Is Chicago seen as a low(er) cost alternative to East/West Coast living? (Lincoln: relocate)

[MassVt]

I'm just curious if many of you have run into coastal transplants who have relocated to Chicago in response to higher living expenses, especially housing; or perhaps they relocated for other reasons. Any thoughts?

[Lookout Kid]

Only from certain areas. Chicago isn't cheaper than all areas on the coasts... Just New York, Boston, the Bay Area, Southern California, etc. Most other areas on the coasts are cheaper than Chicago.

I know several Californians, Bostonians, and New Yorkers who moved to Chicago because they could afford more here. But strangely, they still can't afford as much as they would like!

[lincolnparker]

chicago as a cheap alternative to coastal living? I beg to differ for the following reasons:
1. Chicago is the second largest business district in the US behind mid town manhattan, and ahead of lower manhattan (manhattan divided into two business districts? what was the government thinking? go figure) and is the largest commodity trading marketing in North America. As such, it boosts some of the highest incomes in the nation. With high income comes higher cost of living.
2. Chicago gold coast is one of the most expensive zip codes in the US, consistently ranked in the top 10 most expensive by Forbes.
3. The area around Amitage and North in Lincoln park has the most expensive homes in Chicago and is ranked one of the top four most expensive blocks in the nation.
4. That said, however, Chicago is cheaper, compared to more expensive coastal cities, in general, but not by an arm and a leg. For instace, CNN Money indicates that a 50k salary in boston MA translates roughly into a 42k, a barely 16% decrease in cost of living.

Salary in Boston MA:
$50,000
Comparable salary in Chicago IL:
$41,663.61

If you move from Boston MA to Chicago IL...
Groceries will cost: 7.852% less Housing will cost: 22.289% less Utilities will cost: 13.329% less Transportation will cost: 1.484% more Healthcare will cost: 16.305% less

[aragx6]

I think Chicago can be a great alternative to more expensive cities (we get posters asking just that on a pretty regular basis)

Housing is the biggest difference between Chicago and say Manhattan. Find me a two bedroom in a nice area of Manhattan for the $1195 I'm paying now in Wicker Park... they just don't exist, not even for almost double that.

[Drover]

We get tons of inquiries from New Yorkers who are either looking to move here or have already made the decision to move here. The price difference between Boston and Chicago isn't steep enough (yet) to make prompt a lot of people to want to move here from Boston. And Philly is still cheaper, but not by much.

On the other hand, there are very few inquiries from people wanting to move from the West Coast, and I think that's for two reasons: one, they don't want to put up with our winters (whereas East Coasters are already used to similar weather conditions); and two, too much culture shock. East Coasters won't mistake Chicago for an East Coast city, but I think they'd find it a lot easier to see shades of their own culture and customs in Chicago than someone from the West Coast would. Not to mention it's reeeeaaally far from the West Coast... those wanting to escape can set up shop in Arizona or Oregon or Colorado much easier.

[Alexia_Logan]

Ummm NO are you freaking kidding me? I live on the northside and what I pay for my 500 square foot STUDIO is what friends pay for two bedroom lofts in NYC.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by Alexia_Logan

Ummm NO are you freaking kidding me? I live on the northside and what I pay for my 500 square foot STUDIO is what friends pay for two bedroom lofts in NYC.

you pay more for a studio in Chicago than what your friends are paying for a 2 bedroom in NYC? dude, you are seriously overpaying.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by eevee

you pay more for a studio in Chicago than what your friends are paying for a 2 bedroom in NYC? dude, you are seriously overpaying.

Yeah, that's not credible at all. Not even close.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Alexia_Logan

Ummm NO are you freaking kidding me? I live on the northside and what I pay for my 500 square foot STUDIO is what friends pay for two bedroom lofts in NYC.

You are so full of it that a thoughtful response isn't worth the bother.

[jessiegirl_98]

Dude, I pay more for my 2 bedroom in Tampa than in my 4 bedroom on the upper east side of manhattan Again, I would be seriously overpaying

Ahhhh......we can dream

My brother always says he should move to Chicago (from NYC) so he can "live like a king"