3 Factors to Consider when Moving to a Chicago Apartment

When moving to a Chicago apartment, a little preparation can go a long way in the transition to life in the Windy City. As the third largest city in the nation, Chicago is a city that’s always on the move (so don’t get swept away)!

1- Where to Live?

When deciding on a Chicago apartment, you probably have to juggle wanting affordable rent and living in a nice area with a relatively low crime rate. The metropolitan area, particularly around the Loop, is among the safest areas of Chicago, with easy access to family-friendly places, like Navy Pier, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, Adler Planetarium and Island Park. Unfortunately, it’s expensive to live in the heart of the city.

South of the Loop on the outskirts of the city is where the crime rate is highest, so avoid living there, even if you’ve found a good deal. The best bet for finding a cheap, safe Chicago apartment might be to find an apartment just outside of Chicago near a Metra station. The Metra commuter rail runs daily into the heart of the city and can get you in and out of the city to most of the suburbs in under an hour–far less time than it would take to drive during rush hour!

2- Eschew the Car for the El–or a Bike

You can easily get around Chicago with a car–in fact, it’s much easier to. Not only can trains take you virtually anywhere throughout Chicago, but Chicago has one of the most scenic and safe bike routes in the nation, right along the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s much safer to bike to places in Chicago than in other large cities and it’s part of a much healthier lifestyle than driving everyplace. If you can’t stand the cold in winter, you can use the bus or train instead.

One note, though: Chicago’s elevated train (El/L) system is extensive, but it’s actually not as easy to transfer stops in Chicago as it is in other large cities, like New York. You may have to walk several blocks and go from underground to above ground and vice-versa when you get off at a station that has a transfer to another line.

3- Prepare for Winter

People unfamiliar with the Midwest have heard about cold Chicago winters, but if they’ve yet to experience blistery winds and snow firsthand, they’re in for a surprise. When moving to a Chicago apartment, pack plenty of warm winter clothes so that you’ll be able to dress in layers–even if you’re moving in the middle of summer. It can be a pain to go on a shopping spree in Chicago when winter starts. Clothes are more expensive in the city, so stock up before you move. It’s worth the extra boxes you’d have to send along with relocation companies.

You’ll also need plenty of moisturizing lotions and creams to use during the dry winter season. A lot of Chicago newbies from other areas of the country think they’ve come down with skin conditions during the winter when really, it’s just seasonal dry skin!

Starting life in a Chicago apartment can be an exciting experience, but it can be stressful, too, if you’re not prepared. Shop around, get a fair moving estimate, and count on commercial movers to do most of the work for you.