over there? In NYC to park your car in a lot for a whole day is $35 average.

Thanks for your input in advance!

Chicago sounds like a great fit. Skim through this thread to get a general sense of the neighborhoods, then you can ask more specific questions after that.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ds-moving.html

This thread in particular, might be helpful to you...

http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...g-chicago.html

[chet everett]

1) Chicago area commutes are not going to win any prizes as 'pure delight', but are generally lower than NYC, although frankly it is easier to take the NY subway more places than Chicago El. Even bike riding in NYC is a bit easier than Chicago...

2) Salaries in Chicago are lower by a bit, but unregulated rents are lower by a lot. So you are mostly accurate.

3) Life gets to most of us sometimes...

4) VERY different nightlife -- NYC is far more diverse, especially for range of choices for minorities, costs at both ends, and shear numbers , though you gotta realize that NYC might be tops on the planet for nightlife...

5) True

6) Mostly true, but we have our literal killer heat waves too.

7) If you haven't been here and have no connections it might be hard to start out on your own, with a new job, and no family to rely on...

8) I'd go for it -- though realize that for many companies the mere fact that you are from NY is going to give the Chicago based employees a reason to not like you off the bat... {that is a joke, ;^) }

[M4rT1N]

Originally Posted by metallic07039

7) I want to try some place new.

.....number 7 in your list supersedes everything else in the list!!! I can't really compare NYC to Chicago because I haven't seen NYC (but hope to sometime). What I can say to you, from experience, is, if you've only lived in one city your whole life, get out of there, move to another state or country, even if it's only for a few years.

I did and it's one of the best decisions that I ever made

Moving away will give you a chance to broaden your horizons before the career, mortgage, marriage etc. make it pretty tough (although not impossible) to relocate and experience living in a new place.

just my 2 cents worth. Good Luck with the decision and Chicago's a great city!