Are you thinking about living in Chicago? You’re in good hands.
With a population of 2.7 million, there’s no denying that living in Chicago has its benefits, but does it live up to the hype?
I have been living in Chicago for the past 8+ years and was asked to share my experience. So today I’ll be sharing the good, the bad and the ugly of daily life in Chicago based on my own experience.
As you read this list, keep in mind that this is my personal list of the pros and cons of living in Chicago. Not everyone will feel the same way.
In any case, I hope you find it helpful. Let’s get to it!
Note: This post is part of the Local Living Series, wherein locals share honest insights of living in a specific city through comprehensive pros and cons lists. If you’d like to reach out to the author directly with questions, please do so in the comments below and our team will ensure it gets to the right person.
Pros & Cons of Living in Chicago
Thinking about visiting before finalizing your decision to move to Chicago? If helpful, here’s the best hotel in town (it’s the one I recommend to my own family and friends).
First, the perks of moving to Chicago
#1. The people
First and foremost, allow me to start with my favorite thing about living in Chicago — the people. I don’t know what it is, but I swear the people that live in Chicago are some of the kindest I’ve met.
I feel that Chicagoans are genuinely friendly and down-to-earth in a way that is not common in large cities.
When I first moved to Chicago, I was constantly lost (surprise, surprise) and can’t recall a single situation where I wasn’t approached by someone helpful and willing to offer assistance.
I’ve lost count of the number of helpful interactions I’ve experienced personally while living in Chicago!
Heads up! If you’re a millennial, you’ll find a lot of like-minded folks to befriend while living in Chicago because Chicago is considered one of the best cities in the country for millennials to live.
#2. The cost of living
Like most major cities, the cost of living in Chicago is higher than the national average. But when compared to other large cities, it’s easily the most affordable option.
I mean, Chicago seldom makes an appearance on lists ranking the most expensive cities in the country for a reason! You can actually enjoy living here because it’s not cost-prohibitive.
For example, there’s a lot of comparison between Chicago and NYC (both skyscraper cities), but the difference in cost of living couldn’t be more different.
According to CNN’s cost of living calculator, a $100,000 salary in Chicago is equal to $199,000 in New York City (that’s double!).
Housing alone is 238% more expensive in NYC than Chicago yet you’ll have access to all of the same amenities while living in Chicago.
I played around with the calculator for a while and the theme is the same, Chicago is much more affordable than other large US cities.
I’m guessing the harsh winters (we’ll cover those shortly) have something to do with the reasonable cost of living in Chicago. Regardless of the reason, you won’t find me complaining, that’s for sure.
#3. Cultural activities
One of my favorite things about living in Chicago is having access to a plethora of cultural activities every day of the week. In fact, Chicago ranks as one of the best cultural cities in America.
You’ll have access to world-class museums like the Field Museum of Natural History (which rivals the one in NYC) and the Art Institute of Chicago.
If you’re in the mood to catch a great performance you can have your pick from three epic theaters: Chicago Theater, Goodman Theater and Steppenwolf Theater (which is currently undergoing a $54M expansion).
Oh, and lest I forget, Chicago is known for having one of the best music scenes in the country.
Lollapalooza is a must for music fans, the Chicago Blues Festival is a clear crowd favorite, and the plethora of jazz festivals are bound to keep you entertained every season of the year, especially summer.
#4. The food scene
If you plan on moving to Chicago, one thing is certain — you’ll never go hungry.
When most folks think of foodie cities, I don’t think Chicago comes to mind, which is a pity considering the city currently ranks as the third best foodie city in the country. You read that right.
I can tell you from firsthand experience that it lives up the hype. You’ll have access to SO many interesting restaurants and cuisines while living in Chicago, I barely know where to start.
The diverse food scene is impressive, especially in terms of ethnic restaurants. Oh, and I would be remiss to overlook the famous Chicago deep-dish pizzas and loaded hotdogs perfected in this city.
Anyway you slice it, you will be exposed to an awesome food scene while living in Chicago.
#5. Chicago is a diverse city
Chicago is considered one of the most racially diverse large cities in America. Approximately 52% of the population identifies as white, and 29% identifies as black.
I love living in a diverse city because I’m exposed to customs and cultures I didn’t grow up around. I’ve found it fairly easy to befriend both native Chicagoans and recent transplants.
My friends circle has grown from being fairly homogeneous to more diverse and interesting — a huge perk of living in Chicago, if you ask me.
#6. The airport is top-notch
As an avid traveler, having access to a good airport was a major factor in my decision to move to Chicago.
And it seems like I’m not alone in this regard. Considering the amount of business being conducted in the city, a ton of folks fly into and out of Chicago on a daily basis so having an effective airport is non-negotiable.
There’s a handful of airports that serve Chicago, but the biggest one takes the cake — O’Hare International Airport.
