Moving from Miami, FL, to Chicago, IL

Leaving Miami beaches for Chicago lakes

If you loved living near the water in coastal Miami, you’ll want to get used to a different kind of coast nearly 1,400 miles away in Chicago. While no oceans are near Illinois, Lake Michigan borders Chicago and provides 33 lakeshore beaches along a 26-mile stretch.  

Both cities have similar population densities, but the Chicago metro area, with over 9.8 million residents, is larger than the Miami metro, which has a population of just under 6.1 million. 

Prepare for windy winter weather  

Unlike Miami’s mild winters, with temperatures rarely dropping below 50 degrees, you’ll need some hefty winter gear in Chicago, which experiences winter lows of around 19 degrees. The “Windy City” also gets about 35 inches of snow annually, compared to the average of no snow in Miami.  

Summer temperatures are warm in Chicago, with highs in the low 80s, and the city averages 38 inches of rain per year. Although Chicago gets less rain than Miami, you can expect more cloudy days since the city typically has 189 of sun annually. Miami’s home in the “Sunshine State” is no surprise since its yearly average is 248 days of sunshine. 

Chicago living 

You might be surprised to learn that the cost of living is slightly lower in Chicago than in Miami, but it’s true, especially in the real estate market. Chicago salaries are higher than national averages, and there are multiple job opportunities in aviation, business, engineering, finance, government, health care, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and transportation.  

With 335 public and over 1,100 private schools for grades K-12, children have plenty of learning opportunities. The area is also home to 54 higher education institutions for adult learners. 

Nightlife in the city

If you’re used to staying up late in Miami, Chicago won’t disappoint. From comedy and dance clubs to bars and restaurants, there’s something for almost everyone in the city. Here are a few highlights: 

  • Blue Chicago 
  • Chicago Magic Lounge 
  • House of Blues Chicago 
  • Jazz Showcase 
  • Kingston Mines 
  • The iO Theater  
     

Ready to make the move to the Windy City?

U-Pack® can help! We’re a DIY moving solution with nationwide service centers, including ones that service Miami and Chicago. Request a free, no-obligation quote online today or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.