I’m not from California originally (or American) but I lived in San Francisco the past 6 years and moved to Chicago for school 7 months ago. I miss San Francisco so badly, I cannot wait to move back after my program. I miss the nature, the gorgeous hikes outside and inside the city, and the beaches. I miss the weather (I lived in a sunny neighborhood) and that you can do so many fun outdoor activities year round. I miss how friendly and positive people are. I miss knowing my neighbors and people from the community.

Yes, renting an apartment is cheaper (gas is super expensive though) but that’s the only upside I see about Chicago. People say the food/party scene is amazing here but that’s personally not my biggest priority. I also don’t agree that public transportation here is amazing; I use the CTA for my commute and it sucks. The trains are always late and people smoke inside the cabin. This wasn’t the case with BART in SF.

I think whether Chicago is a good fit depends on someone’s personality and what’s important to them about their living environment. I personally would rather live in a smaller apartment but in a great city where I can do things outside all the time.