
Moving you from New York to Chicago
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Experienced in moving you to Chicago, IL

Experienced in moving you to Chicago, IL
Major city: check. Near a body of water: check. Chock-full of diverse neighborhoods: check. Professional sports teams: check. Public transportation options: check. While there are some similarities, it’s all in the details when moving from the East coast to the Midwest. You’ll definitely still enjoy the big city amenities as you make Chicago your home, but it’s also got a flavor all its own (including the infamous deep dish-style pizza). Bring along your metropolitan sensibilities and you’ll be won over by Chicago’s culture, cuisine, and polite Midwestern character.
No matter what brings you to the Midwest, working with seasoned moving professionals is best. So make sure you’re partnering with Piece of Cake Moving and Storage to map out the details of your relocation to Chi-town. We’re NYC moving experts, but we’re also well-versed in moving people long distances from one city to another. Don’t take our word for it though; we have 5-star reviews from thousands of happy customers to help you decide for yourself. When you’ve made your decision, our moving specialists are ready 24/7/365 to take your call, so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of moving at all.
Moving you to Chicago and all of its major neighborhoods
Piece of Cake Moving and Storage moves New Yorkers to all localities within the Windy City, including:
- Andersonville
- Bridgeport
- Bucktown
- Chicago Loop
- Chinatown
- East Village
- Edgewater
- Edison Park
- Forest Glen
- Greektown
- Humboldt Park
- Hyde Park
- Irving Park
- Lake View
- Lincoln Park
- Lincoln Square
- Little Italy
- Logan Square
- Lower West Side
- Magnificent Mile
- McKinley Park
- Morgan Park
- Near North Side
- Near West Side
- North Center
- North Halsted
- Old Town
- Portage Park
- Printer’s Row
- Ravenswood
- River North
- Rogers Park
- Roscoe Village
- South Loop
- South Shore
- Streeterville
- Ukrainian Village
- Uptown
- West Beverly
- West Loop
- West Town
- Wicker Park
- Wrigleyville

Our top moving tips when moving to Chicago, IL
Making your way to this Midwestern metropolis won’t have you missing out on any of the seasons. However, they call it the Windy City for a reason. The breezes off Lake Michigan really contribute to the climate experience. In the summer, those breezes help to create a milder summer, with average temperature highs in the low 80 degrees Fahrenheit (F). But those same breezes can make for a blustery and cold winter as January is typically at a freezing temperature of 32F and you’ll have lake-effect snow fall. So, keep your winter gear, because you’ll need it and make sure you have an umbrella with wind vents for the rainy days!
- By train, bike, bus, or hike. Many people would venture a guess that personal vehicles are key when tooling around the Midwest. However, Chicago offers many public transportation that may rival sitting in traffic on your own. And it may be worth it to consider, because just like in NYC, parking can be challenging to find and calling “dibs”on a parking spot is controversial. So what options are available? While it may not run 24/7 like the MTA, the Chicago Transit Authority can get you most places in the city and even into the nearby suburbs. Options include the elevated train system, referred to as the “L” by the locals with a fare nearly on par with the subways in NYC (at $2.50 per ride). Buses are $2.25 per ride and you swipe your Ventra card to ride either. Would you rather hoof it? The good news is that you may be able to walk to where you’re going out of the elements and out of high motor vehicle traffic on the city’s Pedway. It’s a series of 40 blocks of underground and covered walkways in the downtown area. Of course, if you’d rather travel on 2 wheels or on the wheels of another driver, you can use the bikeshare program in the city (if you don’t have a bike of your own) or book a rideshare.
- Spectacular summertime. While this city has festivals year round, you’ll definitely be able to enjoy them particularly well in the mild summer months. Peak festival season runs from May to October, and you can partake in a whole spectrum of celebrations. From Mole de Mayo in which this Mexican staple sauce is featured, to the South Side Jazz Coalition’s Jazzin’ on the Steps on St. Columbanus Catholic Church, to Chicago Pride (one of the largest in the world), to Arts in the Dark near Halloween. Be ready to fill up on food, fun, music, and culture in the various street fairs, markets, and concerts that you’ll find in almost every neighborhood.
- At the beach. Leave behind the Atlantic Ocean (you can always visit again) and come dip your toes in Lake Michigan. Every summer, there are more than 24 free public beaches in Chicago to visit and there are over 18 miles of sand along this Great Lake, so get ready to pitch your umbrella and roll out your towel. Make a day of visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo with your little ones and bring them over to build sand castles at the popular North Avenue Beach. For those looking for a more chill vibe, head north slightly to visit Loyola Beach where you can rent bikes, chairs, and even use their volleyball courts for a relaxing day in the sun. If Fido wants in on the sun and surf too, head to the dog-friendly Montrose Beach. Before you pack up your beach gear, you can always check out the Chicago Park District website to ensure that conditions are prime for your visit.
- A Midwestern feast. Not unlike NYC, Chicago is also a foodie city. Surely, you’ve been asked the question: who has the best pizza? While it’s hotly debated among the NYC-style pizzerias you may be familiar with, the same can be said among the deep-dish pizza purveyors in this Midwestern hub. But, you can decide for yourself among some of the top contenders for a Chicago-style slice from Pequod’s, Giordano’s, or even Gino’s East. Or, if you’re missing the street dogs you’ve become accustomed to, try out the Chicago-style hot dog: an all-beef frank, topped with mustard, chopped onion, relish, tomato, sport peppers, pickle spear, and celery salt, cradled in a poppy-seed bun. Maybe on a date at Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs play? Be forewarned, though: ketchup just isn’t the condiment of choice on these dogs. Beyond these culinary delights, you’ll be able to sample from a wide variety of cultural flavors from the city’s Chinatown area, Vietnamese spots on Argyle Street, and grabbing Indian foods on Devon Avenue among other spots.
- Cost of living. The overall cost of living in Chicago is pretty on par with the national average, with transportation a little higher than the rest of the US. What you will find is that housing, while still on the more expensive side, is 55% less expensive than NYC. For instance, the median listing price for a house in Chicago is $359.3K compared to in the millions for some neighborhoods in the five boroughs. Renting a one-bedroom apartment is about $2,080 on average which is on the lower side of metropolitan living when compared to renting in NYC. Beyond housing costs, moving westward won’t necessarily mean a lower tax burden. Chicagoans pay taxes that are on the higher end. For example, sales tax is at 10.25%, which is the combined state, county, and city rate. From there, you’ll want to put these costs into perspective: the median household income of folks living in Chicago is $62,097. But, the good news is that you’ll be able to use your existing dollar-saving city-smarts in your new big city!
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