Should I move to NYC from Chicago?

[DC's Finest]

That 4 degrees colder than NYC is some BS. Average temps are just what they are: Average! Chicago is much colder than NYC. My ex girlfriend lives in Chicago and she said that it's been cold and they haven't really experienced the fall season.

[Banx]

Honestly, being born n raised in Chicago myself, New York is a great city and all, don't get me wrong, but I probably wouldn't be here right now if Chicago's job market wasn't such crap and people there weren't such idiots, otherwise I think I would almost prefer Chicago's lifestyle. In NYC I've managed to at least get interviews here for great paying jobs (still waiting to here back), even despite NYC's overpriced expense, while in Chicago I couldn't even get a single response back from McDonald's or Target or some menial stupid minimum wage job, after a whole YEAR of searching. I love my home city but everyone there seems slow and dumb and stuck in the now... I love New York's hustle and grind, and people here seem to have their act together and seem to be out gettin sh** done, while in Chicago everyone just sits around waiting for something to happen, instead of being a go-getter and going out and doing it. There are alot of things about NYC I can't stand also, the rediculous/stupid expense for same/lower quality products found elsewhere, the over-the-top gentrification, the fake toughness of people who live in one of the most expensive cities in the world, just to name a few, but this city is motivating, and everyone is about business, which I love and which is the perfect environment for someone like me trying to get things started and make it in this world. But I say if u have a job, or have a chance of getting one, stay in Chicago, if not come out to NYC where people are hustlin and aren't slow, dimwitted, and sensitive idiots like people out in the midwest. Where if u have the right mindset, u might actually have an opportunity to make something of yourself, instead of dancing around with dull, ho-hum people who don't aspire to be anything or do anything (why do u think all famous people from Chicago left it at some point in their life?).

In short, NYC in terms of a city lifestyle, feels almost exactly like Chicago except it is bigger and more crowded and expensive, and has better public transporation, that's about it (from the average working person perspective). Not much of a difference between the two personally, and there was basically 0 culture shock or transition phase when coming to NYC. But what was different, and what made NYC better and stand out more and made me want to stay IMO, was the people. Everyone seems to be getting things done here, and there are way more opportunities, and the motivated people here rubs off a since of optimism even during these hard times. I feel like I finally have a chance at doing something... I don't care if New Yorkers are considered a**holes or not, cause in the end, theyre the ones giving me a job and allowing myself to progress, instead of the "nice" idiot employers in Chicago who'd rather give jobs to their jagoff neighbors or lazy nephews. People here actually recognize my qualifications for jobs, no wishy-washy BS like in the midwest, and thats what counts. So to conclude, if ur comfortable in Chicago and have things straightened out (job, home, etc.), you should stay, but if u want to progress and better yourself and actually HUSTLE, come out to NYC, that's what really matters, forget the shopping and the restaurants for now. Opportunities are here, and that's why I'm staying. Thank you New York.

[Ninjahedge]

It is your choice, but instead of searching the weather, I would search the job market.

$70K IS a lot, but I would rather still HAVE 70K after being in NYC for 6 months than to be calling home to Mom and Dad and seeing if they would accept a new "tenant"

Not that I think you would spend $11,666/mo here, just SAYIN.......


SO start looking for a job, see if you have any you can do a telephone interview on. If you HAVE $70K, you can probably come over one day by train for a personal interview on a good job prospect. Also, a lot of companies will allow a few weeks to break in and get settled (find a place, etc).

If you are looking to possibly slum it, there are areas in the outer boroughs that may not be as glamorous as Manhattan, but proximity to the Metro will make it easy to get into town. Also realize that some areas in NJ (Jersey City and Hoboken) are closer to some areas of Manhattan than the Boroughs (Example: Wall Street, West Village).

So I would start looking into the specifics before jumping from your home base there. It is always good to come in with something to hold onto. It gives you more bearing and direction for what you need to do next. It will also give you instant contact (co-workers) that you will NEED if you want to find some of the better stuff (better, friendlier and/or cheaper!!).

Again, GL!

[e.ortega]

Originally Posted by lincolnparker

I live in Chicago, and got laid off a few months ago from a good paying job. I could not seem to find any job in Chicago so far, and the weather here is not helping either. After a few years, Chicago just doesn't feel like a high energy city anymore, not that it did when I first moved here. I have been thinking about moving back to NYC for a while. I am still on the fence.

---I went to college at NYU so I have some friends in the NYC area.
---I also have some money saved up (about $70k) to last me for the next year or so even without working at all.
---I have a car, so need to sell it if I were to move to NYC, i assume?
---I don't have a job lined up either in Chicago or in NYC, and don't think I can find one anytime soon.
---I am a single female, just turned 30.
---I have a place in Chicago and it's a lot cheaper than comparable places in Manhattan.
---I have lots of things, (clothes, shoes etc) that will probably need to go if I were to move to manhattan because of space. Or should I go for a spacious place in Brooklyn? Help me here plz!
---I hate the cold here in Chicago (gets to be -35 last year) and crime (twice the amount per 100,000 compared to NYC)

Should I do it? move back to NYC?

No

[AvidTraveller]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

That 4 degrees colder than NYC is some BS. Average temps are just what they are: Average! Chicago is much colder than NYC. My ex girlfriend lives in Chicago and she said that it's been cold and they haven't really experienced the fall season.