Offering more than 220 nonstop flights, the O’Hare International Airport is the third busiest in the country — serving 83 million passengers in 2018 alone!
The effectiveness of Chicago’s airport is a huge perk of living in Chicago, especially if you fly often.
#7. Public transportation
It’s hard to find an American city that feels livable without a car, but Chicago is a rare exception. In fact, Chicago’s public transportation system is considered the 6th best in the country.
As you know, most folks loves to hate on public transportation, but nearly 91% of Chicago residents approve of the public transpiration offered, myself included.
Thanks to the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority), you’ll always be able to get where you need to without much fuss or delay.
When I first moved to Chicago I brought my car because my job was located downtown but I lived in the suburbs. Within one year of this arrangement, I decided to move downtown and ditch the car altogether because parking became too much of a hassle and I was satisfied with the CTA.
Also worth mention, the metro system is very effective at connecting the suburbs to the downtown core. So if you’re moving to a suburb of Chicago, I suggest testing out the public transportation for a year before deciding whether you want to keep your car.
Based on personal experience, living in Chicago without a car is a breeze.
#8. Housing costs
Considering the size of Chicago, housing is surprisingly affordable by big city standards. As of 2021, the median cost of a home in Chicago clocks in at $340,000.
Let me tell you, as someone that hails from New York, this price seems surreal.
But wait, it gets better. Chicago has the 4th highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the US (36 companies total). By and large, these jobs pay higher salaries, the average salary in Chicago is $72,000.
Between the reasonable home prices and decent annual salary, it’s actually possible to consider owning a home in Chicago — an achievement most city dwellers can’t even afford to dream about.
#9. The sports culture
Ready to hear the understatement of the century? If you’re a major sports fan, you’re going to LOVE living in Chicago.
Home to five sports teams (Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks) and 27 championships, living in Chicago is a great option for those that like to brag about winning sports teams!
#10. The city’s architecture is world class
Yet another unexpected perk of living in Chicago is the constant exposure to world-class architecture. I’ll be the first to admit I know nothing about architecture, but I can still appreciate an aesthetically beautiful building.
Thankfully there’s plenty to admire in Chicago.
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 gave birth to a revolutionary idea that officially kicked off the modern high rises we see today — buildings constructed of steel rather than wood, imagine!
These buildings make up Chicago’s epic skyline, considered one of the best in the country.
Tip: One of the best ways to enjoy Chicago’s magnificent skyline is by boat, an experience I can’t recommend enough.
Cons of moving to Chicago
#1. Winters in Chicago are brutal
Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we?
Winters in Chicago are brutal and I guarantee that you will hate living in Chicago as soon as the temperatures dip below zero, the snow sets in and Lake Michigan freezes over.
The perk of winter in Chicago? I swear it’s the sole reason housing prices are reasonable since most folks can’t commit to living in Chicago during winter. So I guess it’s not all bad?
I will also add that winter gets easier to manage after you live through one or two. You learn ways to cope, be it with expensive jackets or impromptu weekend trips to palm trees and paradise.
One thing I can’t recommend enough for folks moving to Chicago it to pick up one of these bad boys. My therapist recommended it ages ago to stave off depression during winter and I can’t imagine living in Chicago (especially during winter) without it.
#2. The traffic is a nightmare
Make no mistake, traffic becomes a part of your daily routine when living in Chicago.
In fact, Chicago’s infamous traffic is rated the third worst in the country, with drivers spending an average of 138 hours per year sitting in traffic.
You can expect trips to take 2-3 times longer during rush hour, which really starts to chip away at your quality of life, believe me (hence the reason I ditched my car and moved downtown).
What’s more, even though Chicago has great public transportation, some folks can’t imagine getting rid of their car. If you find yourself in this camp, allocate a lot of time to traffic.
#3. Limited access to nature
Before the hate mail gets stamped, recall that I’m sharing my personal list of the cons of living in Chicago. Chicago doesn’t offer much by way of outdoor recreation.
There, I said it.
I mean sure, we’re located on Lake Michigan, which is a treat, but lounging on the beach gets old after a time. Not to mention you can only do that a small portion of the year before the cold sets in.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Lake Michigan, North Avenue and Oak beaches as much as the next guy, but I need more variety.
There’s a handful of hiking options but they all require a drive and rarely live up to the effort required. In my opinion, limited access to nature is one of the biggest cons of living in Chicago.
I will admit though, Millennium Park is one of the best urban parks I’ve ever come across.
#4. High crime rate
Chicago’s crime rate is a contentious topic. Half the residents will tell you it’s not as bad as the media portrays and the other half will tell you it’s still way too high for comfort.
So let’s focus on facts and statistics instead. But fair warning — these stats are grizzly.
