Moving from Los Angeles, CA, to Chicago, IL

Embrace a smaller big city in Illinois

Moving over 2,000 miles from Los Angeles, CA, to Chicago means planning for smaller city life — but not that small. 

Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the U.S., with a population of 3.9 million in the city and 13.2 million in the metro. Chicago’s city population of over 2.7 million and metro of over 9.6 million residents places it firmly in third place among the most populous cities in the U.S. 

Prepare for more rain and colder winters in Chicago

Unlike LA’s climate, Chicago experiences all four seasons. While average summer highs are around 84 degrees in both cities, you will get over twice as much rain in Chicago, with an average of 38 inches compared to only 16 inches in LA. 

Chicago's winter lows average only 19 degrees, compared to 46 degrees in Los Angeles. Chicago receives around 35 inches of annual snowfall, while icy precipitation is extremely rare in LA. 

Things to do in Chicago

There are many things family members of all ages can enjoy in the city.  

  • Field Museum of Natural History: visit “Sue,” the most complete T-Rex fossil found, and multiple historical artifacts. 

  • Lincoln Park Zoo: one of the oldest zoos in the U.S., and it’s free! 

  • Millenium Park: home to “The Bean (Cloud Gate)” sculpture. There are also interactive fountains and beautiful gardens. 

  • Museum of Science and Industry: hands-on exhibits and a real U-505 German submarine. 

  • Navy Pier: waterfront attraction, Centennial Wheel, Chicago Children’s Museum, and more! 

Making a living

Chicago isn’t inexpensive, but its cost of living is lower than in Los Angeles, so you might find that your money goes further in the housing market. 

Many Chicagoans find work in education, engineering, healthcare, government, pharmaceuticals and transportation. 

Deloitte, Ford Motor Company, JPMorgan Chase, Nestle and United Airlines are some of the largest employers in the greater Chicago area. 

Move from LA to Chicago with U-Pack

U-Pack® has been in business since 1997. We have service centers nationwide, including locations near Los Angeles and Chicago, to help with long-distance moves. We’re a self-moving service where you do the packing, loading and unloading, and we handle all the driving. Get a free, no-obligation online quote today or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077.