corsia logo

Moving to Chicago Guide

Moving to Chicago Guide

What a tremendous city Chicago must be. The thought of car lines, crowds, trains, came to him with almost a yearning appeal. All at once, the magnet got him. It gripped his very soul, this wonder, this beauty, this life.

“I’m going to Chicago,” he thought, and got up.”

“The Genius” by Theodore Dreiser

Dreiser’s Eugene Witla wanted to go to Chicago, find a job there, and study art. You might follow in the footsteps of this fictional character. Maybe you already have a job offer in hand, or maybe you are moving to Chicago to reunite with family. Are you looking for a fresh start, and the Windy City seemed like a good candidate to call home? Whatever the reason is, this Midwestern city will never disappoint.

Chicago Neighborhoods

With over 2.7 million residents, Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States. Here, you will find 77 distinct neighborhoods that can be divided into five big areas:

Downtown

Downtown is a showcase for Chicago’s top attractions. Everyday views of iconic Chicago skyscrapers and easy access to the city’s best eateries are guaranteed if you choose to call this area home. Shopping options are abundant, and entertainment is bountiful. Downtown is well-connected to other parts of the city via CTA. If you prefer to ride alone, you can easily hail a cab or use Uber or Lyft.

The downtown area will best fit you if you have no kids and leaving life in the fast lane is your cup of tea. You need to have a relatively good income as this central neighborhood is closer to Chicago’s financial and governmental heart; hence, prices there are a bit high compared to other areas.

North Side

Lincoln Square and Roscoe Village are the safest areas in Chicago. If you have kids and want to live in a safe and quiet neighborhood with your family, look no further. The area is not too far from downtown, and of course, the housing prices are lower compared to the most central part of Windy City.

North Side – Lakefront

This area is almost the same as the North Side in terms of the family-friendly environment. It is probably the city’s greenest neighborhood. And as an extra perk, it has a zoo. In the summer, here you’ll find plenty of spaces for sunbathing, picnicking, or simply taking in the views. Biking, rollerblading, and good old running are popular activities around the neighborhood. This area also boasts some of the city’s top schools.

Speaking of schools, don’t forget to stop by Chicago Public Schools website. Here you’ll be able to check each school’s profile and progress report cards.

West Side

If you are a student or a recent college graduate looking for a job in Chicago, Logan Square may be a good choice for you. The rents are relatively low here. There are plenty of parks here where you can sit around, toss a frisbee, or have a picnic. For a drink in a hip bar or a cheap but delicious meal visit Wicker Park and Bucktown. Unfortunately, parts of the West Side are infamous for crime and gang activity. The more west you go, the more dangerous the neighborhood becomes. Try to avoid areas with section 8 housing as well.

Unfortunately, parts of the West Side are infamous for crime and gang activity. The more west you go, the more dangerous the neighborhood becomes. Try to avoid areas with section 8 housing as well.

South Side

If you are an international student, a graduate from an international university, or you simply miss being among students and people from all over the world, Hyde Park should be your new home. South Side is famous for its ethnically diverse neighborhoods and being the home of the University of Chicago. The South Side can definitively be called a student’s area. There you can find small studio apartments as well as mid-sized mansions.

Just like in the West Side of Chicago, you have to be careful about how far south you go as some areas get sketchy. Before moving to Chicago, get as much information about these five big areas as you can, and then pick the one that best fits your needs, goals, and budget.

Cost of Living

We are sure you will want to maintain your current standard of living, and maybe improve it. So before you choose a new place to call home, research the living costs. If you are relocating from New York or Los Angeles, Chicago will seem more affordable to you. But if you are moving from Utah or Montana, you may find Windy City quite an expensive place to live. Check out the cost of living index map of the USA for more detailed information and a comparison of numbers. It will also give you living costs in the world’s major cities.

It is hard to say exactly how much the monthly living costs will be as it depends on the neighborhood you settle in, your income, and where you are moving from. Use the Bankrate calculator to help you calculate and compare the costs of living. You just need to select your current city, the city you are planning to move to, and your current income.

Taxes

Let’s not forget about taxes. Illinois cities are infamous for having some of the highest taxes in the nation. Chicago is no exception. In July of this year, the Illinois House of Representatives approved a 32 percent income tax hike: from 3.75 up to 4.95 percent.  Chicago homeowners will also be paying higher taxes. The average Chicago property tax bill will be going up about 10 percent. Although Chicago residents have been actively complaining about the property tax increase, they still pay less than their Cook County suburban counterparts.

Public Transportation

Chicago is a major transportation hub in the US and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) offers transportation services with three agencies: Metra, Pace, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), which has approximately 2,000 buses that provide about 1 million passenger trips per day.

Also, Chicago is one of the few cities in the United States that offers rapid transit service to the city’s two major airports: O’Hare and Midway.

Attractions in the Windy City

If you have never been to Chicago expect your jaw to drop when you see its breathtaking skyline. The city proclaims itself the birthplace of modern architecture. In fact, the world’s first Skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885. And many would agree that the Windy City has the most beautiful skyline in the entire United States. Not sure where to begin exploring this great American city? Visit Chicago Architectural Foundation for stories behind Chicago’s most significant architectural sights.

The authentic restaurants, endless bars, and clubs that are open until 4-5 in the morning will make your nightlife experience something to remember. Also, here’s good news for all blues lovers: Chicago is the world’s capital of the electric blues! As a result, there are almost too many venues to choose from.

It’s almost impossible to name every single thing you can do and see in Chicago. A lifetime won’t be enough to explore this beautiful city. The only thing you will need to worry about is choosing among the best things that Chicago has to offer. The John Hancock Observatory (known as 360 Chicago), Lincoln Park Zoo, Museum of Contemporary Art, Navy Pier, Millenium Park, the Water Tower Place and so many more.

Choosing a Moving Company

If you have a lot of things to take with you when moving to Chicago, choosing a moving company will be an essential part of your move. Also, make sure that the moving company you hire can issue liability insurance if you need one. Currently, you don’t need any permits to move to Chicago, but one thing to consider is your residential parking permit. Depending on where you’ll settle in Chicago, you may need a permit to park your car. If that’s your case, make sure to request it in advance.

Have you thought about transporting your car to Chicago? Of course, you can drive the car yourself. But why not let professionals take care of the task? Get in touch with us at Corsia Logistics, and we will arrange transport for your vehicle between Chicago and anywhere else in the country.

Now, congratulation on your move to Chicago! It’s time to start ticking things off your bucket list and enjoying this great American city. To meet new people, try Couchsurfing.org or Meetup.com. But even without using any of these platforms, you won’t have trouble making new friends as people in the Windy City are friendly and open-minded. Welcome to Chicago! Welcome home!

Share our experience:
Are you ready to ship a car?
Recent posts
car shipping quote

Truckers Can Fight Sex Trafficking

If You See Something, Say Something! This is the slogan of the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking, the organization’s main goal is to have more

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping an electric vehicle like Rivian requires several considerations. Here we will share some key aspects to keep in mind when you need to ship

Read more

Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

5/5
5/5
5/5

they trusted us

and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
Read More
Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
Read More
Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
Read More
Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
Read More
I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
Read More
Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
Read More
Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
Read More
Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
Read More
Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
Read More
Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
Read More
Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
Previous
Next