Moving to Chicago

[J&N* 68]

My husband and I have been thinking about relocating to Chicago since it has really good job opportunities to both our work fields and my husband is seriously under paid here in Florida for the amount of experience he has, his parents are quite controlling and don't want us to move away. I come from a big city so I understand everything that comes with a city, traffic, crime, pollution and so forth. I really hate the suburbs, I can not live there any longer.

I'd really like any advice from people who actually do live, or lived in Chicago. What do you think of it?

The only thing that makes me worry is the winter there, I've heard nothing but bad things about it, what do you do in winter time?? I hate the sun and heat that Florida has ALL THE time!

We are going to Chicago in May so it'll be a great chance to experience living there first hand.

Thank you!

Edited March 31, 2011 by Nermeen&Joe

[Nica_In_Love 98]

We live in Chicago and we're actually looking to leave sometime in the future. Nothing is planned yet but we are leaving the idea open. Winter was harsh this year with the blizzard, I got sent home from work and lost 2 days with no pay. There is a lot of shoveling to do and it's really a pain in the behind having to wake up earlier in the morning to be able to shovel out your car so you can go to work, and it sucks when you shovel out a spot just to find that somebody took it when you got back.

Jobs are ok to find I would say but I wasn't able to find one in my field. I had to quit for personal reasons and should start the job hunt again in the next month or so, although I am not expecting to find one in what I would like.

Chicago is known to be one of the most corrupt cities in the US. You're able to get things when you "know" someone. I don't know if you're aware that in January the Illinois legislature passed a personal income-tax increase of 66 percent because of the huge deficit that the state is facing. My husband works for the city of Chicago and he has to take so many furlough days a year (no pay) because they're told the City has to cut down on costs, yet they go and contract a private company to do other jobs and pay them more. Everything is so politically based here that it's not even funny. Perhaps I see it more given my husband's job.

The city is big but it's pretty easy to get to places since the streets are sort of ordered. If you work downtown your best bet is to take the train because traffic is horrible at rush hour. Downtown is nice I will say. There are a lot of places to see like the Water Tower, the Sears Tower (now Willis), you can go to Navy Pier, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, etc. There are tons of good places to eat and things like that.

If your only concern is the winter, than you should be fine. You WILL get tired of the snow though.

[J&N* 68]

Oh my! Really that's no fun at all! Florida also isn't the best place at all, it has the 2nd highest unemployment rate (after Nevada) and the highest foreclosures rate in the entire country . I've been looking for jobs with no success at all. My husband took $11,000 cut to move to Florida (from Alabama) because his parents wanted us to live closer to them. We can't afford anything here, I've no insurance, no car, and can't afford a house even with a lot of savings in the bank!

One of the reasons we are looking to relocate to Chicago is that he will be getting paid a lot more and there seems to be many jobs for me there and I wouldn't need a car there.

Honestly, there is no perfect place, we gotta pay our dues and suck it at times! I wish I can say we'll move to Egypt but it'd be such a waste of all the money we spent on immigration!

[Nica_In_Love 98]

Ouch an $11K cut is a lot... perhaps it would've been better to stay in AL? Does your husband have some type of job offer in Chicago? Maybe it would be wise for him to try to apply for jobs first and get a feel on how much he would be able to get paid. I lived in Miami for a year when I was young, I didn't like it that much. We hear things are going good in Texas, I don't know how true that is though.

Edited March 31, 2011 by Nica_In_Love

[mandyu1 5]

I'm from Detroit, which is very similar to Chicago and now I'm in SW Florida, probably the same size city as you are. The difference between you and I, is that I actually love it here and hate it up there, mainly because of the weather. The winters are very brutal, and Chicago is just the same. You have winter 6 months out of the year, a month or 2 of spring and fall, and 2 months of real summer. Also, big cities in the US are not like big cities in Egypt, the crime rate is a lot higher. The job market may be better up there, but the cost of living in the city, in a secure area is extremely high so that is something else to consider. If you're not going to live "in" the city, you'll be living in the suburbs just as you are now, so really it will be no different other than change in seasons, and his parents will not be around to control the both of you. Also, personally I would not use public transportation in the city (maybe a taxi, but thats about it). I think he should have stayed in AL, the cost of living is low and he was making good money. If he moved to FL for his parents is he now ok to move away from them? I can relate with controlling parents, thats another reason I moved to FL, to get away from my controlling parents.

In the end, you need to research where it is you want to live, the cost of living, the average income for that area, even price out car insurance and other little things that we don't necessarily think of everyday. Also, you need to think about when you have kids, there are reports that the public schools in the city are not the greatest and safest, so could you afford to send your child to private school.

