Chicago or stay in California

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Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can give me some advice. I currently work in an ICU in the San Francisco Bay Area. My base pay is $95,000 a year and with shift differential and weekend pay I will make $120,000 this year. I am 26 years old and have 4 years of experience. I like my job and where I live however even on this wage it will prove very difficult to buy a house/condo in this area.

I went to Chicago for a couple of weeks and loved the city. I noticed housing is more affordable. In about a year I will have $100,000 saved. Can someone tell if it would be wise to take a lower paying job in Chicago but then take advantage of the more afordabel housing? Or stay in California and buy a condo for $500,000. I know I am spoiled in California with the ratio's.

I would love if someone could give me insight as to how much my salary would be in Chicago, what it is like to work in Chicago, and if it would be a wise career and life move.

Thanks!

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I was actually wondering the same thing. After doing a little research, it seems as though the situation would be the same. I work near L.A. and make about $41/hour and pay $1450 in rent. In Chicago I'll probably make about 28-30/hour and pay $850-$950 in rent. My friend found a really nice 2 bedroom Condo in Chicago for $165,000. I plan on moving in July/August. (I know the winters are hellish and I don't want to move there right in the middle.) I've been looking online on Craig's List just so I have an idea of apartment costs.

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HI,

first of all ,HAPPY NEW YEAR

I live in naperville,some 45 minutes from chicago. This is suppose to be best city in illinois. We moveD here couple of years back ,bought big house than our $1300 sq ft townhouse in NJ (which was almost double the price in which we bought the house in illinois). I have big house,big yard and new house but soon we came to know that Here one has 6 months of snow and you are simply house arrested in snow. My neighbour goes to Chicago city and it is colder there because of lake :nono:. It has biting cold winds. You are lucky to be living in California. Why don't you think of moving to valley areas or southern california where you can have good house easily in your pay as experienced nurse. My husband is in Computer software and we use to travel with him all over and then we visited Chicago once . There is a difference in visiting a place as a tourist and actually residing there.

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Specializes in Burns, ICU.

I am partial to Chicago having lived here all my life. but I have lived in the burbs and now live in the city. Living in the city is totally different than living in the burbs. Even though we get a lot of snow (and it is beautiful) we have public transportation, and depending on where you live, lots of things to do that are walking distance. In Naperville, you must drive your car to do anything - in the city, I can walk less than a block and go to eat, shop or to have drinks with friends. I think if you no longer want to live in CA, come to the city - it is great here - and with tons of hospitals there are lots of places to work.

Good luck and happy new year!

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I too live in Naperville and live in walking distance to the train. My former boss (in Chicago) moved to Laguna Beach, CA. He showed me photos of $500,000 homes in Laguna Beach. They were old, ugly ranch homes. For $500,000 here, you could buy a gorgeous maintenance-free townhouse! You don't even need to spend close to that to get something lovely.

Your dollar will go MUCH further here.

I would opt for a home in the suburbs and a job in Chicago (Northwestern Memorial Hospital, for example).

Thoroughly research the suburbs though so you don't end up somewhere not so nice. Try city-data.com.

Good luck!

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Specializes in OB, Cardiac.

there are websites where you can put in 2 zip codes & compare the spending power to see in which specific areas your dollar will stretch (real estate, groceries, utilities etc..)

@ least it gets cold sanfran so you won't be totally unprepared for the winters!!! personally, i love both cities...although i'm def partial to the chi since i grew up there.

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Thanks for all the responses. I plan on staying in California for another year and save some more money and then apply for a job in Chicago as it is definately more affordable. In a year I will have $50,000 to put a down payment on a condo or something and from what I see on Craiglist real estate section in Chicago that will get me a decent place. In California $50,000 gets you know where. For a nurses with 4 years ICU experience what is the average wage I can expect?

Happy new year!

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