I moved to Chicago from Portland for an affordable big city life. It's been easy to make friends and I'm never bored.

Jessica Kirshner. Jessica Kirshner

• Jessica Kirshner is an interior designer who moved from Portland to Chicago in August 2023.
• She loves the affordability, walkability, and cultural vibrancy, despite a higher cost of living.
• Kirshner intends to stay in Chicago for a few years before planning a move to Europe.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jessica Kirshner, a 26-year-old interior designer in Chicago. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I’m originally from the Bay Area, and I moved to Eugene, Oregon, in 2015 to study interior architecture. When I graduated, I moved to Portland for a job at a large firm.

After three years in Portland, I moved to Chicago in August 2023. I wanted to live in a bigger but still affordable city, and I’m familiar with the area because I have family here. I live 10 minutes from downtown, and I love it.

Affordability and job market

The Chicago skyline. Jessica Kirshner

Chicago is affordable compared to other big cities like LA, San Diego, the Bay Area, or New York.

The biggest difference I noticed from Oregon to Illinois was the income tax because Oregon’s is high. The pay is definitely better in Chicago, but the cost of living is higher here, too, so it evens out.

When I first moved, I kept my Oregon-based job and worked remotely for seven months. Once I started looking, it took me about two months to find a new job in Chicago.

For my interior design profession, there were many options in Chicago. It was also good timing for me because Portland had very few options. I tried to use LinkedIn but ultimately found my job through a friend.

I now work as an interior designer at a large international firm. I wanted to work somewhere with offices worldwide because I eventually want to move to Europe.

Quality of life

My dad is from Chicago, so I came here often while growing up.

After living in Oregon for eight years, I missed my family, but I didn’t want to move back to the Bay Area just because it’s so expensive. I also wanted a bigger Jewish community, and Chicago is a good option for that.

I love how lively Chicago is during the summer, with everyone out and about. I went to an air and water show last summer, and everyone was out on the lake all day long. It was so fun to people-watch.

I love the architecture, too. It’s great to walk around all the different neighborhoods and see the diversity in the buildings.

Culture and walkability

Kirshner’s apartment. Jessica Kirshner

I’m never really bored here. When I first moved, I joined a kickball league to meet people. I’m taking a sewing class because I want to make my own clothes. I plan to apply for German citizenship soon, so I’m going to enroll in German classes.

I didn’t know anyone except my family, but making friends has been easy. I’ve mainly met people through work, organizations like IIDA, and reconnecting with college and high school friends who I knew lived here.

I chose an apartment that’s within walking distance from grocery stores. I found it online and didn’t see it before signing the lease, but I watched a 3D walkthrough. The cost of a one-bedroom apartment here is similar to a two-bedroom in Portland.

There’s a mall, many shops, and outdoor areas within a five-minute walk from me. I’m near bars, clubs, restaurants, and whatever I want to do. I didn’t want to have to rely on a car anymore, and as a pedestrian, it’s very easy to get around.

I plan to stay for a while

My worst experience was my first time seeing a rat. You don’t see rats on the street in Portland. I clearly haven’t had any really bad experiences if that’s the worst that’s happened to me so far.

One downside is the biking culture is kind of nonexistent. There are bikes you can rent through an app, but there are no bike lanes and it feels almost dangerous to bike here, which was quite shocking to me coming from Portland.

I feel like I can do anything I want here. I moved halfway across the country, so I will probably stay here for a few years before moving to Europe when the time is right.

I love Chicago. I’m 100% sure I made the right decision, and I’m happier than I was in Oregon.

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