[LaL 418]

I don't know - you really can't be all that concerned about the weather in Chicago if you decided to visit in May to "experience living there". Go again in December lol.

Edited March 31, 2011 by LaL

[mandyu1 5]

I don't know - you really can't be all that concerned about the weather in Chicago if you decided to visit in May to "experience living there". Go again in December lol.

I have a friend that is from South Florida and complained about the heat and sun here, blah blah, she decided that she was going to move north because she hated it...after about 3 months of winter she was ready to come home and she only lived in southern N. Carolina LOL. The cold is brutal, especially up in the NE & midwest because there is a lot of humidity so it is a wet cold, not dry like out west, and although the snow is beautiful to look at, its overrated, after you drive in it and ice for a while you learn its not all what its cracked up to be.

[J&N* 68]

I appreciate your contribution but I really wanted Chicago residents to reply to my post, no pun intended just because I want real city life experiences not what every body *thinks* of it and where we should have stayed and lived. Thanks.

[LaL 418]

I have a friend that is from South Florida and complained about the heat and sun here, blah blah, she decided that she was going to move north because she hated it...after about 3 months of winter she was ready to come home and she only lived in southern N. Carolina LOL. The cold is brutal, especially up in the NE & midwest because there is a lot of humidity so it is a wet cold, not dry like out west, and although the snow is beautiful to look at, its overrated, after you drive in it and ice for a while you learn its not all what its cracked up to be.

Yeah I am from CT and despite loving it there - I simply cannot go back to it. Chicago has a very heavy wet cold, and I know personally - I couldn't do it.

[Kimbear 53]

I moved from Windsor Ontario Canada, to Chicago. I was born and raised in Montreal and lived there for most of my life though. Currently i live just north of O'hare airport.

to be honest the winter is a joke here. aside from the blizzard we didn't get that much snow. In all honesty, the one thing i hate is the fact that you can experience all four seasons in the same week. Seriously. the temps are not stable here, it can be 65 one day and 20 the next. that's really my only issue, well that and i still have not found a job, been here a year now.

you have to remember Chicago is one of the top 3 populated cities behind NY and Los Angeles. For me i found the stores to be ridiculously expensive and well if you move into Cook county prepare for higher taxes on just about EVERYTHING. Gas is 4$ a gallon right now too.

Also like every city, Chicago has its good and bad sides, and alot of diverse ethnicity.

In fact my husband and i just put an offer on a house, that is in the northwest suburbs, Hanover park, which luckily is on the du page side of the town. the traffic here where we are now is nuts, i've gotten used to being near the planes and airport, but i miss being able to see the stars at night, and i have yet to get used to the city water.

do your research, check out crime rates etc, and housing prices, and decide if a 45 min drive to work in traffic is worth it or if you need to live closer to downtown etc.

[mandyu1 5]

I appreciate your contribution but I really wanted Chicago residents to reply to my post, no pun intended just because I want real city life experiences not what every body *thinks* of it and where we should have stayed and lived. Thanks.

Detroit is very similar to Chicago, and the city life is pretty much the same, that is why I responded. I apologize for trying to be helpful..

[Ironman140 45]

Sorry but Detroit and Chicago have nothing in common.. Born and raised in chicago and my $ /ex lives bear Detroit The city proper is to costly to live in Crook county .. But you will find many good suburbs .. It's all about jobs and commute time

[mandyu1 5]

Sorry but Detroit and Chicago have nothing in common.. Born and raised in chicago and my $ /ex lives bear Detroit The city proper is to costly to live in Crook county .. But you will find many good suburbs .. It's all about jobs and commute time

Well you're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. I was born and raised in Detroit and have been to Chicago many times and have several family/friends that live there that give me their input as well. However, the bottom line is, I was trying to help and offer advice coming from living within a large, midwestern city, if she doesn't want it then fine.

[J&N* 68]

This is EXACTLY why I didn't want everyone to comment and people still ignored my wishes anyway. I didn't ask for people's consent or if they think it is a good idea. I wanted people who live there to tell me what it is like, so please don't start arguing. Thanks for your input.

[Nica_In_Love 98]

I disagree with the recommendation of "not" using public transportation. I believe the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) does a pretty good job. Fares are pretty much the same as in other big cities. I used to take the Orange Line everyday to work and never had a problem, so I'm not sure why one of the posters advised not to use public transportation.

Like Kimbear said, the temperature does change from one minute to the other and it can really be a pain. Gas is expensive, high taxes, etc.