Tips For Moving to a Big City

Sergio Ocampo

Last Updated: Jan 10, 2024
6 min read

Moving from the country to major cities like Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City can be intimidating.It can also be an adventure for young adults from rural areas to experience the big city for the first time.

From cultural events and international cuisine to new careers and abundant social opportunities, the sky’s the limit when moving from a small town to a new home in a large city.

But there are downsides too.

Getting lost in the shuffle, feeling isolated and depressed, and missing friends and family back home are genuine concerns.

To help decide whether trading rural scenery and wide-open spaces for subways and high rises are right for you and your family, we’re sharing some big city relocation tips that may make the process less stressful.

But first…

What Cities are People Moving To

According to sources like LinkedIn and North American Moving Services (one of the country’s largest van lines and relocation companies), the following cities have been among the most popular destinations in recent years –

Austin, Texas
Phoenix, Arizona
Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida
Nashville, Tennessee
Dallas, Texas
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina

On the other hand, these cities have experienced significant outbound relocation traffic –

Baltimore, Maryland
Hartford, Connecticut
New York, New York
San Francisco, California

Did You Know?

People are largely moving to the first eight cities (and others) due to their relatively low tax rates, business-friendly environments, abundant jobs, and economic growth.

Pros and Cons of City Life

Pros

Abundant sports venues, concerts, and cultural events
More job advancement opportunities and higher salaries
More multicultural activities and communities
World-class colleges and universities
Inexpensive public transportation
You may not need a car
Museums and art galleries
International cuisine
Nightlife

Cons

High rent and real estate costs
Smaller homes and apartments
Lots of competition for jobs
Lack of privacy and natural areas
Heavy traffic and construction noise
The high cost of education and healthcare
Everything is more expensive
High taxes

Moving from a Small Town to a Big City – A “How To” Guide

1. Consider New City Options and Do Your Research

Benjamin Franklin once opined that failing to prepare is the same as preparing to fail.

And with respect to moving, truer words were never spoken.

In short, when moving to a big city, planning is vital.

When thinking about potential cities to call your new home, consider –

Climate
Population
Crime rates
Demographics
Cost of living
Job opportunities
Closeness to your old home
Availability of a public transportation system
Quality of schools, universities, and health care

Insider’s Tip

Our free City Guides are great resources for getting familiar with new cities from Miami, Florida to Oakland, California, and dozens of metropolitan areas in between.

2. Are You a “Country” or “City” Person at Heart?

Am I tough enough to make it in a big city?
Will I be comfortable using Uber and the public transit system instead of driving my car to the grocery store and coffee shop?
Can I trade clean air, fishing, and biking in the country for nightlife, heavy traffic, and limited living space?
Is commuting on the subway at night safe?

Asking yourself questions like these before committing to moving can help determine whether or not you’re cut out for living in a large city.

City life has its perks, but it’s definitely not for everyone.

Realize it’s not for you? You might consider moving to a small town. Here’s what you need to know about moving from the city to the country.

3. Explore Job Opportunities

Having a job (preferably a better job) lined up before moving is a great way to minimize stress.

Moving into a new apartment, making new friends, and enjoying big city life are great, but without a steady income source, you may not be able to enjoy them.

However, if you’re OK with flying by the seat of your pants and have enough savings to last a few months while looking for work, heading out and hoping for the best might be a good option.

But beforehand, think about –

The overall job market
The state of the economy
Your education, qualifications, and experience
The amount of competition in your particular field(s)

In addition, you’ll want to update your resume, set reasonable salary expectations, visit job fairs, and ask friends and family for leads and personal recommendations.

Did You Know?

Many employers offer relocation packages to qualified new hires, and some cover moving costs, storage, and temporary housing.

What the Average Corporate Relocation Package Looks Like

4. Network

Social media and job search websites like Careerbuilder and Linkedin are definitely worth checking out periodically, but employers typically get hundreds of applications for each posting.

And standing out from the crowd isn’t easy.

In fact, many jobs fill their openings with candidates who come with personal referrals from friends, family, and business associates.

Though most of us avoid it like the plague, networking is a necessary evil for those looking for work in a new city.

But don’t wait.

The more people you meet socially and professionally before moving, the more likely it is that one of them will be able to suggest a company that’s hiring, make a personal introduction, or hire you themself.

5. DIY Move vs. Hiring a Full-Service Moving Company

Though you may save a few bucks moving, hiring reputable, vetted, full-service movers is almost always the way to go when it comes to safety and convenience.

That said – the moving industry is full of shady players, and unless you know what to look for, the red flags may not be so obvious.

Thankfully, we’ve broken the process down into 15 easy-to-follow steps.

You can find them here – How to Hire Movers.

You’ll also want to do a cost-benefit analysis between renting a truck and packing and moving yourself, and letting professionals handle your relocation.

We suggest starting with our Moving Cost Calculator.

6. Downsize, Discard and Donate

Moving things you don’t want or rarely use isn’t smart.

This especially applies to interstate moves when charges are based mainly on the weight of your items.

Instead, pick-up date to go through your belongings to determine what to keep and what to get rid of.

Sound overwhelming?

Rest assured, it’s not.

For helpful tips, check out Decluttering & Downsizing for a Move

Did You Know?

Getting rid of “junk” has never been easier.

Here’s how – The Ultimate Guide to Full-Service Junk Removal

7. Prepare a Budget

Though it may seem like a task best left to accountants, preparing a moving budget is smart when considering a move to a large city.

If you’re moving yourself, consider the following costs –

Truck rental
Packing material (boxes, tape, packing paper)
Fuel, food, and lodging while en route

For full-service moves, include –

Transportation and labor costs for moving, packing, and unpacking
Fuel surcharges on interstate moves and travel time charges on local moves
Insurance (valuation) costs
Additional delivery costs for shuttles, stairs, and elevators
The cost for shipping your car

Also, factor in utilities, cable, internet, and stocking your new home with food, housewares, and furniture.

Insider’s Tip

You may not need it, but it’s always a good idea to have a few storage options on-hand in case moving into your new home or apartment is delayed temporarily.

Cheapest Storage Options

8. Find a New Place

It may go without saying, but finding a new home or apartment before moving is important.

If you’ll be moving for work and the company is helping with your relocation, you may be offered temporary housing for a set period.

Otherwise, they’ll probably recommend local realtors who’ve helped other transferees find suitable homes or apartments.

If possible, stay in an Airbnb property temporarily until you’re familiar with the area.

If your new life in the big city and the new job doesn’t work out, you won’t have to break a lease or forfeit a security deposit before moving back home.

For young people living in the city, roommates are also worth considering. Just make sure you get to know them before moving in.