Chicago a good place for me? (Cleveland: rent, how much, school)

[WRC5]

I am currently attending a community college near Des Moines, Iowa. I have lived in a small town my entire life and have wanted to move to a bigger city for a while now. The smart thing I do understand is to stay in-state and finish my education, but that is 3-4 years out if I were to take that route, and a lot can happen in that 3-4 years which could hinder my chances at getting away.

I want that urban feel where there's always something going on. I'm a huge sports fan, so having 2+ major sports team is a must. I am a college student and certainly do not come from a family with a lot of money.

I will be 21 next November, so a good nightlife does matter.

The COL does definitely matter, i'm getting no family help so all the expenses are on me. I do like the four seasons, although the cold can get to be a bit much at times where i'm from (Northern Iowa, close to Minnesota border). In a big city I think it'd be a lot easier to handle than the places i've lived though.

So any input would help. Most important factors would be good colleges, cost of living, sports teams, etc.

Also, does anyone know or have any past experiences of moving to Chicago or Illinois for that matter from out of state and gaining in-state residency for school purposes and what needs to be done/how likely it is to gain it and how long it would take?

[marothisu]

Would Chicago be good for you? Yes, if you could handle it, you would have fun in Chicago. However, COL is higher in Chicago for sure - don't move somewhere unless you have a backup plan and don't move to Chicago without money saved up. The last thing you want to do is be homeless in Chicago when you aren't used a bigger, more urban city.

[WRC5]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Would Chicago be good for you? Yes, if you could handle it, you would have fun in Chicago. However, COL is higher in Chicago for sure - don't move somewhere unless you have a backup plan and don't move to Chicago without money saved up. The last thing you want to do is be homeless in Chicago when you aren't used a bigger, more urban city.

How much do I need saved up you think? To cover a few months rent or what?

The plan is to move to a city next year, whether that's Chicago, or a place like Minneapolis, Milwaukee, KC, Cleveland, etc. Don't care for the small town vibe that is around where I live. Des Moines wouldn't be terrible, but not sure.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by WRC5

How much do I need saved up you think? To cover a few months rent or what?

The plan is to move to a city next year, whether that's Chicago, or a place like Minneapolis, Milwaukee, KC, Cleveland, etc. Don't care for the small town vibe that is around where I live. Des Moines wouldn't be terrible, but not sure.

Depends on where you'd want to live but if you moved to Chicago without a job, you'd probably want to save at least a few thousand dollars up first. Let's say $3000. Even the cheapest places you'll be paying say $500/month with roommates let's say. Then you have to pay for food, transit, etc on top of that and probably your cell phone. Let's call that $850/month. Of course you probably want to keep money in case it doesn't work out and you need to move back.

It also depends on what you would settle for. Since you don't have a college degree yet, you'd need to probably not work the most glamorous jobs. Education is important though. I know you don't like Des Moines (trust me, I know. I went to college not too far from there) but in the end, you will be better off by getting your degree first.