In 2018, there were 561 recorded homicides in Chicago, nearly double the number of New York City, which has triple the population.
This doesn’t imply that the entire city is unsafe, rather there are certain pockets to avoid. You’ll need to do extensive research before moving to Chicago because crime is a factor.
Worth noting, I’ve been living in Chicago for 8+ years and haven’t had any scary encounters but I’m also hyper-vigilant and seldom hang downtown past midnight, especially solo.
#5. The flat landscape
I grew up around mountains and forests and I didn’t realize how much I’d miss a varied landscape until moving to Chicago.
If you’re a nature nut, you’ll need to drive quite a distance (2+ days) to get into mountainous territory. For me, the flat landscape gets dull over time and I find myself clawing at the wall several times a year in desperate search of some varied terrain and serious nature.
Moving to Chicago (Post Summary)
In sum, these are the honest pros and cons of living in Chicago, Illinois.
- The people are kind
- The cost of living
- Cultural activities
- The food scene
- Chicago is diverse
- The airport
- Public transportation
- Housing costs
- The sports culture
- Chicago’s architecture
- The winters are harsh
- The traffic is a nightmare
- Limited access to nature
- High crime rate
- The landscape is flat
And there you have it my friends – a quick roundup of the pros and cons of living in Chicago. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or helpful comments for other readers.
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Thanks for this! I’m thinking of moving somewhere with more Pakistani people after college (other than Pakistan, of course), my top two cities being Chicago and Toronto. This was really helpful!
Nice article. I grew up in Chicago and it’s interesting to hear your take. Only thing in this article that baffled me is saying there is not access to nature. Chicago is a city surrounded by beautiful forests and lakes. You need to drive out of the city maybe 20 or 30 minutes, but there is so much amazing nature! Have you heard of all the Illinois forest preserves? They are everywhere!
We moved to Chicago from NYC almost 6 years ago and we have grown to respect and really like it, if not love it. It’s a mixed bag, to be sure, but the pros outweigh the cons for us.
First, the winters. Brutal? I wouldn’t say so…I’d say longer than I wish they were —roughly mid-November or so through mid-April, with January, February and March being the worst — but brutal is too dramatic.
In fact, I don’t think they differ that much from NYC or Boston winters, save perhaps 5 or 10 degrees. It is colder, but the fact that the snow isn’t instantly transformed into filthy, black, cigarette-encrusted ice cones — like in NYC — makes up for it.
Chicago snow can actually be beautiful for awhile. I’ll go out in it with slip-on crampons and even go running along the lakeshore in January. It is surreal and you feel almost alone in it. As our friends from Norway have said to us time and again, there is no such thing as terrible weather, only unsuitable outerwear. Ha!
I’ll take it over the truly brutal 118 degree days in Las Vegas, Phoenix, or the scorching (and humid!) South, any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Second, crime. This is the only issue that could end up driving us out of Chicago for different pastures. Being victimized by a mugging, car break-in, bicycle theft etc. seems to be quite common and can happen anywhere.
There is a distinct difference between NYC and Chicago for me…knowing that you truly can be mugged walking home on the North side at any time, and that squad cars are like 1/10th as common as in NYC. There are “professional” crews of car thieves, package thieves, muggers etc. that go out fully armed, and successfully hit half a dozen targets within an hour, and never seem to be caught or chased.
They seem to act with impunity and it is really frustrating. Violent/homicidal crime in Chicago, however, is most prevalent and treacherous in certain neighborhoods that, unlike NYC, really are mostly located within certain geographic swathes you can avoid. Fair, or a good thing for people stuck in these neighborhoods? No. It is not. But it also means you can mostly avoid it by sticking to less dangerous swathes and taking Uber’s home if after 10pm or whatever.
We purposely moved to a neighborhood in a “safe swathe”, that had several subway/el options, so driving isn’t necessary, though we do have a car for shopping, trips out of town etc. We’re only about 1 mile from the North Avenue Beach and the waterfront running trails, in Lincoln Park. LP ain’t cheap, but for the proximity to downtown, great restaurants and bars, and for what you get it is compelling…especially if compared to NYC or LA or San Francisco.
I grew up in Illinois and can attest that our winters are brutal. When you get hit with wind cutting your face like a pizza slicer downtown, running door to door because of the ice, that is brutal. Do not spread misinformation. NYC is miles better than our winters. Lived in both.
Nice Article, and mostly on par, but there is so much more to explore in Illinois. Live here for 50 years. I travel a lot in many different countries and states. Keep exploring Illinois. There are so much more… 🙂
Wherever you are, I don’t recommend you come to live in Chicago. The weather is terrible, crime is huge, people hate each other, schools are good only deep in suburbs, traffic endless, costs of living terrible. I am a mother of 3, it is terrible place to rise family and I work in home Healthcare, meaning traveling all day along to different parts of cities. I have had so many difficulties with crime in this town, that my only goal is to get out of here. Now when I know every corner of the town, I don’t see any pros anymore.
