Moving from Pennsylvania to Chicago – Your Complete Guide
Big move ahead! Pennsylvania to Chicago. Over 750 miles. New state. New city. New life. Exciting stuff. But also overwhelming. Where do you even start?
This guide covers everything you need to know about moving from Pennsylvania to Chicago. Plus, how Lite Movers makes it easy.
Why Move to Chicago?
Thousands of people leave Pennsylvania for Chicago every year. Here’s why:
Career Growth: Chicago is a major business hub. Fortune 500 headquarters. Finance. Tech. Healthcare. Manufacturing. Consulting. Whatever your field, Chicago probably has opportunities.
Culture and Entertainment: World-class museums. Theater scene. Music venues. Professional sports (Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks). Always something happening.
Lake Michigan: Beaches right in the city! Chicago’s lakefront is amazing. Miles of paths and parks.
Food Scene: Deep dish pizza (obviously). But also incredible restaurants of every cuisine. Chicago food is legendary.
Public Transit: The “L” train system. Buses everywhere. Metra for suburbs. You don’t need a car if you live in the right neighborhood.
Universities: University of Chicago. Northwestern. DePaul. Loyola. UIC. Great schools attracting students from Pennsylvania.
Timeline for Your Move
How long does a Pennsylvania to Chicago move take?
Booking: Reserve your dates 4-6 weeks ahead. Summer gets busy. Book earlier if moving June-August.
Packing: Start 2-3 weeks before moving day. Or hire us to pack (faster and easier).
Loading Day: Takes 4-8 hours depending on home size.
Transport: Usually 1-2 days in transit.
Delivery: We give you a delivery window. Plan to be available.
Unpacking: First week in your new Chicago home.
Best Time to Move to Chicago
Chicago weather matters. Winters are brutal. Plan accordingly.
Best Months: May, June, September, October
- Good weather
- No snow concerns
- Comfortable temperatures
Peak Season: July and August
- Hardest to book
- Lots of college students moving
Winter Moves: December-February
- More availability
- Weather can cause delays
- Chicago winters are cold!
Preparing for Chicago Living
Chicago is different from Pennsylvania. Here’s what to expect:
Winter is Serious: Buy a real winter coat. Get good boots. Chicago cold is no joke. Wind off Lake Michigan makes it worse.
Parking Challenges: Street parking is competitive. Many neighborhoods need permits. Some buildings have waiting lists for parking spots.
Dibs System: After snowstorms, Chicagoans “dibs” shoveled parking spots with chairs. It’s a thing. Respect it.
Higher Costs: Chicago has a higher cost of living than most Pennsylvania cities. Especially housing, parking, and taxes.
Sales Tax: 10.25% in Chicago. Higher than Pennsylvania.
Great Transit: If you live near the L, you can ditch your car. Convenient parking and insurance benefits.
Popular Chicago Neighborhoods
Where should you live in Chicago? Popular areas for newcomers:
Lincoln Park: Young professionals. Near DePaul. Great restaurants.
Lakeview: Diverse. Good transit. Near Wrigley Field. Younger crowd.
Wicker Park / Bucktown: Trendy. Hipster vibe. Arts scene. Great food.
Logan Square: Growing neighborhood. Good restaurants.
Hyde Park: Near University of Chicago. Intellectual vibe. Diverse.
Loop / Downtown: Work in the Loop? Live close. Convenient.
River North: Upscale. Galleries. Dining. Young professionals.
What to Do Before Moving
Pennsylvania to Chicago checklist:
Two Months Before:
- Book your movers (call 610-755-5535)
- Research Chicago neighborhoods
- Start apartment hunting
- Notify your landlord (if renting)
One Month Before:
- Find new doctors and dentists
- Transfer medical records
- Research Illinois car insurance
- Order packing supplies (if self-packing)
Two Weeks Before:
- File change of address with USPS
- Notify banks and credit cards
- Transfer utilities
- Start packing
One Week Before:
- Confirm moving dates with Lite Movers
- Pack essential boxes
- Use up perishable food
- Clean out Pennsylvania home
After You Arrive in Chicago
First Week:
- Get Illinois driver’s license (you have 90 days)
- Register your vehicle (30 days)
- Register to vote
- Find your local grocery store
- Explore your neighborhood
First Month:
- Get a Chicago Public Library card (free!)
- Buy a Ventra card for transit
- Learn the L system
- Try deep dish pizza
- Visit Millennium Park
- Walk the Lakefront Trail
How Lite Movers Helps
We handle Pennsylvania to Chicago moves all the time. Here’s what we do:
Pre-Move Planning: We help you plan every detail. We answer all your questions. We make the process clear.
Professional Packing: Don’t want to pack? We’ll do it. We bring supplies. We pack everything safely.
Protected Loading: We protect your Pennsylvania home. We protect your belongings. Everything is wrapped and padded.
Direct Transport: Your stuff goes straight to Chicago. Dedicated truck. No stops.
Chicago Delivery: We navigate Chicago streets. We coordinate with buildings. We get everything inside safely.
Storage Options: Need storage? We offer it. Flexible terms. Secure facilities.
Learn more about our Philadelphia to Chicago moving services.
Related Moving Guides
Moving elsewhere? Check out our other guides:
- Pennsylvania to Chicago Movers
- PA to Illinois Movers
- Long Distance Movers from PA
- Philadelphia to NYC
- Philadelphia to Florida
Start Your Chicago Move Today
Ready to make the move? Stop researching. Start planning. Lite Movers is here to help every step of the way.
Call 610-755-5535 right now. Get your free quote. Let’s get you to Chicago!
