NYC fella checking out Chicago

I haven't lived in NYC, but I have lived in Chicago. Living in the city is desirable, IMO. I like the Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhoods on the North side. If I had money to live in the Loop, I might do that too. I think a nice 1-bdrm place in LP/Lakeview would run about $1500/mo, the Loop could easily top $2000/mo. I would prefer to own a car, but public transport is a pretty good option. If I did own a car, I would still take the bus/El to work downtown, and just use the car for trips that go to less central places and are hard to get to via public transport. I would say that most people do not own cars.

You've got to go out a little to find the hipsters. Avoid Wicker Park. That's pretty close to Williamsburg in spots.

Public transportation works pretty well. It could be better, but it's not bad. If you lived downtown or in any of the near north and south loop neighborhood, I don't think you would need a car. TheDon is pretty accurate on rent.

I used to live in Nyack, and I am older with kids. but I have lived in a few cities in my life, as well.

I think that Chicago is a great place to live, certainly when you have kids. everything is just a little bit cheaper and more convenient. I think that the food is probrably better than new york, certainly there is a good argument for that.

the public transportation is fantastic, although everybody I know owns a car. my single friends live in wrigglyville, but I can't tell you if that is the best place in town to live.

I have friends that live in wriglyville and for a 28 year old I dont think you could beat it. I think of it as a true work hard/play hard area. Cute chicks everywhere, young vibe, easy access to anywhere.

Get a few roommates, throw some parties and have fun man. Move now though so you can enjoy the spring/summer.

Unless you're a real baller, you won't be driving to work in the Loop. Parking is just way too expensive.

Id like to know how much is a lot in Chicago. Average price in manhattan is 400 bucks a month. If seen it as low as 250 and as high as 1000.

I, like a lot of people who live in Chicago, have a chip on our shoulders particularly in regards to NYC. Our main comedy troupe (which sucks btw) is named the Second City. In terms of art, museums, culture, etc Chicago really is the second, third or fourth city depending on which metric you're looking at. Before all my fellow chicagoans chime in, Chicago is probably the most liveable of all the cities I've ever lived/worked in. It is the cleanest, most affordable city that has some semblence of culture. So while NYC, SF, and LA are thoroughbred Arabian horses Chicago is like the Clyesdale - dependable but won't stack up when you're looking at "The Best" catagories. To your questions: 1. Yes, but living in Chicago is much better. Not dirty, not packed, not life at 100mph. 2. If you're under 35 and don't have kids you should live in the city. If you want to live with similar ilk, I recommend River North (where I currently live). Great location to the loop/parks/etc new buildings, few hipsters, good restaurants, bars, etc. 3. Hipsters dominate Wicker Park, Bucktown and to a much lesser degree Lincoln Park. I'd say Gold Coast (new builds here will be cheap vis-a-vis NYC standards) or River North. 4. My own experience (and I'm happy, had folks from SF and NYC visiting this past weekend and both were astounded by the quality of life vs cost): 1 Bd in River North: 1400/month, no car (parking is $200/month) 5. Unlike NYC cabs aren't scarce, and unlike NYC there isn't really anything outside the city that's worth storing a car 9 months of the year for so I would recommend against a car. Most people I know with cars inherited them and certainly don't use them efficiently. 6. Nice days from River North the walk to Millenium park is about 20 minutes, so I would walk. Otherwise there's the redline brown line and a bunch of public buses that will put you right there in less than 10 minutes. Feel free to PM me with additional details. Like I said, this city is more a jack of all traits and master of none, but whenever I have coastal people visit, they're always very impressed.

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let me put my qualifications on that - I think that new york has world class sultural institutions. it makes sense to fly to new york to see a specific museum show, or spend a few days on broadway. you wouldn't say that about Chicago. on the other hand, for a city that people live in, chicago has fantastic cultural instituations. I prefer the theatre in Chicago - the theatres are nicer, the crowds are (in my experience) better behaved and dressed. but there isn't as much choice as new york, or you have to aim at specific dates where a play might be in new york for months.

Welcome to a livable city.

Contrary to a previous poster, Second City is great.

I'm 32 and have been in Chicago for 10 years now. I've never had a car up here, because I've always lived near the El. It's very convenient, but I do envy those who don't have to carry their cat's 28lbs of kitty litter all the way home from the Jewel.

I think the only residential neighborhood that would give you a similar sense of the FiDi is Streeterville. It has the high-rise, downtown feel with lots of restaurants, bars, clubs, cultural attractions and hub-bub. Millenium Park is within walking distance of Streeterville on a nice day. But most of us your age don't live there. Most of the good places for someone your age to go out are not in the Loop or Streeterville. As mentioned by other guys, all the folks your age are going to be hanging out in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown/Wicker Park (beware the hipsters), and West Loop is starting to boom. But if I were you, I'd stay in Lincoln Park or Lakeview if you are a fella who likes to go out quite a bit. Walking home from going out is better than walking home from work. So I vote you commute to work, rather than commute to going out with all your pals.

The commute to Millenium Park from Lakeview/Lincoln Park is about 15-30 minutes on the Red Line, depending on how fast trains are comin' and which stop you're on. I wouldn't own a car if I lived there (I'd make sure I lived near the El), and I believe rent would be in the $1000-$1350 range for a 1BR. If you do bring a car... I have pals in those neighborhoods paying their landlords about $100-150 per month for a parking space, but many of those neighborhoods have permit parking for the neighborhood, and so I have many more who don't mess with paying for a space. They just buy the neighborhood permit.

This is all very solid advice.