That’s the problem with many huge cities. People in smaller towns tend to be gentler and friendlier, and more real.
I used to live in Chicago for nine years. The worst part is the endless winter. In Chicago, the cold actually has teeth. It’s biting cold. And for people who love the ourdoors, it’s a problem.
On the other hand, summer is too hot. There’s too much difference between winter and summer.
Jobs are so easy to get. There are so many fast food restaurants and factories hiring. Every time I looked for a job, took me anywher between three days and three weeks to find one.
But in every huge city, rent is sky rocketing, and you’ll end up living in an apartment or in a home almost touching distance from your neighbor’s. This may not be a problem for some, and some may even like it. But I’ve seen homes in small towns where you can’t even see your neighbor’s house because it’s not seeing distance.
I’m native to chicago. I can’t stand any of it. You’ll eventually figure out that most of the people in Chicago are trying to sell you something, or have some angle as to why they’re talking to you. If you ask for help, we are helpful, but if someone random starts talking to you, they aren’t talking to you because they’re nice. They want something from you. Cigarettes, money, sign a petition, running for some office, etc. You can tell a lot of self righteous people live here just by driving through traffic once or twice. Oh, and once those nice people throw away the nice act and show you who they really are, then you’ll understand Chicago.
Really great options! Very informative!
It was really a great article about life in Chicago, but I think it also would have been helpful to mention what is good about education, school and kindergarten.
Great Article. I did not get chance to live in Chicago for long but I can say, points mentioned in Cons are absolutely 100% correct. I live in Cincinnati and went on vacation, and I had to spend 1 hr for 8 mils journey, I was thinking how much people over there are burning their fuels and time.
Flat landscape aside, Starved Rock state park ( in Illinois ) is incredible; also Bar Harbor county in northeastern Michigan is an easy commute with my favorite – St. Joseph Mi. is a dream getaway ; Galena Illinois – is “ The town that time forgot” -a very hilly drive and gorgeous; and southern Wisconsin offers an abundance of options for hiking, resorts, camping etc!
I have lived here for a long time, and never run out of getaways to find, even the often forgotten beautiful “ Zion “ state park just north of the city by perhaps 1 hour.
Also, you forgot to include the “ Chicago Botanic Gardens” which is a True Chicago gem, like no other in the country!!
Yes, this was my suggestion too for more terrain. Lived in Illinois for 50 years. There are so much more to explore.
Great article!
I’m also a transplant — from Southern California. I agree with you about the flat landscape. I want mountains. I’ve made my peace with winter by learning cross country skiing and snow shoeing. These activities get me outdoors and moving which keeps me warm and stave off cabin fever. I solve the traffic issue, like you, by living close to my job.
Great article, want nature? Try taking your bike on Metra to the west suburbs and enter the world of the Cook County Forest Preserves; miles of trails through woods along creeks and rivers. Varied hilly terrain? No need for 2 day travel, head to the hills of Galena and check.out the Eagle Festival in January; simply marvelous!
Intrigued, to be honest, but also concerned about the weather and crime. I’m used to traffic I’ve lived in the middle east and Cyprus to accept traffic. I’ve never been to the US and I wanted to know if Chicago would be the place for me to move to…. The weather is a major one for me, being as I am used to HEAT rather than COLD. Also, I’m thinking of moving to Canada but I heard their WINTERS and weather is INSANE too. I don’t know…
Just keep in we have 2 airports O’hare and Midway. Great article.
Thanks! That’s helps. Chicago is top of my list. I’m currently in Dallas Tx, originally from Mississippi. Winters scares me.
I moved from Dallas to Chicago and back to Dallas (because of work). Chicago is the best place I’ve ever lived.
Amen to you ! Living in Dallas for many many years myself and to hear you say that is
I think a profound statement . No more hesitancy from me about moving to Chicago .
I’m leaving for there tomorrow.
Looking at moving from Texas to Chi, and the fortune 500 companies and the cost of housing are the big factors. I’m a rough and educated middle-aged guy that used to work the loading docks and restaurant kitchens. Texas is just too expensive for housing. We’re cashing out and getting a property that I can fix up and have an ADU to rent out.
We’ll sell our house in Texas to a conservative from California for too much money!! Winter is going to be a real shock, but after 78 days of air advisories and 100f+ weather I’m done.
I think this article is great! It’s honest about our city in both the good and bad, and gives an accurate picture of life there. One thing I would like to mention is that it is Millennium Park, not Millennial Park.
Thanks so much Maddy! Really appreciate it.
The millenial typo has been corrected as well 🙂
Cheers,
Antonina