I've lived in both cities, I said "Chicago's cold spells (when it dips below avg temps) are colder than NYC's. Don't forget that NYC has higher humidity levels than Chicago. So the real feel in NYC is colder a lot of times compared to the actual air temps. Ever been to Seattle during the winter? The actual air temps are pretty moderate, but it's a cold damp bone chilling kinda thing.

Saying "Chicago is much colder than NYC" is laughable. Chicago's summers for the most part are much more comfortable than NYC's. And early fall temps drop quicker than NYC's. Also summer takes longer to arive in Chicago compared to NYC. Chicago doesn't really start heating up until around the 4th of July. So in that sense Chicago is colder, but we're talking about highs only being in the 70's in Chicago, compared to NYC already being in the 80's. NY'ers crack me up with this, acting like Chicago is Siberia or something. Guess what, NYC is more windy than Chicago, did you know that?

[AvidTraveller]

Originally Posted by Banx

Honestly, being born n raised in Chicago myself, New York is a great city and all, don't get me wrong, but I probably wouldn't be here right now if Chicago's job market wasn't such crap and people there weren't such idiots, otherwise I think I would almost prefer Chicago's lifestyle. In NYC I've managed to at least get interviews here for great paying jobs (still waiting to here back), even despite NYC's overpriced expense, while in Chicago I couldn't even get a single response back from McDonald's or Target or some menial stupid minimum wage job, after a whole YEAR of searching. I love my home city but everyone there seems slow and dumb and stuck in the now... I love New York's hustle and grind, and people here seem to have their act together and seem to be out gettin sh** done, while in Chicago everyone just sits around waiting for something to happen, instead of being a go-getter and going out and doing it. There are alot of things about NYC I can't stand also, the rediculous/stupid expense for same/lower quality products found elsewhere, the over-the-top gentrification, the fake toughness of people who live in one of the most expensive cities in the world, just to name a few, but this city is motivating, and everyone is about business, which I love and which is the perfect environment for someone like me trying to get things started and make it in this world. But I say if u have a job, or have a chance of getting one, stay in Chicago, if not come out to NYC where people are hustlin and aren't slow, dimwitted, and sensitive idiots like people out in the midwest. Where if u have the right mindset, u might actually have an opportunity to make something of yourself, instead of dancing around with dull, ho-hum people who don't aspire to be anything or do anything (why do u think all famous people from Chicago left it at some point in their life?).

In short, NYC in terms of a city lifestyle, feels almost exactly like Chicago except it is bigger and more crowded and expensive, and has better public transporation, that's about it (from the average working person perspective). Not much of a difference between the two personally, and there was basically 0 culture shock or transition phase when coming to NYC. But what was different, and what made NYC better and stand out more and made me want to stay IMO, was the people. Everyone seems to be getting things done here, and there are way more opportunities, and the motivated people here rubs off a since of optimism even during these hard times. I feel like I finally have a chance at doing something... I don't care if New Yorkers are considered a**holes or not, cause in the end, theyre the ones giving me a job and allowing myself to progress, instead of the "nice" idiot employers in Chicago who'd rather give jobs to their jagoff neighbors or lazy nephews. People here actually recognize my qualifications for jobs, no wishy-washy BS like in the midwest, and thats what counts. So to conclude, if ur comfortable in Chicago and have things straightened out (job, home, etc.), you should stay, but if u want to progress and better yourself and actually HUSTLE, come out to NYC, that's what really matters, forget the shopping and the restaurants for now. Opportunities are here, and that's why I'm staying. Thank you New York.

People from Chicago have a much higher standard of living than NY'ers. Little things like going into a neighborhood grocery store or laundromat and you see the HUGE difference between the cities. I feel bad for the women around NYC who don't carry a roll of toilet paper in their purse, most bathrooms I've ever gone into don't have paper towels or toilet paper. Not to mention most of those bathrooms look like belong in Mexico. Even in Chicago's bad neighborhoods, things like grocery stores and laundromats have to be up to par. Outside of Mannhattan, NYC is basically a 3rd world country. Sure there are pockets of nice nabes, but overall, 3rd world.

Now the "real" movers and shakers of NYC don't care. They have nannies or hired help to do their grocery shopping, wash their clothes, take care of their arrends, so it's irrelevent to them. But for the average working stiff? And if you ain't living in Mannhattan, to me the NYC experience drops way off. People I'm sure will come on here are argue this to death, but they know it's true. Most NY'ers say they're "going into the city" when refering to a trip into Mannhattan. They don't even consider the outer boroughs part of NYC. To me, that says it all. The vast majority of immigrants end up in the outerboroughs, again, that says it all. NYC in a lot of ways is 'La La Land'. A different way compared to La, but still it's almost not real. What % of couples with good paying professional jobs move to Jersey or up to CT the second they know a baby is on the way, again that says it all.

NYC to me is similiar to Vegas, a lot of fun when you're in your 20's to mid 30's, but after that? Fun place to visit, but to live or raise kids? The expense of the place, among many other things, take hold as you get a little older. I guess what I'm trying to say is that after you reach a certain age, NYC becomes extremely overrated. Of couse if it's where you're from, hey it's home. But to a transplant, home will always be where they're from.

Good luck with you move.........